[andrewas]

For gaming, Linux is not quite yet up to it. You might have some luck with TransgamingX, but if they dont support your game yet, your stuffed. Some of the important games (NWN, Quake3) run natively in Linux, and BG2 works well in WINE or transgaming, but not everything can be run.

Also the drivers for linux can leave a lot to be desired. Depending on your hardware manufacturer, you may see lower performance, missing features, or even lower stability. Of course, any decent manufacturer will try to release somthing which at least works.

Now the good points. Linux is more efficient and more configurable than windows. So you dont waste cycles running services you dont want. And the help functions dont try and contact the internet, and the whole thing isnt riddled with ways for M$ to spy on you. No product activation or keys either (although application vendors are taking up those ideas now, so linux applications may use them. The OS itself is free though)

And the myths - Linux is more secure than windows if and only if its setup correctly. Security updates are just as important on linux as they are on windows. The default installation for most distrobutions is not secure.