I want to install linux but i am getting frightened ..help please?

hi i have windows XP on a fairly new powerful PC . i want to do work on linux now since i am fed up with the blokes in redmond . i love technology but dont know about writing codes in command lines etc . i can tinker with my BIOS and change my graphics card and update drivers and install windows . u get what i mean ....


my questions are


A ) i want to dual boot on a multipartition XP drive .


B ) which is a good free download of linux which is not too confusing


C ) i know i can get Skype etc for linux but can MS office work / if not any migration programs ?


D ) i have pentium D 820 ( 2.8 GHz ) .is it a 64 bit download of linux for it ?


please give me also some sites to help me migrate my life from Win XP to Linux over a period of a year or so ... thank you very much in advance ....ALL VALUES CAN GROW ONLY IN FREEDOM so no Microsoft for me from now ......

I want to install linux but i am getting frightened ..help please?
Most of the releases of Linux style operating systems have the ability to repartition your hardrive to allow for space to have Linux and XP installed at the same time. They also install a boot program (sometimes lilo or grub) that prompts you at bootup for what OS you want to use.





That all being said if you are curious as to if you will like Linux there are what's called Live CDs which are bootable CDs that allow you to use Linux without installing anything on your hardrive. So you can test drive it so to speak.





I recommend ubuntu linux as it's one of the more user friendly ones out there and comes with most of the basic applications.





As far as a replacement for Microsoft Office, there is a opensource/free application called OpenOffice. It runs on both Linux and Windows and is very compatible with the different Office file types.





Your pentium would more than likely by a 32 bit cpu so i would stay away from the 64 bit versions.





I hope that helps.
Reply:I just read an article by a man yesterday who had both Vista and Linux--he said they both have problems, and that in his opinion, Windows is as good as Linux. I was thinking about switching too, but it may not be worth the trouble.