if you want to use a special hardware you need to use the OS installed on it. Most probably you will have no other chances.
From the other hand linux can do encrypted backups and easy recovery, although probably not on that tablet. In general ubuntu should be ok.

Obviously not open source, but this is all trivial with macOS: graphics tablet support is excellent, encryption and backup with FileVault and Time Machine.

But of course you have to lay down the $$$ for the Apple hardware, unless you build a Hackintosh, which might make that graphics tablet hardware support sketchy.

Moderator Response
 

Moved: This thread is more suitable in <General> and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

With the huge spate of new kernels out every few days, surely you can find one that supports your tablet well. If not get a relatively vanilla distro like Slackware where kernel building is a breeze and you don't have to wait on some repository. I'm currently running 5.11.11.

I've been using linux for ~20 years and have created many converts. One thing that's frustrating though is that someone using linux who has a problem often says something like "well, that just shows linux isn't ready for the desktop" while someone having the same problems using windows blames it on computers generally or the hardware vendor or whatever, not the operating system. I've had to switch back to windows temporarily a few times and and it's not just the OS I hate, it's the whole ecosystem -- navigating the bloatware, adware, spyware, malware and overpricing. And don't get me started on windows update! A few years ago windows update started on my netbook which ran out of battery before it could finish and bricked it. (I couldn't even get into the bios.) Just the other day it hijacked my partner's computer, without asking permission!, just a few stressful hours before her job application had to be submitted.

For getting anything running in linux there's always heaps of support on forums such as these. Then there's WINE or a virtual machine, of if all that fails you can dual boot rather than ditch linux altogether.

If linux didn't exist I'd probably, reluctantly, go with windows over apple but that's largely for ethical reasons. But I'm glad you posted your question. I tend to take linux for granted and thinking of a response has reminded me of just how good it is in so many ways. (Currently running KDE (with Kubuntu) again after a long absence and absolutely loving it!)

Best of luck with your graphics tablet whatever you do.

Wacom in Mint
 

Using daily a Wacom Intuos S pen tablet. Worked out of the box.
>System: Kernel: 5.4.0-65-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 Desktop: Xfce 4.14.2
tk: Gtk 3.24.13 wm: xfwm4 dm: LightDM Distro: Linux Mint 20 Ulyana
base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal<<<<<
>lsusb: ....
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 056a:0374 Wacom Co., Ltd CTL-4100 [Intuos (S)
....
Drive encrypted with cryptsetup.

Incorrect thread. Apologies.

openbsd of course
 

For what you want, there is no reason to leave Linux.
There are much more compelling reasons to leave Linux.

Troll alert? ^^

Re "troll alert": that this thread has had useful comments and hasn't flamed-out (yet?) perhaps says something about this forum. I'm finding it a nice place to be. FWIW I had a brief look at BSD but it seems very unlikely the OP would find better hardware support there than with linux https://www.reddit.com/r/freebsd/com...o_bad_over_90/

no, just tongue in cheek

Good! Glad you clarified that but perhaps it still applies to OP. After all there is currently no operating system that provides more support for hardware and more freedom to do with it whatever you desire than Linux... that is as long as you don't succumb to distros of convenience instead of power. There are some bright prospects for the future like Arduino, ARM, and RISC5 but those are also linked to Linux.

IMHO if you think Linux won't serve your needs, you just haven't learned how yet.

When you start looking inside OpenBSD you find a lot of code which comes from Linux. For example I am presently doing arm on a nanopi-neo-air and all the firmware, u-boot, dtb, etc comes from Linux. Applications are developed on/for Linux and patched/compiled for Openbsd. The gigantic kernel and some of the surrounding cruft where Linux sucks.

cruft (krŭft)
n.
1. Trash, debris, or other unwanted matter that accumulates over time.
2. Unnecessary digital information that accumulates over time, such as unneeded files or obsolete lines of code in software: "By removing cruft, you can recover valuable disk space ... and reduce the chance of software conflicts" (Joe Kissell).

Tablets work in Linux, period. Take it from someone who has worked in film and TV production for years.

i would move to one that met my needs, not yours. so, if i had an answer, it wouldn't do you any good. besides, i don't know your real needs.

maybe you should try them all and see what meets your needs. let us know on https://myos.myneeds.neil.co.uk/