[youngnh]

while I agree that the prevailing attitude is "if you're not a hacker/programmer, use Windows, not Linux" I guess I don't really get why.

Your comment on the fact that software needs to come with a nice printed manual highlights why: of my mother, my sister and my wife, I'm the only one that reads the damn things.

edit: this http://contentconsumer.com/2008/04/27/is-ubuntu-useable-enou... makes me think we don't give non-hackers/programmers enough credit.

[modoc]

You have a point with the manuals, however my mother calls Dell support regularly, and uses the Microsoft online help stuff a lot. My sister has used AppleCare support a few times as well. My wife uses the iWork help application and tutorial app.

--edit-- My prevailing attitude is to tell folks to use OS X on the desktop and linux on the server, regardless if they are a hacker or my mom:)