I've run linux in a VM thereby avoiding the hardware compatibility and driver issues, but like others have pointed out that just adds overheard slowing things down while not eliminating the risks of the host os, so there's really no benefit to doing that.
I'm not against linux, and I will continue to play with it coz I think it's neat. I can easily see it being used as a standard office platform, since in that environment you should have some professional IT support anyways, and linux would be easier to manage than windows in that environment.
I'm just saying I don't believe it will be most folks first choice for their home pc's until it becomes as easy to use & manage (from a casual user standpoint) as Windows.
But just to keep this posting somewhat on-topic, my main point was that the vast majority of risks within the Windows world are due to user ignorance, not to any inherent flaw in Windows. If Linux had as wide a user base as Windows, then hackers would be working overtime to compromise it. Browser-based attacks can be developed for any OS, and I seriously doubt that linux can't be hacked.
Cheers
