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Thank you for your article, it is quite informative for Windows users who may be curious about Linux. I have been using Linux for some years together with Windows. In general my recommendation is to install Linux side-by-side with Windows, in dual boot mode. Linux is quicker to start and shutdown than Windows. The various desktop options are less sofisticated than Windows (more raw), no real Aero preview mode, which is quite useful in Windows. Drivers is another area where Linux is poorer than Windows, because many hardware suppliers don’t develop driver software for Linux, forcing Linux users to rely on generic open-source drivers, some of them are less than optimal, especially regarding graphical cards. Some devices like printers, webcams, etc., may not even work in Linux due to the lack of any driver software, proprietary or open-source.
I work with both systems on a daily basis, ten to twelve hours a day. If a user has basic requirements, like browsing the internet, reading and sending emails, write a document or a spreadsheet, than Linux is more than adequate, probably safer than Windows, faster, as long as the user certifies that the computer hardware is fully compatible with Linux (it can be tested with a live dvd Linux distro).
If a user has a high-end computer with a powerful graphical card, it is probably better to have both systems installed and running. In this scenario, I suggest to leave the Linux system to a more conservative and secure use, like accessing homebanking.