Which operating system(s) do you use?

[MakeBelieve]

I've thinking to getting a laptop soon. But, it has windows 8 already installed. I have experinced windows 8 and I think it's shocking. I don't like the layout of it at all. But, can I get some input from you guys? Is the interface good when you get used to it? I didn't spend much time of it because

[sva_h4cky0]

I've decided to switch over to Linux next time I buy/build my next comp or next time I format.

My reasons are to support open source, but primarily for privacy/security.  I'm not a programmer, but I'm reasonable knowledgeable, and have become a privacy nut the past year or two.  I was thinking of Quebes OS for obvious reasons, but then I was thinking there might be more options on more mainstream/compatible distros.  (I got the impression that many distros are different enough that software often is not compatible.)

Privacy and security and network and access/permission control is my number one priority, followed by stability.  And though not a programmer, I consider myself really good with computers and am confident in my ability to google and fix my own problems-- that being said, I do want something that is kind of intuitive for people who think like programmers.  I like things that "just work" and are intuitive to troubleshoot when they don't.

What Linux distro would you guys recommend?  Right now, I'm thinking of:  Quebes, Ubuntu, Elementary, Mint, Manjaro, or just stock Arch that I spend a lot of time on at the beginning.

i think Mint or Elementary are good choice, and Arch Linux if you want to learning more about Linux. dont worry Arch Wikis will assist you. 

[imamanandyou]

I've thinking to getting a laptop soon. But, it has windows 8 already installed. I have experinced windows 8 and I think it's shocking. I don't like the layout of it at all. But, can I get some input from you guys? Is the interface good when you get used to it? I didn't spend much time of it because

Windows 8 layout is the same shit as android or apple, you cant really do much here. Good old Windows 7

[terrapinflyer]

Kwheezy
OSX
Windows 7
in that order 

[batt01]

I've decided to switch over to Linux next time I buy/build my next comp or next time I format.

My reasons are to support open source, but primarily for privacy/security.  I'm not a programmer, but I'm reasonable knowledgeable, and have become a privacy nut the past year or two.  I was thinking of Quebes OS for obvious reasons, but then I was thinking there might be more options on more mainstream/compatible distros.  (I got the impression that many distros are different enough that software often is not compatible.)

Privacy and security and network and access/permission control is my number one priority, followed by stability.  And though not a programmer, I consider myself really good with computers and am confident in my ability to google and fix my own problems-- that being said, I do want something that is kind of intuitive for people who think like programmers.  I like things that "just work" and are intuitive to troubleshoot when they don't.

What Linux distro would you guys recommend?  Right now, I'm thinking of:  Quebes, Ubuntu, Elementary, Mint, Manjaro, or just stock Arch that I spend a lot of time on at the beginning.

I have never tried Quebes OS but I went went Manjaro for personal use, dual booted with Win7.
Elmentary OS and Zorin OS are very intuitive . I give Zorin the edge, in that you can make your UI like Windows, Mac or the OS of your choice with a single click.

[johncarpe64]

Window 7, thats the best!!!

[pedrog]

Window 7, thats the best!!!

NSA agrees.

[luv2drnkbr]

I have never tried Quebes OS but I went went Manjaro for personal use, dual booted with Win7.  Elmentary OS and Zorin OS are very intuitive . I give Zorin the edge, in that you can make your UI like Windows, Mac or the OS of your choice with a single click.

Thanks for the advice!  I'll give Zorin a look!

[hayek]

Fedora/Arch/Windows 7

Dev/Fun/Games

[udet4food]

Window 7, thats the best!!!

NSA agrees.

It is best for games, for security use something different

[rampalija]

win 7 64bit 

[viriat0]

Ubuntu and Arch Linux

[Wipeout2097]

Ubuntu is a waste of one's finite life. Buggy, broken support for many devices, exploitable, half-made, unpleasant to use, terrible community.

That said, I use and love one of it's derivatives: Mint.

[TheButterZone]

OSX 10.6. Upgraded the other partition to 10.9 but haven't gotten around to seeing if it needs more than 2GB RAM to work smoothly and make it worth backing up this one and trying a migration.

ETA: So far 10.9, after migrating from my fresh backup of 10.6, seems more peppy, likely because of App Nap/compressed memory (http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/06/12/compressed-memory-in-os-x-109-mavericks-aims-to-free-ram-extend-battery-life). Since I only have the stock 2GB RAM in the Mac Mini, I held back on 10.7-.8 after seeing reviews about them being so bloated that they needed 4-8 GB minimum despite the official minimum system requirement of 2.

[pedrog]

Ubuntu is a waste of one's finite life. Buggy, broken support for many devices, exploitable, half-made, unpleasant to use, terrible community.

That said, I use and love one of it's derivatives: Mint.

Why not Linux Mint Debian?

[petersiddle98]

Window XP, not going to upgrade for a lifetime...

[Dabs]

Hey, how's Linux Mint (debian or not) ? I've been planning to install it, just haven't had the courage to do so. hehehehe. I mean, what can be worse than running DBAN on your computers drive, it's just data.

[pedrog]

Hey, how's Linux Mint (debian or not) ? I've been planning to install it, just haven't had the courage to do so. hehehehe. I mean, what can be worse than running DBAN on your computers drive, it's just data.

What's DBAN?

[TheButterZone]

https://www.google.com/search?q=DBAN

[pedrog]

https://www.google.com/search?q=DBAN

Yeah, thanks for making me look stupid/lazy...

In my defense I took two sleeping pills and I'm in my last minutes of surfing before sleeping.