My point was that the average user wouldn't be on FR to obtain this advice, get frustrated and give up.
And I actually did search for easy-to-install Linux. Every Linux person out there has a different opinion on what is "easiest" to install. There are probably several freepers here who would disagree with your choices.
See what I mean? The average user is not going to go thru this hassle. We are talking about people who open a box, plug in the monitor & PC, connect the internet and go. That's about the extent of their ability to run a PC.
I agree 100%. The average user is going to learn and use whatever is on the box he buys. I am just saying that I don't think Linux is "hard" anymore for the technologically challenged. My wife could no more "install" Mepis linux than she could "install" windows....., which means she could install either of them without much hassle. How much computing ability does it take to hit "enter" and select a name/password?