It is very good to hear from an "average" user. His complaints are standard fare, ones that we have heard repeatedly, and perhaps a few that need to be addressed. First: to Bob. Linux is free, no need to buy anything, therefore no funds generated fpr marketing support. Microsoft is one of the world's best marketing companies, and generates huge profits. Next: the question Bob failed to ask, why do people use Linux ? Because it's free ? No, Bob, you can buy some versions of Linux, but you are really buying support. "Default Ubuntu" !! very catchy, but to implement Ubuntu to use as Bob wanted, requires some reading. OK Bob, last year one of my computers overheated, dirty fan, poor cooling etc, so I had another one built. (and yes I have no problem building my own) At the computer shop, here in Mazatlan Mexico, they asked me if I wanted Windows installed, and they would do it for "free". Very amusing. I returned the system to my home office (soho) and turned it on, took a CD with Ubuntu 8.04, and was up and running , on the 'net in 12 minutes, then downloading additional programs. At one time I ran 2 computer shops, and the best we ever did was 30 minutes. With me so far ? Next major addition was "Open Office", which is far superior to MS Office, and faster. Now, Bob, I will deal with the real problem that irks me. Choices !!! Far too many. There are no music programs available that I can not play ! All of the movie formats are playable. At any time I can run 2, or 3 browsers,it's a fun thing! But, some reading is required. Whereas if you fail to read the "fine print" in MS Windows, look out ! With MS Windows you are guaranteed to get viruses. If you use the Internet a lot, or leave your machine "on" all of the time it will become a "BOT", Such fun. Personally, I have stopped fixing friends machines that use MS Windows. One had 27 viruses, they said it was a "little slow" But I have installed Ubuntu on countless machines, so I don't have to go and fix the (expletive) viruses. So, here's the truth Bob: Ubuntu is superior to MS Windows. There are some programs , like Adobe Photoshop, that are not available "for free". But, as one instructor, a professional web designer pointed out, GIMP is far superior and very complicated, which is why Ubuntu includes "F-Spot" . To quote Bob: "until then im afraid i have to keep using windows as my primary os," My guess is that Bob probably uses IE8 as well. see : http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1385256 Yes, Bob, you can take courses in some community colleges that will help you with Ubuntu or any version of Linux. There is another concern that Bob did not address, one that I have heard far too often. "you Linux geeks think that you're smarter than the rest of us" OK. By not getting viruses, have a huge number of programs available and using a secure system makes me a "geek', so be it. AllenGG On Sat, Jan 23, 2010 at 8:46 AM, Bob!