This depends on how you define computer expertise. Many Windows power users are at first somewhat lost in Linux , because they don't find where in the GUI are the options they want to change, and sometimes things work completely different, like installing software with a packagemanager, or the absence of drive-letters. These people often think they have a lot of computer expertise, but in reality they only have Windows expertise. You have to learn at least some things new, if you want to use Linux and come from Windows.

Linux is free and secure :-)
but for hardcore gaming and multimedia performance, Windows is the best OS ever.

- What are the best features of Linux?
It's a real operating system.

- If I switch, what will I miss from windows?
Nero CD/DVD Speed.

- Is it compatible with new hardware?
Yes, pretty much.

- What should my level of computer expertise be? I'm typically a graphical interface sort of person, and it seems like Linux would be hard on people like me.
Forget about your Windows knoledge. You'll have to start everything from the beginning. It is hard, but you'll make it.

With some hardware like the aging R690 integrated video Linux provides better support than Windows. Full HD video playback is a bit better, OpenGL support is much better.

InTheMarket,

If you'd like to know what Linux users think about Windows look at that thread.

There's no rule that says you can't use both Linux and Windows. Try some liveCDs (see distrowatch for a list of Linux distros).

Why are you interested in using Linux?
How did you hear about Linux?

So far, my Linux system has not slowed down the way it did when I used Windows. Plus, I don't have to install and run an anti-virus software. However, one should still follow good internet surfing practices.

Modularity, customizability, and the fact that it's free and open source.

Programs that don't have good Linux alternatives and won't run in Wine.

Probably not the big commercial games (but some may work in Wine), but there is a lot of free, open source Linux games.

The graphics card would be the only thing I would be slightly worried about.

You don't really have to use the command line if you don't want to. But it helps. Personally I don't see what the problem is with people and command lines, just read a quick introductory tutorial and you can be quite comfortable with it.

Note that Linux users use the command line and Windows users don't not because Linux's GUI is inferior, but because the CLI gives power and modularity that is impossible to achieve with a GUI.

Just remembered some of the iOS is based on Unix, which is also related to Linux I know the interface a bit better than I thought I did (hardcore jailbreaker :P)

Also, people are saying how windows doesn't like old games. I'm actually having issues with my epic Age of Empires II not working with windows 7. Could be hardware (error message blames directdraw even though that's not it), but all the complaints about it not working have been from windows users xD

So fingers crossed, I'm gonna check the compatibility with my hardware then throw a live CD onto my home computer. Rest of the family won't be open to that, but luckily there's alotta space on the hard drive to run either/or/both.

I've never used iOS, but I'm certain that using it is nothing whatsoever like using Linux.

Nah, mobileterminal is very similar (it's an emulator), and cydia installs in similar ways that linux does.
Well, to elaborate, the average user's experience is nothing like Linux. The jailbreaking, file managing, and modding part is like it because it's based on it.

1. Viruses, Spyware, Worms, Trojans, executable code, limitations, Ant-virus software, pop-ups, etc etc etc

2. Yes, some games are native to Linux but most commercial games don't run well in Linux. I've seen some under Wine but the DirectX platform is native to Windows only. If you want to play games, use Windows.

3. Yes. Linux is compatible with bleeding edge hardware including USB 3.0 and S-ATA 6.0.

4. That is a common myth. Install Ubuntu and have the help of a GUI but learn the command line. It's the heart of Linux and when you learn CLI, you'll be much better off experimenting with other amazing Linux features. There's tons of tutorials and communities to help someone from day 1.

I short, Linux is the best thing I've ever learned or used. I'm posting from my virtual machine which is Windows 7 but it's host PC is Arch Linux. This allows me to use applications like Dreamweaver and Adobe PS while still using Linux.

Live CD Ubuntu's terminal is stopping me from doing anything even-semi epic.
Should the live CD version be working 100% (that will be fixed when I do a full install), or am I just having many, many issues?

What do you mean by "semi-epic"?

I can only say what I've found with Linux ,my wife and I are both happy that almost everything we need a computer to do is handled with Linux one exception is mediaface which we use to put pictures on burned DVDs instead of text.If I can find this program in a Linux version we will be completely without windoze in my home.I started using Mint just after Isadora came out and I'll admit I'm no Guru by any stretch of the imagination but am able to work with my computer instead of working on it.I did try more than a few Distro's before finding mint and was initially frustrated more than occasionally but I did persist so here I am about 7 months into using mint as my main system .BTW I am now using mint 10 on my laptop,mint9 Isadora Gnome on my wife's laptop and Xfce dual booted with Win XP on the tower.

I don't understand.