Do I really need a dual install?

[spiderbaby1958]

If I go for straight-up Linux (probably Mandrake), what will I not be able to do that I like to do now? Will I be able to get realaudio off the web? Share files? Surf the web? Edit HTML? Upload to my website? Download porn? View mpgs, jpgs, and PDF's? Are there any good free MP3 players available in Linux? I am unemployed and in terrible shape financially; Will I be able to function fully on free software, or at least on a 65 dollar Mandrake Linux "power pack"?

:confused:

[Saptech]

Yes you can get a number of choices of software for those you mention. I believe RealPlayer is still available for Linux. PDF files you can get Adobe Acrobat, Xmms for MP3s, along with other programs for those file formats.

Check out Freshmeat.net (http://www.freshmeat.net) and Two Cows (http://www.twocows.com) for all kinds of software programs.

Just go for it. I once installed Mandrake 8.0 on a Win machine intending to dual boot but didn't choose Expert mode and ended up with only LInux on the box. After thinking about it, I decided just to leave MDK on it and really enjoyed not having Windoze around!:D

[LilBlueDawg]

There are programs, such as WINE, u can use to "emulate" windows so u can run windows applications on linux.

I still have Windows XP on my box, by the way. I'm a newbie to Linux and im not ready to give up Windows yet. :D

[X_console]

Why don't you just dual boot and then use Linux? Then you'll see what you can and cannot do with it. Everything you asked in your post can be done with Linux, and all for free.