Have you checked out Linux as an alternative?
 
Although Windows is the best solution for ensuring compatability, Linux is more robust in both performance and stability.
 
There are distributions available that offer native compatability with Windows compiled applications, such as SuSe, and for other distributions you can install Wine and run Windows applications on top of the Linux kernel.
 
For every retail Windows based application, there are at least two freeware or Gnu-licensed applications that perform on par with it's Windows counterpart. A good example of this is Open Office, which entirely replaces Microsoft Office for free.
 
 
Gaming on Linux, however, is a complicated matter. Either you have games that natively and soley render in DirectX(like most Microsoft games do) or they are compiled to be specifically run under Windows.
 
While a lot of games, such as IdSoft's entire line of games, have Linux ports, most games primarily use DirectX as the default renderer. You shouldn't have a problem if you're playing any Valve games that use the HalfLife engine, any IDsoft games, or any of the Unreal series.
 
If all else fails, wrap it. http://www.v3x.net/directx/