Dell confirms linux PCs!

[Dr Mordrid]

Which is why I always get SO upset with Linux people who SWEAR that Linux is easy enough for ANYONE now. I tried to teach my 80-year-old grandmother how to use e-mail, and she pretty much got it, but it was under VISTA. I don't see how she could POSSIBLY learn Linux. Just no way in hell.

My 76 y/o formerly computa-phobic mother-in-law learned Thunderbird in about 20 minutes. Her old P-III rig is running Ubuntu with Firefox, T'Bird, Oo2 and a few card games; all she wants or needs.

[Jessterw]

There's been a number of studies that have found non-experienced or first time computer users are able to learn Linux just as easily as Windows, if not more so. Sure, they're going to be up sh*ts creek if something goes awry, but they'd be up that same creek under Windows.

Linux is still a usability nightmare, but it's nowhere near as bad as some would suggest.

[Kooldino]

Which is why I always get SO upset with Linux people who SWEAR that Linux is easy enough for ANYONE now. I tried to teach my 80-year-old grandmother how to use e-mail, and she pretty much got it, but it was under VISTA. I don't see how she could POSSIBLY learn Linux. Just no way in hell.

How could it be that much different? Launch a browswer or email program, and it's the same from there.

[cjolley]

...Sure, they're going to be up sh*ts creek if something goes awry, but they'd be up that same creek under Windows.
...

The problem is that when Linux is used as a desktop, not server, something ALWAYS goes wrong.
And pretty quickly.
For hobbyists that's great.
For Gramdma, that's bad.

Not so hot for Grandkid that's got to fix it all the time either.

[The PIT]

Which is why I always get SO upset with Linux people who SWEAR that Linux is easy enough for ANYONE now. I tried to teach my 80-year-old grandmother how to use e-mail, and she pretty much got it, but it was under VISTA. I don't see how she could POSSIBLY learn Linux. Just no way in hell.

Not being picky but Thunderbird is a mail program which looks and acts the same under Mac OS X, Linux and Windows so she would be able to use it without any trouble.

Installing a program or driver thats a different question and problem.

[Kooldino]

Not being picky but Thunderbird is a mail program which looks and acts the same under Mac OS X, Linux and Windows so she would be able to use it without any trouble.

Installing a program or driver thats a different question and problem.

My point exactly.

[Jessterw]

The problem is that when Linux is used as a desktop, not server, something ALWAYS goes wrong.
And pretty quickly.
For hobbyists that's great.
For Gramdma, that's bad.

Not so hot for Grandkid that's got to fix it all the time either.

I wouldn't say "always" so emphatically, but you're certainly not wrong. I would never recommend Linux to just any 'home' user, but I know of some grandparents that use it on a regular basis for email and general net.

The real difference comes into play when you have to get help for the problems you do encounter. Being honest, Linux and F/OSS tech support is horrid if you're simply looking for straight-forward, hand-holding help - too much of the "if you can't do it for yourself..." attitude. At least with Windows you have a never-ending supply of know-it-alls who are more than willing to help (and charge you for it ), even if they really don't know how.