I am in the US, so my observations may not apply to your region. 
("Your" meaning all of the readers, not just GizmoGuy)

thegizmoguy wrote:
> Ubuntu is clearly in competition with Microsoft or this bug thread
> wouldn't exist!

Ferrari is not in competition with Ford.  But Ford's larger market share 
means that they can strongly effect Ferrari policy.  For example, you 
are unlikely to find Ferrari break pads in the local O'Reilly's.

> "There is a lot of crappy hardware out there !"
> 
> Yes, I agree with you here.  Except Ubuntu/Linux needs to start playing
> in the hardware world instead of waiting for the hardware world to play
> with them.  The problems that I described can likely be replicated on
> dozens of other systems that have been mass produced by the big 3
> vendors.  With a roughly 3% market share, I doubt Linux will ever in the
> near future be able to have market-power in the way that you speak of.

Exactly how?  If a hardware vendor does not want to play, how do you 
make them?  But you are underestimating market power here.  Look in the 
server space.  How many server parts have no Linux drivers?  Did you 
every wonder why the $3000 multi-function printer/fax devices all have 
Linux support but the $110 one at Walmart does not?  It means that you 
have to stop buying crap, and purchase supported hardware.  I do this 
for all my hardware, even if it is destined to be infected with Windows.

> "Ask your tech if he/she uses Linux, all of the
> good ones do and many feel that UBUNTU/GNOME is over simplified (I
> disagree)"
> 
> Well, I am what you would call at the power user/tech.  All of my
> comments are from (me) who DOES research, hunt down, trouble shoot, etc.
> I still don't understand why so many people believe that you must be
> more skilled just because you can memorize a million commands to run
> from the terminal when Microsoft simplified the process with
> configuration utilities and "Properties" menus.  For example, it would
> be absurd within windows if one had to start modifying the registry and
> manually adding dll files to get a wireless card working.  Yet, in
> Ubuntu, every thing that I wanted to do configuration wise felt like I
> had to hack the entire "registry" of config files via the terminal.
> (I'm not the only one that mentions this), but things that shouldn't be
> THAT difficult to do in Ubuntu require hours of googling and tutorials
> to actually accomplish....others mentioned setting up DSL connections
> required an inordinate amount of work.

I have had to do just that within Windows on many occasions.  Support 
for security camera DVR cards are notorious for sending .reg files or 
telling you to do it.  As to why command line; The GUI does not have all 
the options.  For example, set up autologin on XP Pro without typing. 
At best, you have to launch a GUI tool with no shortcut available.  For 
that matter, where the hell is "start -> Run" on Vista?  It became an 
obscure and unlabeled key command.  All of your Linux problems are also 
in Windows.  It is just that in Windows, you allready know the answer.

Also, I have 75 Ubuntu systems in production.  Other than my home 
system, they are all set up in a way that can be done with only the GUI. 
  Of course I used a script, because it is easier to be consistent that 
way...  You would do that on Windows too, correct?  And my systems are 
used by non-technical users.  The only complaint I get is "Why can't I 
run this virus infected attachment I got in e-mail?"

> Now because I'm actually trying to adopt Linux, I've been willing to
> overlook that to a certain extent, but there is a reason I'm typing this
> message in XP again and not Ubuntu.  I don't feel hindered in XP, I feel
> like the computer works for me and not me for the computer.  In Ubuntu
> it's vice versa.  Sure Ubuntu has speed and security benefits (and other
> aesthetic benefits), but a well managed and configured XP box can get
> very close to Ubuntu in those aspects.  I've just been looking to adopt
> Linux since Windows 7 is looking to be a huge flop and I can't stay with
> XP for another 4 years.

Setting up a nice custom Linux machine takes me 2 hours.  (10 minutes of 
work and 1.5 hours of loading, copying and patching unattended.)  With 
XP it takes me 6, or 8 if the net is slow.  If you want my script, I can 
e-mail you a copy.

> So in summation, Ubuntu (and linux in general) needs to get out of the
> infant stage where "only geeks that have nothing else to do" can use it,
> configure it, and manage it before it can ever become serious
> competition to Windows.  Now I'm a geek, and that's why I've even given
> Ubuntu (and OpenSUSE, and Mandriva, and Kubuntu) a chance, but I have
> other things to do besides spending (literally 6 hours yesterday)
> trying to get simple things done that I could do in XP within 2 hours.
> Would Ubuntu probably work much better on my desktop....you bet....but
> you can't neglect the vast laptop user base that uses proprietary and
> customized hardware.

Yep.  I have never had that happen with XP.  Oh, wait...  I have had it 
happen on 1 of 2 identical systems.  Spent a day trying to figure out 
why it worked on one, but not the other.  Turned out to be a residual 
driver from a scanner that was mistakenly installed to the wrong system 
and then (incompletely) removed.  Had to re-install the system.  But 
since Linux takes all my time, I am *not* going outside to work on my 
motorcycle right now. :)