Windows Master, OS newbie

[korsen]

Greets all. I'm a windows master, advanced mac user, and just wanting to start out with linux to add it to my repertoire. I have windows xp on my desktop and laptop but when i get my mobo back tomorrow I'm going to install windows server 2003 to learn that but I also want to put linux on a box and learn how to use it. So my questions are a few-fold:

1) Can windows server 2003 interact with a linux computer at the same time as windows? or does it have to be one or the other?
2) Will a laptop be able to run linux through VMware on windows xp? (2GB/2.2GHz)
3) What would be the easiest command line linux to learn?
4) What would be the easiest GUI linux to learn?
5) Where can i learn to run windows games with close to a 1:1 ratio on linux?
6) Where can i learn to use linux in general in quick and easy terms/tutorials?
7) Where can i learn to use linux QUICKLY?
(lol) How do I run linux through VMware? (I have a Q6600 and have no clue how to use VMware at all!)
9) Is linux safer than windows or mac? Is there anti-virus or anti-spyware for linux?
10) Is it easy to program for linux? I have beginner experience with C++ and with time I could learn it fairly quickly.
11) Anything else I should know to learn linux and everything about it quickly and easily?

Thanks all.

[nigelc]

1. yes
2. yes it is better to it by itself
3. they are have all the same commands some people like Ubuntu which is easy.
4. Gnome is quite simple but, they good points. try this URL Window Managers for X
5. f yoyu want to run windows games you can use win emulation { Wine stands for wine is not an emulator } There lots & lots of native linux games.
6. You can't learn it instantly, but here are some guides On-line Linux and Open Source Technology Books and How To Guides
7. above ditto
8. 9, 10
First of all other people here, there and everywhere will tell you that Linux is not windows and you have to learn again. It you are a Windows master, then it will no problem at all. Linux does not need anti-viruses, spyware things, defrag the disk, fiddle with the registry product keys etc.
It is different than windows and will never be the same. It comes with c++ compiler & lots of other things.
Here is where some of the distros, but not all. DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.
Cheers
Nigel

[jayd512]

Hello and Welcome!

Nigel gave pretty much the same info I would have to most of your questions, but I would like to add just a few little bits. Wine is good for running Windows apps, but with varying degrees of success. Check out the Wine Database for more details on what might run and what might not.
Also (just some good reading) take a look at the top two links in my signature for some further information about Linux, and some stuff for how to get going in it.

Let us know if you have any other questions. Have fun, and see you on the boards!