Linux is a great OS, on a server.
For a desktop, ignoring stability as a factor (where Linux will win hands down) Windows is quite superior. Linux might be superior as far as the architecture goes, but for a desktop computer, it is a really hard sell. Linux makes getting software installed a lot more complicated too.
Even Windows is a bit behind in that respect. For comparisons sake, I use OS X, and almost all applications are installed by dragging them to the applications folder.
I had linux installed on my last PC, but then again, my reasons were because I wanted to learn the OS, and the only applications I actually needed where a web browser, e-mail, and chat clients.
I ended up removing it when I found out that my NIC (when I got cable) was incompatible, and I would have had to get another.
Since then, I’ve been running Macs w/ OS X.
I’d have to say, that OS X is like a best case combination between Windows and Linux.
You get the stability and server strength foundations like Linux,
Third party application support (which, AFAIK, Linux still doesn’t really have)
Plus a more intuitive interface than Windows (stuff like drag and drop installs, ad just dropping apps into the trash to uninstall them)
In your case, I’d probably just run a Windows and Linux partition, that is, if you feel like learning the OS on a more basic level.
Otherwise, I’d just reinstall Windows.
On a desktop computer, there is really nothing at all about linux that makes it worthy of use, except for the stability. While nice, it doesn’t make up for its other shortfalls.