My advice: install it on a second hard drive. You can also install it besides Windows, but that might break after a Windows update.

Linux feels different on bare metal than in a virtual machine. In a VM, it feels sluggish and is more prone to glitches.

Things to do/ my tips:

• use it just like you would use a PC normally (surfing, file management, etc.)
• If you decide to install it on bare metal, try gaming on it. It is almost as viable as Windows for that, and pretty much all (single player) games work on it, often even better!
• Use the package management system. Linux has the best ever! You don't need to install random stuff from the internet, you just go into the software center, search for it and click "install", just like on Android. System- and app-updates are usually at the same place.
• Stay on Mint for a while. You made the right choice, it is one of the best distros out there, especially for beginners! See, what you dislike and what you like, and only then jump to another distro. Otherwise, you will reinstall your OS every week.
• Don't try to force-install everything you're used on Windows. Some stuff, like MS-Office, isn't just available here. You have to look out for alternatives, in that case, OnlyOffice or LibreOffice for example.

Software recommendations

There isn't that much Linux-exclusive software out there. Most of it is open source, so it usually gets also published on Windows. But here are some I like that are:

• KDE Connect is freaking awesome
• Everything from the "Gnome circle" is also elegant and simple. It's a collection of "do one job"-apps that are very polished.
• Lutris: a game management software, that shows you your library and also offers quick-installations for Windows-games through Proton. A must have for every gamer, it replaces your dozens of launchers.