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All Linux distros may have differing package systems but they both have a variety of windows GUI environments. Microsoft offers only one. And I think choice is good. Microsoft wants you to think its bad. Linux is just fantastic in what it offers consumers - for free. You can't beat a large community of open source users, who make each new version of the OS. Product release cycles are both fast and predictable. Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer can't say that about Windows. Here's a fact they don't want you to know: Linux can run on the new generation of low cost, low powered processor Netbooks with no problem. All they've got to offer you is Windows XP cause Microsoft dropped the ball on that end of the computing market.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

And I think choice is good.

Choice is good, but consumers don't like too much choice. They go to buy a computer and are already confused from the start, and just get further confused by all the choices they have to make. Reducing choice is IMHO one of the reasons Apple is doing so well. It's easy to look at their desktop or laptop offerings (only three categories in each: pro, consumer, ultra-small) to make the first choice of what is desired, and then pick among a few choices within that which are given as clear differentiations (15" or 17"? 20" or 24"? More speed?).

We already see the damage done to Vista with multiple versions out there, choice people don't want. OS X, one version with everything. Linux, which of several versions do you want? The average consumer doesn't want to have to make that choice.

That's not to say full choice isn't good for those who know what they're doing, but the geeks will never define the desktop market.