Choose your operating system: Linux or Windows.
Choose your operating system: Linux or Windows.
I’m feeling frustrated with Windows 10 lately and a lot of issues popping up; Cortana, Edge, etc. I’m unsure whether to keep using Windows 10 or move to Ubuntu 14.04. My system specs are an i5-6600k (overclocked at 4.4 GHz), RX 480, 8GB RAM, 16 GB DDR4, and 2400 MHz. I need to run Eclipse, Minecraft, FileZilla, Chrome, Skype, Photoshop (with WINE), a few Steam games. Should I stay on Windows 10 for gaming and daily tasks or switch to Linux for better optimization and security?
Truly, for most users on Windows 10 and Ubuntu, Linux isn't a suitable replacement. In terms of security, the main benefit of desktop Linux is its much smaller user base, which makes it less appealing as a target—similar to what happens with macOS. There are also reported problems with AMD drivers on Linux. My experience shows Photoshop doesn’t work well with Wine. A better option might be to switch to Gimp if you move to Linux. You could also disable Cortana and Edge in the registry, use the Group Policy Editor in Windows 10 Pro, or simply upgrade to a newer version of Windows.
If you're looking for Windows 10 without any updates and no feature enhancements, consider Windows 10 LTSB. It's essentially an updated version of Windows 7, but it's available only in Volume Licensing, so contact them directly for a license. Personally, I prefer Linux, but if you decide to go down that path, try installing it and commit yourself to use it for a week. If you dislike it, restore an image or boot back to your Windows installation drive.
There are several factors to think about; you can improve and protect windows with the same level of effort as securing Linux. Ubuntu, by default, isn’t more secure than Windows. Photoshop may struggle in Wine, which I used last time just to run Left4Dead Breakages during an upgrade. I’m writing this from Ubuntu 16.04 where most games function well except FTL occasionally crashing. I prefer Linux because it’s Unix-like and much simpler for programming embedded systems. For the reasons you mentioned, I wouldn’t change it.
I understand your situation. You’re already using it, so your suggestion doesn’t apply. I’ll stay with Windows until a proper fix is available. It’s good you’re aware of the drivers now. I’m considering this option but prefer not to repeatedly adjust settings.