From my very limited knowledge about linux I have been told that an advantage is that you don't get any problems with viruses or you get very little problems with them. A downside to linux is that the likes of media player and all the stuff that will work on your windows os will not work on a linux os is this true.
Also I would imagine that if you use linux your pc will work faster as it won't use nearly as much of your cpu and ram is this the case or is this not true? Also is it easier to develop software in linux than in windows?