Linux or Windows? Which is better?

Hello Linux users - this is what us Windows noobs need, plain English explanations. I want to try Ubuntu just to surf the web and look up e-mail. Will it run a media player do I can listen to .ogg or .mp3? Would it run The Gimp? If not, what distro would I need?

I heard theres one that you can get a Windows Installer for, whats the distro? Would I be able to run Open Office on it, or is there a Linux freeware alternative?

I genuinely cannot find a Windows user - friendly forum for total Linux beginners. I'm tired of getting sneered at because I don't know stuff. I'm a 50 year old housewife for gods sake and no expert but not a complete moron either. I love the idea of actually being able to re-install my OS from disc. Or run stuff in a sandbox.

I'm currently using Windows 7 Home Premium and I like it. But Windows 8 sucks, I mean can you imagine a business trying to use that? Its stupid. XP looked like Fisher Price threw up on my monitor, W8 looks like my pc downgraded into a tablet.

No, Windows 8 is far worse than Vista ever thought of being....

Better is whatever works best for you. For some it is Windows, for others it will be Linux, others prefer a Mac.

I use Windows for gaming. That is all Windows is good for these days. For everything else I use Linux. I'm a software developer, and I write code all day long. Linux works very well for this.

Choosing a distro is important. Some are popular, some work well for beginners, some are more suitable for experts.

Ubuntu is very popular with the kiddies and is good for those that have a lower level of technical expertise. It's not all that great overall, but fills an important niche. If you are a professional, you would want Red Hat of Slackware or one of the other main and mature distributions. I personally would never use Ubuntu or any of the Debian variants. Debian itself is pretty good, but not so much the derived distros.

Getting started - Ubuntu.

Professional and know what you are doing - Slackware.

I'm no hacker (i.e. I don't know how to write code). But I would love to not be a slave to Windows. I have wondered myself about Linux and other less mainstream OS. One day I will build my own system with the os and programs that I want. Until then I try my best to learn. One site that has been helpful, even though I don't get much time to visit, is hackthissite.com. It is free and teaches a lot about hacking and running a DIY OS. Now before anyone gets up in arms when I say hack I am using the term in its original and true form which is "writing or someone who writes code." Not someone who does malitious acts on the internet. That is a misnomer. Anyway, I share your dislike of Windows and hope you find what your looking for. Good luck and Fight the Powers That Be! Down With the Man! Hahaha!

Linux is Way better because the world depends on Linux and most people don't know it!

When people use their phones, tablets (Android OS, IPhone OS, Blackberry 10, IPAD, and etc..) these are all Unix-Like technology operating systems on the mobile devices!

When people use their digital Cameras to record or take pictures they are Unix Like Operating systems on the cameras that gives us the menu to run our cameras!

When kids play games on PlayStation, Sega, Nintendo, Wii and etc. they are running on Unix Like Gaming Operating Systems!

When people have a computer and its running Ubuntu Linux, Red Hat, Linux Mint, Mac OS X these are Unix Like Operating systems NOT Microsoft Windows!

Today's TV have lots of menu on them for browsing the web reading from USB cards and etc.. these are Unix Like Operating systems on the Smart TV's today!

Linux has been part of our lives for years but its been hidden and unknown! Then Internet Taught us allot!

We have to say Goodbye to Windows and none of these devices above has ever required an Antivirus, Malware, Spyware, Adware, Disk Defragmenting and or other system maintenance tools to keep them working correctly except Windows!

Because Windows is not a Unix Like Technology Operating system its just Business!

and if you are Worried about games on Linux then why don't you install STEAM on Ubuntu Linux from the software center and play the top of the line games on Linux like Half Life, Counter Strike and etc..

over 1/3 of the people around the world use Linux today and they don't even know it!

I personally prefer Windows for most of the business stuff and gaming I do, but if you are a hacker and want your computer customized to exactly what you want and don't have a problem with lack of app support, Linux is the way to go.