All I know is I was able to do everything I wanted to do, and more, right out of the box.
So could I pretty much. I simply installed it and ticked a load of software i wanted to install from a list. I have been using windows since V2 so cant say myself how 'easy' it is. I am an windows IT engineer and work with windows noobs all the time and none would even come close to doing what you are saying you did with it straight away. You must have had previous experience with a previous version. If you say DOS then all i can say is you have forgotten just how many problems with hardware and compatibility 3.1 actually had (no PnP for a start!). Most games wouldn't even run in 3.1.
not by editing the OS kernel and using shell commands to find out why my wireless access card isn't working.
Ive been using it for 3 years and the only 1 time i have messed with the kernel was simply for interest, not out of necessity. Anyway, would you wonder why OSX wouldn't work with your wireless card too? Hardware is either capable or it isn't.
D4NMAN, Vista/XP is not unstable, Windows stopped being an unstable OS with the demise of 9x, your living in the past. I can't remember the last time I heard someone complaining about bluescreens or memory errors with Windows, however Linux is still as impenetrable to Joe Public as ever.
Darkheart, you are forgetting I AM a windows user both at home (XP/Vista) and at work as an engineer . Our support team at work gets at least 2 bluescreens a week to go out and fix. Usually caused by rolled-out driver or windows updates. No, im not living in the past as you say. To say instability ended with 98 though is just mad. Only since SP2 has XP been more stable. Ive had more bluescreens with XP than with any other -since win95 (didnt use ME)
XP IS good -now- after 3 service packs, i just dont think its as good as Ubuntu, but thats my opinion. Vista seems secure enough now but i dont like the interface at all, and have had a fair few problems with it which after a lot of reading have mostly fixed.
As for joe public, they should stick with windows unless they buy a 100% linux capable machine which just works.