The last time I installed Linux was about 2 months ago, and the distro I installed was Slackware 10.2. The Ethernet adapter that it had trouble with was the built-in Intel Pro/100 on the Intel 845 motherboard that I was using. I was amazed when it wasn't detected and properly configured up-front, but it happened nonetheless.

Beyond that I didn't have much trouble; but I did have to compile drivers at one point and run the standard configure/make/make install process which, IMHO, automatically makes the Linux driver install process more complicated for the average user than Windows XP. Any thoughts?