For some people, leaving Windows behind can be scary and daunting. Linux or Mac. Mac is expensive so you would be trading one bill for another. But MOST Linux is free. After you get your feet wet with free Linux OSes you still have the choice to pay for support by buying the supported Linux OS.

There's a Windows Like Linux OS called Zorin OS. It LOOKS very similar to what you are used to in Windows, but it is completely Linux. It comes with hundreds of programs free and there are thousands of other programs you can download and use for free. My 70 something mother-in-law prefers Zorin OS over Windows. When her old computer finally died, she bought a computer with Windows already installed on it. She requested I put Zorin OS on the new computer and erase Windows. Watch for my post of a list of Linux Open Source software organized by specific functions that software provides like email, internet browser, etc..., some of which you can download onto Windows to try before you swim.

I have included a link to where you can watch a video or if you're adventurous enough to download and install Zorin OS.

UPDATE: I haven't done this with Zorin OS yet, but would like to know if someone else installed Zorin OS along side Windows and were able to choose Windows or Zorin to boot up to.