I have a question, since you seem to have some knowledge about Linux:
Are there noticeable differences in speed to Win7?
I'm not sure, I moved to Linux because it's so much more reliable. My windows machines kept crashing/BSODing. Like twice a day. It got really annoying. Ask around on the forum I guess.
Well, then there's no need for me to switch, since my Win7 rig is working for five days already and never crashed so far...