I guess this is my biggest question: will all my Windows-based programs still run under Linux? I don't want a free OS if I have to buy new apps. I mostly use OpenOffice, but I use Outlook as my email app (since it syncs with my pda), and I use a home recording app called AcidPro. If those all work in Linux, I wouldn't have much of a problem with switching over.
well there ya go :)
keep in mind my working knowledge of linux is 5 years old (so ancient history by now)
back in those days ;) the answer is no.
in these days, i would guess kinda sorta no. The number of applications that have been written or ported to linux is greater, but you need the correct version. Ie your windows version of outlook (or ms office) won't work (i think) you need the linux version
now some stuff, namely almost anything written in java (and in terms of big commerical applications there aren't many) will work in linux.
If your big into games...forget the switch. Waiting for a linux game is like waiting for a mac game.
There are all sorts of emulaters that you can run to fool windows programs into thinking linux is really windows. But its kind of like why bother.