

I suppose it depends on what you mainly use the PC for. The things Linux can’t do these days are few and far between; basically some online multiplayer (depending on what anticheat they employ) and specialized/professional stuff that goes out of its way to not be compatible, like Adobe suite etc. The desktop environments are intuitive enough for any Windows user, too.
Personally I’d go for a distro like Ubuntu or some Arch derivative, both have an insane amount of documentation and know-how accumulated online so it’s likely that you’ll find answers to all your questions, and KDE for the desktop environment (or XFCE if you’re really short on system resources).
HTC One M8, hands down no questions. Curved aluminium back, front facing stereo speakers. Fits the hand like a well tailored glove.
There may be fancier looking phones out there, but nothing I’ve ever seen looked cooler.