I use Linux Mint all the time. Windows 8 in dual boot mode is now used just occasionally when some game doesn't work on Linux otherwise I don't see any use for WIN especially all software that you will ever need is free on Linux. The system has virtually unlimited support. Very easy graphical install of software through sofware manager/center (similar to Windows store but was made way before that thing even existed on windows). Or if you prefer manual install through terminal that is also very easy. Or you can use a packet manager to get software installed. Linux essentially is about choice and giving full control of the system to the user. You have several different distros depending on what you need. If you need for everyday computing Linux Mint or Ubuntu is best option. If you need for stability your best with Debian, etc. If you wan't to have all the newest software at once there is Arch Linux (although not very easy to use).

Essential software that comes with basically every Linux install from start (so no install needed after you install Linux):
- Libre Office (for Office work basically Word, Excel, Powerpoint which are named Writer, Calc and Impres in Libre Office)
- Firefox
- Gimp (essentially open source Photoshop with tones of extensions to expand its use)
- Simple scan (for document scanning with)
- choking -> Steam client for Linux
- simple torrent program Transmission (if you need such a thing)
- Thunderbird mail (aka Outlook)
- VLC (video player)
- K3B or Brasero for burning DVDs/CDs (I advise K3B if its not installed and forget about Brasero),
- Banshee for music and radio (basically similar to Itunes)
- also all drivers installed from start (rarely drivers don't work properly or are an issue on very old pcs/laptops).

By "could' I mean that it's technically possible. The faster processor should (I hope) allow me to download and install updates without slowing the computer down. And I'd have additional functionality like Cortana and DX12 -- all of which I won't use anyway. So it's an easy choice for me. I'm going to stay Minty!

Wow! Many thanks for your input.
A lot of info here and it looks like I need to do some research. Really appreciate the links.
I'm not greatly computer savvy, especially with software.
I did build my last couple of computers, but that's mostly putting parts together and installing drivers.
You say that Linux is more secure than Windows. Does this mean that it doesn't need anti virus running with it?
Edited because Matruchus answered my browser question. Thank you.

That's not really true, most of the software is included with desktop environments not the OS itself.
And most of those applications also have a free Win32 version.

Well I've been using Linux off and on since the days you had to actually buy magazines to get Slackware which would just dump all its files on your drive and leave you to figure it out.
My experience has been.. varied.
Nowadays at least installing it is usually as easy a Windows installation, but it's still not as easy and friendly to maintain as Windows.
Which is logical, the more you can customize something the more work you have to put into it.
I suppose you could say Windows is one thing for everybody and Linux aims to be everybody's one thing.
If you're a fairly casual user, sure everything is fairly easy and friendly.
But once you try to go beyond that you'll usually have to do quite a bit of reading and editing config files and such.
Heck, even using Linux Mint 17.2 dual monitor setup didn't work at all for me.
I could use two monitors, but it wouldn't remember which was primary and programs would start on the wrong display
and in the wrong resolution or sometimes spread out over both monitors.
None of the settings in the X environment could fix it, that's hardly user friendly and an issue I've encountered several
times over the years. Obviously everything can be fixed, but not in a very easy and friendly manner.
Never had that problem in any version of Windows (perhaps they introduced it in 10).
I hope it still makes sense, I'm tired and even were I not I hate typing walls of text.

At least DX12 shouldn't be an issue anymore on Linux when the new Vulcan API is done which should be very soon looking at the news.

You win.

Now I'm curious about what the worst, forced upgrade story would be.

Why Linux? If you like it, use it. That's why. In the end that's how I see things.

I used Macs for two decades, because I liked the OS. It fit my needs. I used Linux for a couple of years at university. Because it fit my needs. I use Windows now, because it fits my needs.

They are all great platforms and at the end of the day, it's your choice.

Let's suppose you have a Linux system that doesn't have the program you need; it's still much easier to install it on Linux then on Windows. I'll use VLC as an example.

On Windows: You have to find the VLC website, hope it hasn't been trojaned (or be smart enough to add https:// to the beginning of the URL and check the certificate), find the download on the site, download it, and then run the installer.

On Debian: It takes only two commands (prepend with sudo if necessary).
# apt-get update
# apt-get install vlc
and VLC will be installed. These commands automatically check the signatures on the packages downloaded, ensuring that you don't end up with a trojaned version of VLC.

I should also point out that some programs, like Python and diff, are often installed automatically even in server installs that lack desktop environments.

Those are not very good examples.
A) CLI is not user friendly for most people
B) That is only if you know the exact package name
C) Those are installed because a lot of other applications use them, Windows also gets installed with the required libraries

There is an easier way than this for beginners :)

Click on Sofware manager ->enter password ->search for vlc -> click on install

You don't need the command line. Package manager will do. And it's easy to browse and find whatever you need. Now you're just trying to defend the undefendable I think.

Nope, just pointing out that that particular reply with those examples were not very good.
The package managers can be great, which is why I think MS is taking a similar approach with the whole store thing.
Again, I haven't used 8-10 much.

None.
I personally used Linux in college, as we were in college campus, i was not having an legit Windows license back then, but i also wanted to learn Linux. It was a thing back then, had few friends that were into this OS, we were having fun with it, finding apps, learning commands, debugging stuff, it was more of an passion than utility.
But, right now, even if i'm above-average Linux user and i always liked the open-source community and concept, i would not go back to it, as long as i have Windows 7. Windows it's more straight for me, i don't have problems in running any applications or games that i need, i don't have to troubleshoot too many things regarding my OS working as it should. And yea, i know that all Linux lovers will go and say "OMG, but it's so easy, so user-friendly". No, it's not.

The thing with Linux it's like this. It reached a point where it's user-friendly. You can use your mouse to install it and use it. Then, you will hit a point where you take an application or you receive an error that you don't know what to do with. At that point, you will go online, start doing research. You will probably find various solutions that would include you following a set of terminal-commands. And this thing might repeat, and you will get more in-depth with those terminal commands, you will feel the need to learn more about how they work. And you reach a point when you believe that it's easier.

Like this dude:
"installing/uninstalling applications is easy and clean (sudo apt-get install firefox / sudo apt-get purge firefox)".

And you, as an beginner user will be like "wtf it's that?". It's an terminal command. And you might be like "oh, cool, so i can uninstall stuff". So you might go with it and be like "oh, i'll use it to uninstall Firefox". And you might get something like "apt-get command not found". So you might be like "oh, let's see what the deal is". So you might end up around here.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AptGet/Howto

After you don't understand anything around there, you will pretty much be blocked if no one is telling you that you might have Fedora, where you have yum instead of apt. So you will have to go yum install...

And also, if something does not work as it should, don't worry, we have the fix. You have articles like this one:
http://www.tuxradar.com/content/how-fix-most-common-linux-problems

Just common problems.

Long story short, if you are interested in learning a new OS, Linux it's the OS you would want to know. But if you want to watch movies and play games on your PC and you have Windows, there is no reason whatsoever to go learn Linux. It's not as user-friendly as people try to make you believe. You can use it only with your mouse, but you will encounter problems where you might need to go in-depth. Windows it's easier and friendlier to use.

Yes Linux is more secure since its built totally differently then Windows. Viruses or other malicious software can't get access to your system without your explicit permission. To be fair tough there were about 10 viruses made for Linux but those are obsolete cause of how Linux is built. Antivirus as such is not needed for Linux. You can though install an antivirus that checks Windows files for viruses made for Windows.

One other thing is the firewall that needs to be configured via graphical interface (gufw which has to be installed after Linux installation) to deny incoming traffic for programs that aren't installed by default. Easiest setting is just to deny incoming traffic for all unknown programs.
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And don't worry about program installation on Linux. Its very easy.

It comes down to this: Click Menu (aka start button) ->click on administration ->click on software manager ->enter system password ->search for program ->click on install. That's it. Its not complicated at all.

or if you know program name you can use terminal like this:
example Geany (simple programming IDE)

open terminal (click on menu ->accessories -> terminal)
enter following commands (usually you just paste them by pressing on ctrl+shift+v):

sudo apt-get install geany
then you enter system password
sudo apt-get update

sudo is command that allows administration rights/install rights to the program without which nothing can be installed
apt-get install <programm name> is a command that initializes program download + installation
apt-get update - >command that updates software
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Also if you wan't to play games on Linux gog sells about 310 Linux native games.

List here: [url=http://www.an-ovel.com/cgi-bin/magog.cgi?ver=665&scp=g&dsp=ipgfsorlcmbaxyzXhDFGHTP0512348&ord=&flt=olx~1~&opt=&myf=WedJan62229542016_empty_Tq4iHcsq_hweQ]http://www.an-ovel.com/cgi-bin/magog.cgi?ver=665&scp=g&dsp=ipgfsorlcmbaxyzXhDFGHTP0512348&ord=&flt=olx~1~&opt=&myf=WedJan62229542016_empty_Tq4iHcsq_hweQ[/url]

If you use Steam you have 1762 Linux native games available including AAA titles. Most other Windows games can be made to run under WINE.