Having just spent a week with people who write linux OS's to run on mobile phone chips ..... I got to have a tinker with ubuntu
Its very fast, you will have to convert to google docs or other open source "office" applications. Another plus point it your battery will last much longer if you run it on a laptop. I quite like the feel of the OS
The downside.......... by the look of them tapping aways, something as simple as updating drivers may need to be done on the command line so unless you know command line then you may struggle.
If you have an old PC lying about then download and install it and see how you go.
Persoanlly I am an OSX user, converted a year or so ago....... never going back to windows..... well not for the foreseeable future