To answer that question you must have a clear answer to the question:
What do i want from an operating system?
Well, and I also did read the thread"What is a "Real" Debian User." It has some good points, not trying to be a "smart aleck", but after all said and done, I know I am real , (at least I think I am), so there fore I am, and now I am using Debian, so regardless of the other things, that makes me a "real debian user".
Anyway, the most important thing for me is that the OS is stable, but also, 2nd is that I can modify it if I so desire, most of what I need, can actually be done just with DOS, but it is nice to have "multi" tasking, and some other things, that are available in more modern systems, Windows, I never did like , even when it first came out, ...actually I know very little about windows, have never used it much, back in the dos days, when I was online, it was all UNIX, so by necessity I started learning some basics, and have always been more comfortable with UNIX, or UNIX like environment, in fact that is pretty much how I stumbled onto linux, I did not like windows, but at the same time, as the internet began getting more technically advanced. etc. I could see I needed some thing more the just DOS, I searched for a "portable" or small version of Unix, and it was suggested to me to try LINUX, ,..the friend that suggested linux, similar suggested starting with mint, or ubuntu, which I did,..and they are fine, too, from what I have read, I suspect I would not like, the "systemD", but at the same time, I might not even notice the difference, maybe I would.
All I have is older computers, and if and when I look for a "new" one, I still prefer looking for a used one, if need be I can replace the HD, and or a few parts to get it running, if it is running, but has windows, the first thing I do is get rid of the mal-ware, then take it from there. The fact that linux is "free", open source, it is not that I look for something for free, "free meal" so to speak, but the fact that it is a better , more reliable,more secure, and security, is another thing very important to me, but also having access to the kernels,and source code, is essential in making any modifications, or repairs if needed or desired.
I never even finished high school, don't really have much education, all of what I have learned is by self study, reading, research,etc. , so yea, on that , at times, I get into something that is more advanced, and beyond my understanding or ability, and occasionally need to ask for detailed instruction, or perhaps a "ready made script",..etc. My first experiences with open source software were back in the late 1980's, the authors , were always happy to have some one willing to try it, and test it, and often included real "basic" forms, or a means to report any bugs, etc. Ok well I think I am kind of "rambling", so for now that is about it.
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