That kind of response it just the problem. If all one wants to do is use the Internet, email, write, watch some stuff, then install and run can work (provided your wireless card works, and you do not need to install proprietary codecs to watch DVDs for instance), but in both Windows and Linux enabling functionality and customization requires more than just installing the OS and running it, and my experience is that this is far easier in Windows (mainly via safe 3rd party programs) than Linux flavors (with solutions varying btwn flavors), from adding printers to key remapping.
Linux is a little easier because you don’t need to travel to websites to get apps.
We were able to set up our Java development VM’s with Linux off the shelf. But Linux is easier for neophytes and non-tech people because it isn’t simple to ruin your life unlike Windows. We went with Linux VM’s because Windows kept corrupting the development environment with updates and updates are required for network security. I won’t even get into the ease of getting pwn3d in Windows just by clicking on the wrong thing.
Since you only install one “flavor”, I don’t think that it matters if another one is different. As I said, there is little difference between a Mac and Linux these days.