This is a load of crap. In windows, right after I install it, I have 8-bit colors at 640x480 (or lower?), a barely functioning mouse, no printer, no sound and probably some other stuff I can't think of right now. On most distros (Mandrake for one) all of these devices work out of the box. The last time I installed Windows (XP) I had to reboot at least 5 times before it worked. Firewall, video card, sound card, printer and at least two times for updates (it may have been more) and this was with sp1 slipstreamed if I remember correctly. Guess how many times I had to reboot in Mandrake. That's right...0.

The history thing - some people may find this interesting and others not. This is way off on a tangent with heading of this thread but here goes and it probably really dates me but what the heck.
I bought my first Apple 2e in 1981 and bought a further 2 within 6 months and was running my business accounting with them. This was my second pc, the first being a Sinclair Spectrum ZX81 in 1980. The biggest mistakes ever made in computer history were about to be made by 2 organisations. In 1982 a Taiwanese manufacturer started producing an Apple 2e clones called the Apricot which sold for half the price of the Apple and ran Apple software. Apple made the fatal mistake of going after them on infringement of copyright and stopped the production. Shortly after this IBM designed their first pc but they were only interested in making the hardware so looked for someone else to create the os and Gates happened to be in the right place at the right time. The big difference was that IBM didn't care that clones were made in the Far East and they came out by the million. I could never understand it but that is how it turned out. IBM and Apple have been kicking themselves eversince.

I remember when the IBM PC first came out, running MS-DOS. My first reaction was, "this will set personal computing back by at least 10 years!" (And I was pretty close to right: it wasn't until Win95 that I finally saw something as good as what I had been using back in 1984.)

On Topic: Linux is for ME! As has been said, I can do what I want, when I want, and how I want. I think KDE is easier than using WinXP.

But one thing I have to agree with 357mag: my IDE Zip drive was recognized through Mdk 9.x. But when Mdk10 was released, I could no longer access it properly. I never did figure out why - it *said* it recognized it, and would even put an icon on my desktop, but I could never access any files on it. It wasn't a *real* problem for me, since I use a USB Key Drive by preference now (which works fine ), so I just need to retrieve some old files from old zipdisks, which I can do using Mdk-Move, or Knoppix, or whatever.

Here are my opinions:

Linux is definitely not for the average or hardcore gamer. I know about Cedage and stuff, and I hope everything progresses fast, but atm, Windows is the fastest way to get your gaming going.

Linux, I think is also not for the COMPLETE noob. The kind that needs their hand held down the whole path or something. You gotta be ready to get your feet in the mud sometimes. SOMETIMES, but you'll actually be able to survive the day by yourself with linux w/o having to call up your geeky friend

But for the regular home user, I think its great. The major thing as always starts with the virus, spy/ad/malware stuff. Users should just not need to care about all that. 1 Point to Linux. Linux is getting more and more noob friendly, better looking, and just better at everything! Really helps to transition those Windows users.

Like the others have said, this is hardly true. When I install Windows, I need to install drivers for video, sound, modem, USB (!!!), and so on. With Linux (ANY distro that I've tried), the only thing I actually needed was the modem driver.

Some things I absolutely have NOT had to install while using Linux:
1) Antivirus software
2) Ad-aware
3) Spybot - S&D
4) Windows Updates
5) Daily security bandaids (duct tape and bubble gum? Microsoft calls them "patches", I call them "Oh $#!^"s)
6) Sign next to my desk that says "Bang Head Here"

In my opinion, Windows has two purposes. First, to teach people the bare essentials of using a computer, which should be followed by upgrading to Linux so you can understand so much more about how the OS works and you can actually do something with it other than play Solitaire, spreadsheets, text documents, play games, and send email. Second reason being (this may be just a bit opinionated, but oh well...) Since Windows actually does have 90% of the market, it keeps adware, spyware, and virus makers from targeting my Linux.

Linux is for anyone that's not afraid to learn something different and does not expect it to work just like Windows. Now, the learning curve is a bit steep, but I do know this... every single problem I've had on Linux has been my own fault because I didn't know what I was doing. It's a learning process. My learning process just happened to consist of a LOT of trial and error. I got better at it though.

Who are bicycles really for?
Who is the Internet really for?
Who are screwdrivers really for?

However you answer those is probably the same answer to the linux question.

Linux is not as easy as Windows to use 'right out of the box', there is no point in saying that, the whole industry is geared toward Windows.

I have been using XP since it came out and have been very happy with it.

Firefox altered my thinking.

I know there are issues... I have encountered none at all. I was introduced to Tabbed Browsing and configurability on a level I hadn't even thought about. So I downloaded Open Office (55megs on dialup...says something for the Firefox Download Manager!) and after a weeks practice I was so impressed that such a huge piece of reliable software was available and produced by volunteers and cost nothing as against Microsoft Office (their most profitable software)...I was...eh...Gobsmacked, if is that the right term?

Since download of Firefox (and Tbird) on Dec 7 I have had not a single piece of malware on my computer and have actually stopped running Spyware Doctor, Spybot, AdAware et al. So I thought if this Open Source stuff is so good why not go the whole hog and try Linux.

I am a capitalist to the core which is why I have always been horrified by Microsoft's monopoly and business practices, not their ability to make money.

I am a neophyte Linux user and determined to learn for the above reasons (also retiring in a month and so more time, I hope) but I don't think you should be telling people that Linux is as easy to 'use' as Windows, because it's not.

Just some thoughts,

Actually, my theory on the ease of use is this... Anything is easy if you already know what you're supposed to do. Windows is easier for more people because it gets crammed down everybody's throats and is always present in this Microsoft dominated world, so people have much more exposure to it. (I proved this by going to a *popular* electronics store and spent an hour and a half explaining to an employee that Linux isn't a Windows program) The people that expect everything to be just like in Windows, no, it won't be easy at all for them. However, if a person knows and understands the various concepts of Linux, it can be just as easy as Windows is. It all depends on who has their hands on the keyboard.

Linux is not as easy as Windows to use 'right out of the box', there is no point in saying that, the whole industry is geared toward Windows.

What is easy is what you are used to. I put complete newbie People in front of linux and win desktops and there is no difference. Win people have more trouble with linux as it requires a certain amount of 'unlearning'...

My daughter runs WinXP. I get confused trying to do simple things, there....

well hmm i personally think linux has the potential to be for every one but its just not there yet like for me when i first began hearing about linux and i found all these different distros i was like ummmm what one do i download?? but after a friend introduced me to the basics i was off on my own and i personally love it but what comes to mind is what if a group of black hat hackers decide to challenge them selves to find a huge exploit in the linux kernel or any other open source project and once they do find that exploit and no one knows POOF there goes your enterprise businesses and your home desk tops maybe i might be exaggerating but i believe if some one or a group of people is motivated enough its possible or if ad agencies learned to program ah man what a horror lol but damn i kinda got off topic but yea i think linux can be for any one willing to learn but if you just expect things to be done for you automatically nah not going to happen

Amen ... and as I have stated in other posts on these
forums my mother (she was brought up with a dumb
terminal on a mainframe) can't make sense of a Linux-
desktop, a Mac or a Windows GUI ... she felt quite
comfy with NCurses ;)


Cheers,
Tink

Wow I sure am inpressed with the number of replies I got, cant believe it, better then a swap meet.
for sure I am impressed and just maybe it will keep me around for a little longer giving me hope that i might learn a new language such as " distro, thread.M$" I thing i need a dictionary of terms for linux so I know what you are talking about,
but seriously I am anxious to learn all about it, I have time (retired and need to expand my mind.)
I am 74 going on 39 have about 20 years experience with lots of puters I have been spoiled by have every thing done for me like windows does.
So some one tell me how to proceed to get my modem (arescom dsl) up and running
thanks guys and dolls

Hooked up via ethernet or USB? Internal? I don't know
the make/model ...


Cheers,
Tink

Another nice fact

some time ago (a year, or 2 don't remember) some company/computer rag ran a test with total newbies (must have been beancounters)
they split them into 2 groups and gave both a set of office/computer tasks, timing their success
one group was given Linux (with KDE) the other WinXP

to my knowledge the Linux group won by a minimal advantage on average.

So much to the fact of M$ to be "easier" than Linux (easier to forget maybe)