you better try someting like knoppix. you can order a cd for a low price. its a full linux distro on 1 cd, and it runs from cd -> you dont have to install anything on your disk to try it! it has automatic hardware detection and a lot of software on it.
And about the crashes: LINUX wil NEVER crash, but this doesnt mean the software running on it doesnt crash, although most linux software is written alot better so it doesnt crash often.
and about easy to use: for everyday use it is almost as easy as winBlows, you'll be able to write mails and docs as easy and as fast as with m$ (and for free, and more portable etc etc).
but it CAN be dificult sometimes, for example if you want to use unsupported hardware (your hardware vendor doesnt support linux I guess so the linuxcommunity has to make drivers), but when its about installation of software with knoppix that works with the debian packet system which is damn easy.
all in all, I guess you better find an computer magazine which comes with knoppix and some info (thats how I got knoppix
because then most possible problems are covered, and you get alot of tips and tricks!
I'm from holland, and if u're too - you might check http://www.fnl.nl/ct-nl/ (its in dutch, but they feature all linux-knoppix articles online!)
and of course you can also check http://www.knoppix.org/ (go to english page).
grtz