Quoted from jonny_eh

I can! Have you ever used Ubuntu? I was amazed at how easy it was to install on my netbook. It was so easy I bet Gary Stern could have done it. On top of that, it's very easy to use.

Yes I have.   Have you ever tried getting a non-computer nerd to use Ubuntu?   I have.   It ain't worth it - unless they live next door and you're willing to constantly help them.

Quoted from Tuborg

Yes I have.   Have you ever tried getting a non-computer nerd to use Ubuntu?   I have.   It ain't worth it - unless they live next door and you're willing to constantly help them.

Same thing goes for Windows and Mac. There was quite the learning curve when my mother switched from Windows to Mac, may as well have switched to Ubuntu. It isn't the OS's fault, people just get used to a particular OS.

Quoted from jonny_eh

I can! Have you ever used Ubuntu? I was amazed at how easy it was to install on my netbook. It was so easy I bet Gary Stern could have done it. On top of that, it's very easy to use.

The only reason I wouldn't recommend it outright for everyone is because of games. If you intend to do computer gaming, Windows is unfortunately the only choice. Otherwise, give Ubuntu a try, it's free! You burn it to a DVD, and boot off of it. You can use it without even installing it! Then if you like it, you can install it. It'll even repartition your hard drive so you can still keep Windows if you already have it.

I am going to learn how to use Ubuntu. My plan is to take a old P3 i have, install it and go from there. I have heard form many people that a P3 will perform FAST with Ubuntu as the OS is far superior to windows and does not take up all the comps resources like windows does.

I'm using Ubuntu on my HTPC/PVR box with MythTV on it and I have a dual-boot WinXP/Ubuntu setup on my notebook so I can use it as a  front end for Myth and still run my windows stuff. I found Ubuntu pretty easy to set up and install, but you will still need to learn some Linux command line stuff to really tweak it. There's tons of apps out here for Linux, so you shouldn't have any issues doing anything with Linux that you can do in Windows.

Quoted from Grauwulf

I'm using Ubuntu on my HTPC/PVR box with MythTV on it and I have a dual-boot WinXP/Ubuntu setup on my notebook so I can use it as a  front end for Myth and still run my windows stuff. I found Ubuntu pretty easy to set up and install, but you will still need to learn some Linux command line stuff to really tweak it. There's tons of apps out here for Linux, so you shouldn't have any issues doing anything with Linux that you can do in Windows.

No, argument.   If you are a nerd (which I finally admit I am), then go Ubuntu.   But if you are setting up a machine for a non-nerd to use that uses Windows already, then save yourself the headaches and stick with Windows.

Quoted from Tuborg

No, argument.   If you are a nerd (which I finally admit I am), then go Ubuntu.   But if you are setting up a machine for a non-nerd to use that uses Windows already, then save yourself the headaches and stick with Windows.

It depends on what they will use it for. If they just use it for email and internet browsing, Ubuntu is just fine. Where's the headache in just clicking 'firefox' or 'thunderbird'? Things get messy though if they go out and buy some tax software and try to install it, obviously, but just tell them to never install software and just do everything online. In this day and age, almost everything is online. It's true that all tax software is for windows, but now you can file taxes with the web, and don't need to buy seperate software. Need word processing or spreadsheets? Use Google Docs.