Originally Posted By: ClutchDisc
Linux doesn't require any special knowledge to use it, if you know how to use Windows, you can learn Linux in 5-10 minutes at most. I'm not talking about using the terminal, you can use the software manager instead.
I've installed Linux variants on at least four different machines in the last year, and in various flavors (Mint MATE, Ubuntu, Xubuntu, etc). Every single one of them required either a certain distribution (some crashed while another installed just fine) or customization at the command line after installation to get all of the hardware to work (especially wireless cards). I'm more patient than most with computing, and my day job is at least half IT-related, but I'll tell you, getting the machines at home that I have running on Linux took HOURS and HOURS of fiddling with them. Maybe yours didn't, and that's great.
Linux doesn't necessarily require special skills nor a computer science degree to use it. But it requires a desire to use it. I'm glad that you're happy with it. I'm mostly happy with my installations, too. But I never recommend it as a primary OS for someone, and especially not for someone who didn't come to me asking, "so, what's the best Linux distro to run"? If you have the heart and desire to use it, you WILL find it easy. If your heart's not in it, though, it'll be a miserable experience.
It's like trying to make someone drive a stick shift who doesn't want to. Yes, it's "easy". Yes, TCO is probably lower than with an automatic. But it just doesn't matter if the person doesn't want it. I'll gladly teach someone how to drive a stick if they ask me, but I'd never go up to someone and say, "you know, you really should learn to drive a stick and get rid of your automatic transmission."
