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[dosraider]

It means that you must use what suites you the best.

It also doesn't mean that there are no games that run in Linux, just that you won't get the newest ones on it. There are plenty freeware and good games for Linux. Some are real gems.

Also it seems I forgot to mention you can get a 'live' CD for Ubuntu, so you can try it out before you install it.
Of course booting from a live CD is ..... pretty slow in fact, keep that in mind.

Why don't you take a look on the Ubuntu site? All you ask here is explained fully there.

What you also (eventually) can do is hook up an ol'HD to try things out before you decide -or not- the dual boot with XP, any 5-10 Gigs HD will do. Those are cheap owerdays, you wouldn't believe it.