In the past Linux relies on command line interface, now that it has Graphical Use Interface, you can use it like windows with the icons and desktops and so on.
However, both are different in the type of Kernel they are based on. Linux itself is a Kernel, though at times people describe it as an OS.
There are pluses and minuses as to each OS. Linux is a multi-tasking, multi-user OS and it crashes less easily. It has both root and user account, any system changes you need the access to the root, other than that you can so called mess around with your user account. This is good as it prevents people from messing around with the system and create instability.
Linux is a open source OS and its code is constantly reviewed by anyone. Hence, any bugs or security flaws are seen and fixes are available as early as say an hour to probably a few days.
Due to its multi tasking and multi user capability, plus it's smaller and uses hardware resources effectively, it has been known that Linux can run for almost a year without even rebooting unless there are some critical kernel updates.
There is a forum online where you can post your questions and anyone would be glad to answer. Say for example I have problems with flash when surfing the net. Logging on to the onine forum, search for answers, apply the solution and the problem is fixed! Can't find the answers? Post a question and you will get your answer as fast as15 min.
Linux is also flexible. You can make Linux desktop to rotate 3d that is if you have the correct hardware and you add in the correct command. You can make some tweaks to configure your desktop to your liking i.e. Mac desktop if you want to.
However, life is not full or roses for Linux users. The first time when I used Linux, I had problems with surfing some of the website due to incompatibility problems such as Flash and Java. I need to do some research my own in order to solve them. Besides, you need to be comfortable with command line interface. As time goes by, you will realise that command line interface is much easier to use than GUI that you might be wondering why you need GUI in the first place other than its asthetic purposes.
You might need to sacrifice some of your Windows games. Still you can run them under Linux through WINE, which is some sort of emulator but it is not as professed by the WINE official website. Nonetheless, not all Window games are compatible.
Last of all, not all hardware works with Linux, and it remains one of the problems that linux users face. You can try if Linux works with your computer by running a Live CD. Just put the Live CD into your computer and reboot, then you can run Linux from there. If you find Linux not suitable for you, you can reboot, take out the CD and run Windows.
The advantage of using Windows is its ease of use. Many hardware works well with Windows. Applications such as JAVA or Flash are compatible with the OS. You can also play your latest favourite games such as WOW, maple story etc.
However, Windows crashes quite often and needs to reboot with considerable frequency. It is a resource hungry OS and so at times may push the hardware into overdrive. The latest version, Windows Vista, needs at least 1 GB of ram space!!!
Any security flaws or bugs, you may need to wait for months or longer due to its closed source nature. Microsoft has to rely on engineers to fix the problem and post patches online for downloads.
Besides, I am not ruling out the fact that if you are using Windows XP and the focus is on Vista, over the time when Microsoft chooses to make XP obsolete, it might not support XP and post further patches, leaving XP in the sea of malicious virus and bugs in the Internet.
My answer to your question is that it depends. If you are prepared to lose your Window games, running the risk of hardware incompatibility problems (you can do research though), then you can adapt to it easily. First time users may regret using Linux due to first few nightmares of typing command line, but after a while of researching and so on, you will find that computing with Linux is a much more enriching experience than Windows. You will get to learn more. Besides, I would opt for Linux because despite the loss of Windows Games and all that, I get back in return many open source applications that are useful. You can get business accounting software, office applications, calender, email client etc all for free because there is always a group of people out there who are willing to bring these useful software to everyone at no cost. You might need to pay if you choose those that are licensed by companies.
Last but not the least, I use Linux mainly for its stability and security. Almost all the servers run on Linux, which practically run the whole of World Wide Web along with Unix, Linux's predecessor. Imagine the number of users these servers have to cope and the virus assault that they manage to fight against? You get my point why is it mulit-user and multi-tasking? If Linux is unstable, we won't be able to use the internet anymore.
Linux + an internet access + a will to learn makes everything work