Besides monitization, Windows has a few other things that infuriate me... (1) VERY hard to control updates, (2) "sneaker" updates - things installed that people don't want (like trying to force Windows computer owners to update - and sometimes wrecking the computer when it does), (3) bad updates - suddenly you find features or programs you use all the time not working, and you have to find out which update (or combination) broke your software and remove them, and worst of all IMO - there used to be things you could do with Windows that have been completely stopped - configurations and ways of increasing REAL security (not just protecting profits) and making the system that much more efficient.? When I purchase a computer - I don't want some corporation forcing me to fit ITS stereotypes - I want total control over it and I will be the one making the final decisions about it (including what I do with it and the software I use).? (I should add that I often have to spend hours helping my wife with her work computer - W10, because of updates breaking her work software or other problems.) I dumped Windows in 2010 - although I'd been using Linux off and on before then.? You see, I was finishing up my Thesis using Office, and no matter what I did - Office would scramble the format into what IT thought was right (and creating all sorts of "Widows and Orphans" and other format errors not matching my school's requirements).? I had to export the thesis into text format and load it into OpenOffice - instant cure of the headaches.? Also, back in 2007, there was a "security" update to Windows media player (I forget the name).? I was using it to save a video I'd taken the summer before while camping - of a black bear walking through our campsite.? Their software popped up a very nasty message that I didn't have the right to a video I HAD TAKEN MYSELF... and deleted every copy and version from my computer.? No backups yet... total loss.? Microsoft suddenly sent out a new update after I'd lost the video and that problem vanished, but we had friends at that time who also experienced the same thing (even music one person had written and recorded).? I think you can see why I support Linux. Linux - for the most part, you have total control over what goes in your computer - which can be both good and bad (if you're not careful).? I myself prefer Ubuntu with the Gnome (old style) desktop - I'm a firm believer of "If it's not broken, don't fix it!!!".? The desktop is a personal preference thing.? I also very much like stability in my computer - so if that is important, avoid the experimental and stick with the LTS (Long Term Support) versions. (There are people who are always after the "latest and greatest" and they sometimes forget that not everyone has the same interests they do!) Another drawback of Linux... software can lose support (the author gets tired of it) - as I've experienced a few times, or "updates" to core modules in the OS itself (more of the "if it's not broken don't fix it!!!" stuff) that break entire packages because of internal changes.? Sometimes programmers forget about backwards compatibility... and that not everyone wants "the latest and greatest" at all.? I also firmly believe that if equipment does the job to your satisfaction, it is NOT 'obsolete'.? I don't support throwaway culture. There is also this problem - many software authors don't think to export their program to Linux, or don't want to bother.? Some may even be pressured into only doing Windows.? I use Windows 7 (I absolutely HATE 10) in a virtual machine when I have software that is Windows only (often Paid-for software, where nothing else will do the job or where the equipment it runs will only work with specific software).? That's the only case where I willingly use Windows. I would finish by saying I use Ubuntu LTS with Gnome because of the wide variety of programs I use, besides the usual Word Processor/Email/Browser that usually comes with the OS.? I use my computer for Amateur Radio, research (document research, but also doing things like XRF calibration curves, radiocarbon dating correction, optical spectroscopy work, and so on), and rarely for games - plus I do like to watch videos and movies now and then. There are specialized "flavors" of Linux that might fit one's need better.? Oh, and using Linux often requires a bit more knowledge (to really be able to utilize it) than Windows - but then, that also depends on the flavor. BTW - I don't use R like I used to, but have always had good luck with it running under Linux.? I don't know how it works under Windows - maybe someone can speak to that. I hope this is helpful! Bob