Windows keeps reminding be that I have to switch to Linux if I want to keep using my computer. It’s a rugged tablet from about 2011 that I still use daily for internet and some light Photoshop. Core i7 1.2 GHz, 4GB RAM, and the important part, a built-in touchscreen and Wacom digitizer. Keyboard is an external device that I don’t generally have attached. I grew up on DOS, so I’m not afraid of fiddling, but I’d rather this machine just worked. Any recommendations?
If you want solid reliability, Debian is where you might want to start. Particularly on an older PC where the hardware should be well supported. Make a live install image USB boot drive and see if you like it before you decide.
Debian is all about stability, at the cost of having less recent software. For newer versions of the desktop environments you could try live boots of KDE Neon and Pop!_OS as well.