Linux

[OssMan]

Like I hate Microsoft because all of their stuff sucks and freezes and I kind of like Macs but I will never buy one unless they change their marketing scheme of taking a bunch of shots at their competitors and saying nothing at all about their product, and they are also really pretentious. So it seems the alternative to both of these is Linux, but I really have no idea what it is, so what is Linux

[Bad Company]

http://www.ubuntu.com/

[Requiem]

You strike me as someone who is not very computer savvy (no offense), so linux is not going to be much friendlier to you.

[Xero]

Yeah, what Req said. Personally, I use it (Ubuntu at the moment) for everything except gaming (you really can't game on it [sans Linux compatible games], even with the work arounds). I find it to be extremely stable and highly customizable. And I prefer a lot of the open source alternatives to the big programs, so it works out for me.

But if you're a "I just want my computer to work without me thinking about it" type of person, Linux isn't for you, no matter what the websites say. You WILL run into problems, whether it be hardware compatibility or needing to use software not made for Linux.

If you don't mind a little work and are willing to learn it's well worth the effort. Otherwise, stick with Windows for a few more years and maybe Linux will be to that point.

The only way I'd suggest Linux to the "I want my computer to work" crowd is if they were buying a system with it pre-installed and pre-configured.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Well, if you just want teh interwebs and an office suite, Ubuntu does the trick.

It's not really that hard nowadays anyway, the Ubuntu installer is just as complex as the Windows one.

Dual-booting is still a pain in the arse for a newb though.