What's easier? (Score 1)

Really, not trying to cause a flame attack here...

The author bashes MS for his wasted time, and although he doesn't push linux as the answer, I'll ask the /. crowd this: Is a linux-based solution really that much easier for a typical home family setup? Would a mom+pop+siblings+optional grandma really be able to figure out how to setup, use, and maintain a network of linux boxes, under any gui of choice?

Without a "computer guy" (m/f), I don't think so. This is one thing that has made the Mac so beloved within its niche -- it's a much shorter and shallower learning curve to knowing the ins and outs of a Mac OS (even now, with OS X) than any other OS+hardware combination. And this is what will keep so many Win users from exploring any other option -- they don't know how to start, and starting takes *time*. Even more than 11 hrs.