I think this is the age-old Linux question... I have used Linux since the 90s and I have encourage many people to switch from Windows. I have a couple of observations from my experience:

1) Windows "ease of use" is a MYTH. Yes, many things in Windows are pretty simple to use (browsers, WP, AIM), but those very things are also easy on the latest Linux boxes. However, when something goes wrong, Windows users don't seem to be any more able to fix things than their Linux counterparts. I get calls ALL THE TIME from users of Windows who can't figure out how to do the simplest things on Windows and (in my opinion) would be just as clueless on Linux.

2) I find things easier on Linux than Windows. It often seems to me that Windows, in an effort to be simpler, has hidden many operations from the user. It's always fun to try to find WHERE to fix something in Windows. They do not seem to be consistent and often have confusing verbage on GUI controls. for example, in XP, how do you set the address of the DNS servers you need to use. The AVERAGE XP user will be totally lost at this point. I also get calls from new Linux users who almost always say "Wow, that was easier than expected" once I explain how to fix their problem. When I fix something for a Windows users, I get "Thanks for helping me with that. I would have NEVER thought to go THERE to fix it...".

3) Most Windows users learn as little about Windows as they can to get along and call for help as soon as they're over their head. They dislike Linux at first because they've been conditioned by years of Windows use and must re-learn how to do some things with Linux. On the bright side, they seem to learn the "Linux way" pretty easily and seem to like the fact that their are so many ways to do the same thing in Linux that often they can stumble on to one of them.

4) The BIGGEST complaint that I get from new Linux users is that they are upset that they can't run their favorite Windows programs. This is BY FAR the main reason that I have been unable to get some Windows users to stay with Linux. This is particularly true for users that do business with their box, as there are still many companies (such as banks) that use proprietary software or require Internet Explorer to access their web sites.

5) Generally new users LIKE the Linux interface, LIKE the fact that it runs better and faster on their hardware (especially compared to Vista) and LIKE the fact that most software comes "built in" or is available through some sort of package manager. This did not used to be the case, but now most distros have much improved software installers that are a breeze to use.

BTW, the distro I install most of the time is Ubuntu, and I have converted a number of people from full time Windows users to totally or primarily Linux users.

Sorry for the long post, but this is a complicated subject.

Gary Walborn
gwalborn@gmail.com