Windows xp or linux?
 

I am going to have to buy a new OS. I can get winows xp home with sp2 for $100 at newegg. Or i could go with this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832106025

I have never used or tried linux b4. I have a few questions before i consider that tho. Is it as stable as xp? is it as fast as xp? will my internet be as fast? is it easy to use? And heres my main concern/question. is it compatible with all my games and applications that i currently use in windows, as well as all my actual pc hardware. Thanks, any help is appreciated.

Linux certainly isn't as simple as Windows is nowadays.
Compatibility isn't going to be great, Wine does allow to run some windows programs under linux, but not every program runs flawlessly.
For games, there are Linux version of some games, but all top games are for windows only.

About speed, I honestly don't know, it also depens on how you configure the whole OS.

It's a bit harder to learn than windows, because linux relies on it's command line.

You might consider downloading and trying a free linux distribution. (belnet is a good host: ftp://ftp.belnet.be/linux/ )