Something like a boxed Suse has been a decent alternative for average users for 5 years, imho. Average meaning somebody that doesnt game and isnt tied to any specific software.

Ubuntu, Fedora, and the other "free" linuxes will always be a bit fringe and for slightly advanced computer users as you dont get manuals and need to install bits and bobs.

Its a moving target tho, this elusive "average user". It might be in ten years that well say that linux is almost ready for the average user as its cappuccinos are a little less foamy than Windows Shasta.

I dont think editing the average config file here and there is a bad thing either. Would be nice if most folks didnt hve to do it, but the fact that youre able to is to me more of a sign of a serviceable OS rather than one where the hood is welded shut.

wow dave. thats really quite pointless lol.

with your response linux give me the freedom to custumize everything. i loathe command line. and i spend as little time on it as possible as i have the technical ability of a carrot.

however. linux forfills my day to day needs exceedinly well. so much if i was given the choice between someone paying for a new machine would have to stick ubuntu on it as it would feel odd wihtout it.

also i have to use osx and xp. but prefer osx/ubuntu just for its freedom

seems the majority thinks there is nowt wrong with XP & linux is more of a hobby

I voted for it but thats not why.

Theres nowt wrong with either of them Id quite happily use either interchangably, dont have a favourite of the two just I use them as and when I need to

seems the majority thinks there is nowt wrong with XP & linux is more of a hobby

If you have XP then there isnt anything wrong with using it, but Linux is no longer a hobby, its a realistic, minimal cost alternative for those who dont want to pay the Gates tax. Plenty of companies are saving a lot of money by using it instead of Windoze.

It also runs better on lower spec machines and thre are plenty of versions so you can basically get a made to measure version almost off the peg.

The question could have been better worded

Maplins use Linux and gnome for their POS.

Dunno what version and other software though. Noticed a couple of months ago

up untill i did my avce in it i thought pos system is piece of sh*t.

worth a go tho

Tried a few distros about six months ago and it was an issue then.

You havent tried very hard then cause i havent had issues for ages.

It could have been just my setup but when I searched I found several other references to problems with USB memory devices. It works now though.

Pity it doesnt recognise my 1400*1050 resolution notebook screen but thats being just picky...

I had the same problem with my notebook. cause it was cheap and cheerful