Its easier to prepare to leave an OS than it is to just leave it.
To leave Windows is something everyone dreams of a few of us do. While some others touch their toes into Linux and decide the water is not fine.
The way I came to Linux was a bit different. I talked to about 2 people before I got my first Distro (Caldera OpenLinux) It was a failed experience. I was able to install from the CD however after install the CD didn’t exist anymore.After hours of searching I was told to recompile the Kernel. So I went back to Windows. About a year later I got a copy of Mandrake 7 If memory serves me correct and I installed that and had a lot more luck than with Caldera. The only thing Mandrake couldn’t do was connect to the internet do to the Winmodem I had at the time. After playing around with Mandrake and Caldera for some time I finally decided to do another Linux install this time I went with OpenSuse which I had no issues with as far as hardware and getting on the internet. With OpenSuse I had found my way into Linux. I found something where everything worked.
During the time I started with Caldera I started asking questions about doing the switch. One of the best pieces of advice I got was to stop using the Windows Only stuff. (Media player, Internet Explorer, Office and others) Instead use cross platform apps like VLC in place of Media Player, Firefox instead of Internet Explorer. Using the cross platform apps was a big help as I didn’t have to come and learn both new apps and Linux at the same time. When I made the switch to OpenSuse I was already using the alternative apps.
Joining the forums and asking and assisting others has helped me learn a lot as well. Seeing issues others have and seeing how they solved them has helped me learn to think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to be wrong and don’t get mad at yourself over something “stupid” We are human we make mistakes we move on. I think however you learn the important thing is that your getting what YOU want from it and that its Enjoyable.