Linux is extremely stable as a headless server. We have instances running for years with no issues.

That is where Linux's reputation for stability most likely comes from.

However as a desktop machine mainly used for media consumption I would take windows over linux any day. No doubt due to poor graphics and audio driver support.

> Linux is extremely stable as a headless server.

No question. I love my linux VMs. They are rock solid.

> for media consumption I would take windows over linux any day. No doubt due to poor graphics and audio driver support.

This is me right now. You boiled it down to the essence of it.

This. The Nvidia drivers are getting there, but they're nowhere close to Windows. Tend to mess with audio, have to restart to use a dual monitor setup (yes, I've googled). It's a real hassle for anything but a basic setup.

> The Nvidia drivers are getting there, but they're nowhere close to Windows...have to restart to use a dual monitor setup

I have a desktop with a discrete Nvidia card, and on Linux I'm easily able to turn on my second monitor after the system is already booted and have it be recognized. I'm super curious to hear what issues you ran into with this sort of thing, because it all works without hassle for me.

The issue I'm having is that Nvidia driver 418 doesn't support my HDMI out (still haven't figured out why), but 390 has atrocious power management. So when I'm mobile, I switch to 418 (restart), and at my desk back to 390 (restart again).

Ah, yeah, that does sound extremely painful. I'm guessing you've already tried using noveau to see if that works better?

> No doubt due to poor graphics and audio driver support.

Dell Precision with Intel, Ubuntu Mate, rock solid. VLC, 4k monitor, great media tools. No telemetry and UI shenanigans.

You might have been using Linux wrong, but there are also better and worse hardware choices and distro choices. There are laptops with friendly hardware that you can run anything on; there are some that will fight anything but their original OS.

I have been running Linux daily at home because it's been rock solid for years on my home laptops. And that has involved plenty of media consumption.

I used to dual boot, but on the latest I couldn't untangle Windows from 100% disk usage and failed Windows Updates -- this on a laptop that was literally a few weeks old. So long, Windows.

I use Ubuntu Desktop as my primary machine and find it very stable. I use it primarily for development with WebStorm, Atom, VirtualBox, Chromium, Node, and Bash. I rarely play games on it, and my taste in games is not fancy. I handle mail, videos, and writing chores in Chrome and Firefox. I listen to music via Spotify. I use the video card built into my motherboard. The most demanding thing I do with it is record videos that capture what I do on the screen.

Perhaps I am not a typical user, but nonetheless, I rarely have trouble with Linux. Everything just works.