What a timely topic, and I can offer a view from the kind of person you're talking about. User of Windows for years. Build my own PC's and setup Windows on them. Desperate to get away from Windows, sick of everything about Windows that everyone on Slashdot complains about all the time - viruses, worms, popups, invasion of my privacy. Not ready for the expense of a Mac. Looked around and settled on Xandros Linux as the easiest way to start the transition. Bought the full blown Xandros "Professional" so it would have everything I need (haven't tried Crossover yet to run a few Windows apps). Put another PC together over the weekend and installed Xandros on it. Connects to my Windows network easily. Looks great. Fast. In a few hours of fiddling with it, I discover:
1) Video resolution can only go up to 1024 x 768. Apparently specific drivers for the on-motherboard video not available (Nvidia graphics, and I looked at reviews carefully to be sure I bought hardware that others have had success in installing Linux on)
2) Won't print on my networked Samsung Laser. Sort of got it to print by selecting a different Samsung printer from the list in Xandros - my printer is not on the list. Had to send the print job through one of my Windows boxes on the network. Kind of defeats my aim of getting away from Windows. Xandros can't find the printer on my network, and the numerous attempts to put in the path don't work. I actually have three printers on the network. Hope I don't have to go through that battle for every one of them
3) Looking at websites in Firefox, and ..no flash. I check Xandros - Flash 7. The websites need Flash 9. I go through the simple procedure to update an application in Linux, using the "Xandros Network" that is supposed to relieve me of the command line chores. Didn't work. Tried RPM, Tried tar.gz. Finally got Flash 9 installed by doing what is not written down anywhere and not suggested on any forums I visited.
So much for my first few hours, of which there was little joy. And this from a person who really wants to get away from Windows. Since I make money while working on my computers, my choice is - use Windows computers that just work (at least most of the time!), or battle with an OS for hours to get it working, THEN I can get some work done.
I'll go on to Ubuntu next. Will I be able to print without a fight? Will it connect easily to my network? Will I have to go through hell to get Flash working? Would there ever be a chance that my audio recording gear would work through Linux?
Again, I'm no Windows fanboy. I hate the stuff. But I have work to do, and no time for trying to get something working. Install the OS, install the drivers, install the apps, get to work. That's what I need. It just appears that no matter how much time I spend on Linux, it still may not be able to do what I need. I would love to be wrong!
