Should I Install Windows or Linux?

[Propfam 2,288]

Hello,

I will plan to move to a new laptop in the future. For now, I will reinstall my PC. Before I going to the point, I will explain why I do that.

In the first time I get the laptop, my laptop has been installed with Windows 7. Then, I installed Linux on it, specifically if I right, Ubuntu 16.04. The system serves very well, I can install some software on it, until it pops up "The system has a problem". Then, I installed Fedora 25 but there are a ton of issues: asking my password to access unmounted drives, my printer's function (Fuji Xerox because my cousin's father have a home document printing business) can't be used properly and flash/thumb drives becoming read-only for some reasons. So, I moved on to Ubuntu MATE. The distro is good as Ubuntu but for some reasons, I went to Manjaro. The distro is well-built but not too polished. Then, I back to Windows 10. Now, the system is runs very well but I need *nix environment and also the free of "spyware"-y thing. The WSL is fine but I want to have integrated one. In the past (before my new laptop), I've tried older version of Ubuntu, Linux Mint and elementary OS. For elementary OS, I think it's just an experimental effort to copy macOS UI. There are tons of broken things on that distro, broken file manager, doesn't have huge library of apps and more.

So, I want a reliable, stable and polished OS. What distro/OS should I use? Should I keep with my Windows 10?

Thanks.

Additional info: should I upgrade to an SSD? I found that the 240 GB of best SSD (Samsung EVO 850) is priced at Rp1.210.000 or about $86 including tax (or around $50 excl tax). But, my drive is rated as the image on the bottom of the post.

[Alejandro24 575]

It depends, for what you'll be using that computer?

I can recommend you Linux Mint, it is stable and easy to use, Cinnamon or MATE desktops. Currently I'm using KDE Neon 5.13 and it works fine also. All depends of learning to use the system, using Linux isn't hard, but many Windows users feel disappointing because it is not "easy" as Windows.

[Handyman 765]

On 8/24/2018 at 2:32 PM, Alejandro24 said:

It depends, for what you'll be using that computer?

I have to agree with that.

I have used Ubuntu for many years and it has served me well. It is a great all around system, easy to use, powerful ( if that's what you want ), and it gets regular updates. I have tried out other debian variants but was never compelled to switch. Though I recently set up an old laptop for a bash project and decided to use Linux Mint. I was very happy with the interface and the ways it suited how I work.

On 8/24/2018 at 2:32 PM, Alejandro24 said:

it is not "easy" as Windows.

I have to disagree with this. I do understand that it can seem harder, 'at first', but in reality everything works the same. You can search through a menu to find a program and click to open it, or hit the 'super' key and star typing the name of the program and click on it. The program menus will contain the same choices your used to seeing, the concepts are universal. The only difference is the overall interface and you can do things to make it feel more familiar. I know so many people that have struggled to learn, and use,  Windows. That makes it difficult to understand how it is easier. Also when you switch to Linux most of what you already know, about how to use a computer, is not really going to change. So you start out with a big advantage on the learning curve. It's still hard for me to believe I can get a such a mature, solid platform and access to hundreds of quality programs for the total price of Zero dollars.

[Whte_rbt 1,431]

We will need more information about your system to advise you about what distros your machine can handle. Can you right click on your 'my computer' icon, select properties and then screenshot what appears onscreen please? This will tell us processor and ram info. Also, does the machine have any dedicated Graphics or Network cards? You might have to look in device manager to find this info.

[Leo_the_robot 67]

Anything debian or ubuntu based will be the most user friendly.
Pop! os is a great choice because it's the macOS of linux lol.
if you're looking for gaming though, while linux has made great strides Windows still has the edge, even if it is slowly consuming the market bit by bit.

still Pop! os by system 76 is an excellent all round choice simply because it was designed with non linux users in mind.
and the setup for WINE, steam, etc is all super simple and easy to do right from it's software center.