i'll leave your other questions to those more knowledgable.

Ubuntu comes with the Unity graphical environment.

Canonical makes Ubuntu and Kubuntu.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubuntu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_(operating_system)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canonical_Ltd.

Linux Mint is a fork of Ubuntu. Well, it was, now you can get a pure Debian based version if you like.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_mint

Canonical has been criticized lately for actions that may not be in the spirit of openness and open source.

If you're worried about keeping old hardware running quickly, lubuntu might be the choice for you. Lubuntu is a lightweight Ubuntu, I've been very pleased every time I use it!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lubuntu

None of these operating systems are inherently better, however one my suit your needs more than the others. Since the linux flavors listed are all really Ubuntu at their core, you can expect them all to run the same software without much issue.

Your computer absolutely can run any modern version of linux.

sorry, gotta goto work. I'll address the rest of your questions once im in my office.

EDIT: And here we are!

These versions of linux, and most others will run Libre Office without issue. Libre Office works great! It will open Microsoft Office documents and has everything you'd expect out of an office suite.

Yes, you can partition your HD and set up a dual boot system. This will allow you to choose which operating system to use at boot time. You can set this up in the linux installer.

You will need to research the copier in question. Many manufacturers make complete drivers for linux, some do not.

Being linux, there will be snags. Research and more research before you try something will help tremendously. The community also does a pretty good job of helping out. If you're comfortable using the command line periodically, then you will be fine.

These versions of linux, and most others will run Libre Office without issue. Libre Office works great! It will open Microsoft Office documents and has everything you'd expect out of an office suite.

Do you have to download Libre office separately or are you given the option to pick it
up as you download one of the Linux O/S's?
And, my WP documents then become available under Libre?

Yes, you can partition your HD and set up a dual boot system. This will allow you to choose which operating system to use at boot time. You can set this up in the linux installer.

I'm not much at computers but wondering if you do a dual boot and you pick up a virus or malware in Microsoft area (or on hardrive?) wouldn't this effect the entire computer and
all O/S's?


You will need to research the copier in question. Many manufacturers make complete drivers for linux, some do not.

I only have a Canon copier with nothing else attached.
But when you're downloading a Linux program does it provide a way to include your copier or do you have to dowload something else separately?

Do you have to download Libre office separately or are you given the option to pick it
up as you download one of the Linux O/S's?

Libre Office is included in many linux distros. If it's not, you can install it with the command: "sudo apt-get install libreoffice"

And, my WP documents then become available under Libre?

I know libre will open pretty much any office document, but I'm unfamiliar with exactly what WP documents are.

I'm not much at computers but wondering if you do a dual boot and you pick up a virus or malware in Microsoft area (or on hardrive?) wouldn't this effect the entire computer and
all O/S's?

Typically, no. Most malware is written for windows machines and are coded to start with windows. Having a virus on a HD is actually not a problem, until you run the virus.

I only have a Canon copier with nothing else attached.
But when you're downloading a Linux program does it provide a way to include your copier or do you have to dowload something else separately?

Right, typically you would head over to the manufacturer's website and get the related files, but I know the linux nerds have been working very hard to include a lot of hardware without extra software. Just plugging in the copier might be enough, but don't bet on it.

Yes Libre Office is quite good ...like Open Office. Games? Well ...I play Warzone a lot which comes with Ubuntu. Steam runs on linux ...if you want to host go for a Steam server flavor. Mint seems to be the most popular right now but Ubuntu is a long time standard for Gnome 2D or 3D desktop. 3D desktop works great for me. Also you can't go wrong with any NVidia video card. The only problem with any linux flavor is multi use printers because the USB can only see one connected device at a time. Multi use printers are 3 devices on 1 USB connection. Buy a separate printer and scanner and you'll be fine. My Brother HL3070cw wireless works great and an Epson scanner works automatically.

Check http://distrowatch.com/ for the latest stats on linux flavors. Mint is still number 1 and Ubuntu 2nd.

someone here recommended Lubuntu as very lightweight and easier than
Mint and it's #16.

but as I posted elsewhere Microsoft is becoming really annoying with "at risk" messages and many other ridiculous msgs so I'd like to move on this fairly soon but don't think I've read enough about doing it yet. I will partition when I do it. Should it be 50/50?
I don't use all the space on my computer anyway.
Also, I'm very concerned about picking up a virus on Microsoft end either before I do this
or after. Or on the hard drive? Is that possible? Thanks for the info.

Both will be issuing 14.04-based KDE systems in the coming weeks. They will have support until 2017, I think. Both are based on Kubuntu, but in my opinion, the desktop environments are more polished and put together. Both are very reliable, smooth and recently pretty fast. No snags in my experience. Kubuntu is a bit more basic. Others will disagree, but I give you my opinion. However, depending on your system, you might consider giving Lubuntu 14.04 a try. I'm using it since it was in Beta with no problems at all. Lubuntu does well on older machines. Good luck.