Wellll...it is OLD....buuuttt ...there are some alternatives to use linux with windows running...I quite enjoyed it actually. I foolishly left the comp world back in the day....came back to it and went eeny-meeny...picked windows instead of linux...then wanted to migrate...but it was daunting back in the day... It was easier for me to understand linux WHILE using Windows. Frame of reference kindathing... No dual booting or VMware or WINE or other mucking about..or irritating compat issues.
So ya...there is andlinux and colinux....and a couple of others I can't recall at the moment.....as I said tho ...they are old now...last I used them with was xp...worked great too..worth checking out...perhaps there is a more current project that runs linux seamlessly with windows. I haven't checked up on such developments in a while ...

Addendum : For that matter...why not keep a copy of xp backed up somewhere. I know that for tablet pc artwork ...xp tablet ed. was pretty darn good. I've got a few copies backed up. I still use my old toshiba portege m200 with xp tablet ed. and will prob continue to use it. that old m200 has a hard time with anything higher...and after the early tablet yrs...the convertibles got faster and more powerful but the screen res got smaller...hard to beat 1400x1050 for artwork...modern res. sucks ...tend to get jags just sketching.
Anyway...xp had and has plenty of issues ...sure...but the tablet edition wasn't bad...and the amount of decent software was pretty good. And just because M$ is trying to push everyone out the door now doesn't mean people will stop using the software. Just have to change a few things and behaviours (security wise..) ...anyway...I think migrating is a good idea...esp with win 8 now...yuck. But just because you migrate doesn't mean you can't use xp or the programs. Don't think of the migration as yes or no...black or white.
Linux has got great stuff and windows has some too. I try to use both to advantage.