[softwarecreator]

"Linux" is not difficult. In fact, I can make the case that it is easier to use than Windows

Not true.  The "tree view" portion that works like "Windows Explorer" is much more difficult to navigate, you can't just click on most "exe" files and have them start right up (most require command line activation) and installing 3rd party software can lead to ulcers.

My wife and kids (all MS users) pretty much refuse to use my Linux PC because they find it too daunting, yet they picked up Windows right away.

Having said that, I find Linux to be a pretty good operating system and it's "bundled" software is much more plentiful than Windows.  There are the above mentioned problems but only the "dependency" issue is totally frustrating.

Linux is close, but not quite there yet.  The future for this OS is limitless.

[clyde asbury]

Linux is close, but not quite there yet. The future for this OS is limitless.

Not quite ready for prime time, I agree. But I'm not sure how much of a problem dependencies are anymore. New apps can be downloaded and installed with SUSE and it takes care of all dependency issues automatically.

But. Not all distributions are user-friendly in this way, from what I understand, and SUSE certainly has its disadvantages, like all OSs.

[EricT.]

you can't just click on most "exe" files and have them start right up (most require command line activation) and installing 3rd party software can lead to ulcers.

That is why I insist on installing software via RPM's. Everything usually goes where it's supposed to go. No command line BS. RPMFind[dot]net usually has what I'm looking for, packaged for my distro and platform.

[Golden Eagle]

The future for this OS is limitless fragmentation.

There's at least 300 versions already, and no they're not all compatible, not even close.

[ShadowAce]

My wife and kids (all MS users) pretty much refuse to use my Linux PC because they find it too daunting, yet they picked up Windows right away.

I believe it. However, I was defining "easy" as "easy to use" not "easy to learn."

BTW--my family is the oppostite. They like linux as well or better than windows. The only introduction I gave them was to assign them a username and password. I didn't perform any training at all, and they have no problems with it.

[ShadowAce]

...you can't just click on most "exe" files and have them start right up (most require command line activation)...

Huh? I single click executable files all the time to start them up.

and installing 3rd party software can lead to ulcers.

Learn to use the tools. :) yum and apt work wonders for dependencies. I don't know of anyone (new users included) who have had to deal with dependencies for quite a while.