FOUR SYSTEMS BETTER THAN WINDOWS
(Image credit: Distrowatch.com)
1. Linux Mint
Linux Mint is one of the best Linux for beginners. It's easy to use, decently easy to understand, and comes with lots of software pre-loaded, and literally thousands of free software ready for download.
My wife started with Linux Mint. She was skeptical about Linux because she used Windows most of her life. She enjoys Linux Mint.
Linux Mint is my #1 pick for the average beginner of Linux. It offers a few different desktop styles so you can customize it to your liking. See more about Linux Mint on Distrowatch or Linux Mint website.
Best of all, Linux Mint is FREE!
(Image Credit: Distrowatch.com)
2. UberStudent
If you're a student, perhaps UberStudent is more up your alley! I've only experimented with UberStudent, so I have no experience using it for educational purposes. It should be good though.
UberStudent is FREE but accepts donations to keep up production.
See more about UberStudent on Distrowatch or UberStudent website.
3. Kubuntu
(Image credit: Distrowatch.com)
Kubuntu is an excellent operating system! It is based on the Ubuntu system which is perhaps the most highly trusted Linux system. Kubuntu is very configurable and robust. It can be a bit technical, but only slightly.
Kubuntu is FREE!
See more about Kubuntu at Distrowatch or Kubuntu website.
(Image Credit: Distrowatch.com)
4. Elementary Linux
If more of an OSX look is your style, then take a look at Elementary. This system is sleek and stylish. Elementary is based on the Ubuntu system which is perhaps the most highly trusted Linux system.
Elementary is FREE but is advertised as 'Pay what you want'. Just enter a '0' to get it for free.
Learn more about Elementary on Distrowatch or Elementary website.
Why I created this list
(Image credit: (me) @shawnblanchette)
Yesterday while I was researching for a post, Microsoft decided to freeze my computer. Yes, Microsoft really does that. The issue lies with Windows Update. If you delay updates too long (not sure how many tines yet), Windows 10 will freeze on you, forcing you to reboot to install the updates. And, there's no way to stop all updates. I've tried everything short of reverse engineering, which I don't have the skills to do.
Having been a computer technician, I know quite a bit about computers. I am now looking for a way to stop all communication with Microsoft through my firewall.
Conclusion
If you're as fed up with Windows as I am, you may be tempted to install one of these other Linux -based systems. Some you can download a Windows file containing the system so you can test them out on Windows, but the best way to test them is to get VirtualBox, download the system, and install it on VirtualBox. I would suggest downloading them all and testing them one by one to see which you like the most.
Once you have found the system that works for you, there are good tutorials on dual booting and completely replacing Windows with Linux.
Linux is not too difficult to learn. It will work just like Windows/Mac -- that is, point-and-click. Linux is very reliable and gives you access to tens of thousands of programs, completely free (and some paid), and the free software are usually as good or better than Windows paid software. Linux is extremely customizable. I'll do a post on Linux soon.
Whether you're fed up with Windows (which you were forced to pay for when you bought your non-Mac computer) or you're just looking for something different, Linux has plenty of choices for you.