I am looking for an alternative to MICROSOFT Windows Operating Systems and the company's arrogance. I know nothing of Linux but have been told this could be an alternative.

Is Linux a good substitute? My big concern is compatability issues.....big time. I MUST be able to run Electronic Arts computer gaming software for example.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

dawhodats,

Yes and no. It's a great alternative to the Windows world. Lots of applications out there to do pretty much everything that you need.

But will your EA games play on Linux? Probably not. But that's OK. You can dual-boot your system, with Windows for your gaming and Linux for everything else. Alot of people do that, using the right tool for the right job.

I still have Windows on my machine, but it's mostly for work related applications for those late nights when I'm working on a project. That and USB scanner support that I can't seem to get with Linux, etc.

So should you dump Windows completely and hope that your EA games will work? Probably not. But there may be some gamers here who can guide you to an answer for your EA games, and then you may be able to switch over completely.

In the meantime, the dual-boot system will help you learn gradually about Linux. If you switch over completely all at once, the frustration factor can get quite high.

Good luck.

Dual booting is for sure your best bet.
I also recommend adding a second drive to your system strictly for your Linux installation. Don't try partitioning until you are sure you like Linux. Chances are you will really like all that Linux can do for you and you will jump at any and all opportunities to experiment with the various capabilities of Linux. I found that when I first started, I managed to corrupt my Windows partitions on a regular basis. Don't take any chances. Keep each OS on its own drive.

Gaming is really the ONLY reason to keep Windows at all. Having both at your disposal never hurts though.

Good luck.....