Windows is not your only choice when it comes to operation system. Linux is getting more and more common and usually has most of the everyday software you ever need preloaded.
Want to try Linux without installing?
Either you can run a live cd/dvd ord you can run Linux in a virtual machine such as Innotek virtualbox or wmware, You can of course even run windows in your virtual machine. Linux comes in many flavours, if you are unsure what to chose take a look at distrowatch. The most popular distro at the moment seems to be Ubuntu.
Running windows software in Linux?
Most software for windows you can run through a windows emulator called Wine.