Microsoft wins because they make a better product. Saving $500 million a year is meaningless if you can't get what you need to do done.

It's time to face the facts people, Linux on the desktop just isn't as good as Windows. Windows (and OSX) sell because they are better. Really the only thing Linux on the desktop has going for it is that it doesn't cost anything. Unfortunately free just isn't enough to make the pain worth while.

So let me get this straight, you're suggesting we not spend hours to secure Windows in order to spend hours configuring Linux? Aren't I still out several hours and now I've created something that only I can support? What is Grandma going to do when her PC dies and you're not in your parent's basement? Can she call anyone or at least take it to the Geek Squad? All I got out of your post is that it's ok to spend hours making Linux work because it is free.

Preach it brother! So far this entire string has been useless (which means it conforms with all of the other Ask Slashdot articles). How about some real tips and not the typical *nix love fest that these always seem to devolve into.