Hey, thinking of switching to Linux

[jayd512]

Another list of Linux Equivalent programs: The table of equivalents / replacements / analogs of Windows software in Linux. (Official site of the table)

[glaston]

However, the reason I wanted to put it on PC1 is not for gaming. It's because of the fact that since January I've done hardly any gaming whatsoever, and much more of my time is spent chatting/browsing/coding - and I'd prefer to do that on my main PC rather than my secondary one which is currently downstairs sitting on the floor of my dining room.

Yeah, that makes perfect sense.

That being said, if you DO install Linux on PC1, if you want to play games at some point it will most likely not be as easy as just firing up the game.
Unless you go with a dual boot.

As to the open source query, that's definitely a good thing.
You should understand though that it's not as easy as simply installing open source alternatives.
Things like Open Office vs MS Office are easy enough.
But some open source alternatives have caveats.
Meaning that you often need to change your workflow when you go open source, and do without alot of features that you might need or rely on.
Effectively changing the way you do things.
This is most often the case with design apps like 3D design, apps like Photoshop and After Effects.

Although open source is a great thing, even the creator of the Linux kernel himself uses "the best tool for the job" open source or not.

I personally can't make the leap to completely open source.
I use open source when I can, but there's just some things I can't do without.