Yeah that is a point ... and assumes he didn't have DHCP because that is the default for the interface in XP, so I went with an educated guess that he wanted to set the IP to something other then what the DHCP would hand out as most networks (including home ones) use DHCP these days ... In addition being a long time linux user would have another machine he could have done the search on (or even dual booted his machine) and that he did not have a handy livecd linux boot disk laying around if that was his one and only machine. And obviously if it was not on any network wouldn't really need any changes to TCP/IP

You can not compare a GUI to a CLI ... to change the IP right click on My Network (either on the desktop or in the start menu) and choose properties Select the Interface and choose Properties then select TCP/IP ... (3 steps) Ubuntu System --> Administration --> Network Select Network Log in Change values ... uuuh hey look also 3 steps ... If you are a CLI snob then use the freeking cli ... oh wait ... that's because you spent 2 hours to moan about it rather then 5 seconds on google to find out the CLI command on XP (or after 10 min of not finding it 5 seconds on google with ... how to change IP in windows XP) btw for those lazy people .. the cli in XP is: netsh int ip address "" .... various commands like static to set static and so on set completely overwrites the interface add adds the new IP/mask/whatever to the interface

Unless you are in law enforcement the Judge can't say what you did is entrapment even if it was. A private citizen is allowed to both obtain information illegally that will help a case or entrap another party to build their case. I think the judge might have tossed the case because you are not a lawyer, judges do that too.