But besides the learning curve sometimes needed even for some things you can easily do in Windows (despite hype to the contrary: spend some time reading Linux forums), know also that many multimedia codecs are proprietary, and thus are not included by default in some Linux distros, and are illegal to use in the USA and some other countries (even W/8 does not play DVDs natively except by buying the prop pack), though this is a contentious issue , with some holding that if you have a valid Windows copy on your PC then you are covered. Most just dismiss any concerns, as if writing code is not a profession fit for recompen$e.
You can but them and a DVD player from Fluendo .
The idea is to have a bare bones laptop that is lean with no extra programs other than what is needed to get my work done AND if it gets stolen or damaged beyond repair it is no great loss. My research job takes me into some fairly bizarre situations like going down in a coal mine or crawling inside a cement mixer truck once (I'm never doding that one again!), or into a sewer system etc...
I never worried so much about it in the past because I had strong legs and good balance and rarely had problems getting about but Arthritis is getting the better of me and I finally had to admit I was headed for a heartbreak if I kept dragging an expensive laptop around in those situations.
This one I have now is slowing down a bit and I don't want to buy a new one just to get more speed if I can instead put Linux on it and get the job done.