Up to now, I've been quiet about installing Linux over Microsoft. From my personal experience, it's a no-brainer. The Microsoft went. Period. Back in the days when we all did not know any better, we were indoctrinated to think that viruses were a fact of life ---- although I did argue that it was possible that there was a way that system files should be made inaccessible or unalterable and only configuration-type changes could be done. I had all kinds of snickers and smirks why I was wrong and this could not be done while virus writers were writing viruses and anti-viral software at the same time, employed by Microsoft, and laughing their way to the bank. Well, OK maybe I exaggerate a tad, but not far off as they do make their living off of virus-prone software and they did tell me "why it can't be done". Meanwhile, Mac's and Linux OS's came out and proven me right that yes, it can be done.
Thanks to Microsoft, it was because of their sickly, virus prone software that I opted not to take an on-line class. Because rest assured, when that big project or exam was due, the machine would get another virus, and then the professor would probably think I was acting like a kid and making excuses. I don't care to take the blame for my own faults, but that of another while they stand idly by and do nothing absolutely infuriates me! Back then I did not know about Linux. Now that I had Linux lately, I'm maybe thinking of doing that again, although I fear I'm getting older now and wonder if it's now worth it (but I digress).
So, in all this, just why would anyone want to switch to Linux and even think about keeping a jack-shoot operating system like Microsoft working side-by-side (dual boot)? It seems some here are concerned about Linux accidently formatting the disk and messing up the Microsoft. Man, that won't happen. It's the other way around. If you have a dual boot, Microsoft will probably be the unstable one screwing your system up. It can't even work right by itself, let alone with some other OS.
Is it because there's some applications on Microsoft we're are unwilling to give up? Grant it, many programmers kiss up to Microsoft, and they have some great programs out there. But what's the use if to use them you are afraid of messing them up with another virus and you are walking on eggshells all the time? I hate having something I love and then lose it. I rather not have it to begin with, even if it means scaling down.
I'm using VMware Workstation, but I think you could run Oracle's Virtual Box too.
