Here is another one for the wolves to chew on. Right now I'm in the process of downloading Mandrake Linux 8.2. I work at a computer shop where 99% of all the machines that come through are Windows based, and I have several regular customers who use Linux based operating systems and I've decided to try to learn as much as I can (even if it is very little) about the *nix environment. I've been a user here for quite some time but prefer to read and learn instead of ask, but like all good things it must come to an end. So here are a few questions:

1. Since I am so used to the Windows environment how hard will the interface be to learn?
2. Has anyone tried the new release of Mandrake 8.2? If so am I in for trouble?
3. Which boot loader would you recommend for a dual boot system (Win XP/Mandrake)?
4. Will I be able to access the partitions from Mandrake that have Windows loaded on them?
5. (This is gonna be the killer) Will Windows based programs work in the Linux environment?

Any help the fine folks here at Antionline can provide will be awesome. I've already killed Google for every text document I can dig up so that's out of the way. Also, if anyone has any links that could prove to be useful (especially to a newbie to Linux) please include them. Thanks.