I’ve personally enjoyed the challenge of learning a new OS when I installed Ubuntu 4 months ago. Yeah, it’s a real pain if you’re using an older wireless laptop with an older wireless card. Yeah, you have to jump through hoops to get it to recognize something like a Canon Bubblejet printer and I could go on. But I’ve got a great working version right now and I’m very happy with my laptop because 1) I did it and 2) it ain’t Windows.
So I installed it on my 2gz 1 gig ram desktop with a 64mb Nvidia video card then installed Compiz for the desktop effects. I never knew a desktop could be so cool. No wonder Vista ripped it off.
I put Kubuntu on my daughter’s desktop in her room and she loves it. With Kpete she can IM her friends on any messaging s/w like Yahoo or AIM at the same time. The media software for her music works great. Plus, she says Kubuntu is fun. She likes having a different desktop background on all four desktops.
I put it on her computer so I support it. I just wanted to get away from Windows and I think I’ve found what I was looking for. Plus, no virus software needed.
Most folks don’t want a challenge; they just want to put a cd in and presto, majico … new OS. A working OS. Glad you had the patients to make it work.
I've had a blast trying out the different distros. If I get bored I just grab a LiveCD of another one and clean install, restore my pics/documents (saved onto a CD-R) and my music (saved to a DVD-R) and away I go.
I have Ubuntu, so I use Gaim, but it’s basically the same as Kopete. I can chat with my buddies in #rspwtalk on IRC and with my girlfriend on AOL at the same time...although usually when my girl logs on, I usually close the IRC chat.