If he can't handle something as simple as Microsoft do you really think he'll be able to mange Linux? I say give up computing my friend. Just give it up.

Does not compute. I assume you mean something like "I'm content with my Mac, so I have no reason to install Linux", which is a fine reason, but just owning a Mac doesn't mean that there's no reason to install Linux :)

You're right. Macs used to be the best Beos boxes. ;)

Yes. Ubuntu is very gentle and caring, especially if it's your first time.

Ok its easy to install and get running. But what happends after they need microsoft office or some other windows app running or they have problems with drivers and they have to use only terminal to correct those problems. Not all computer stores offer linux support.

In before the "they have no choice, the OS is forced upon them" crew. :D

OpenOffice for the Microsoft Office alternative
No driver problems on 2 different laptops... it installs them with ease...
You don't need terminal to install. They have a client for installing programs.. you look,choose & install with 1 click :)

Maybe you don't, but you do need the terminal for a lot of things. I can't remember the last time I used PowerShell to do something on Windows, basically, everything has a nice GUI.

... oh, damn, I remember. Used it two weeks ago to compact a VHD. :D

Are we still talking about OSs; or is Ubuntu the name of a local prostitute?

For a normal user of Ubuntu you don't need terminal that much...

this ubuntu case is from my own experiences. update manager gives me ati driver update, i update and boot. after update graphical interface is gone because xorg.conf have some erros in it. i have to use terminal commands to fix xorg.conf ang get graphical interface up and running again. so if you dont know how to use terminal you would be fucked in that case.

let me ask you this, can you see that mother or elder who uses computers only to surf the web, store photos, emails, etc to manage this type of scenario?

I guess you're right about that. Casual user won't be doing much configuration on Windows either.
Fedora's even worse. The updates aren't well tested, and sometimes you can get stuck in an updating loop, where one update removes the second, and then the second removes the first.

Uh you are a Mac user and you talk about the last releases of Ubuntu?
I have Ubuntu 12.04 on both of my laptops. One is using AMD CPU & Ati VGA the other one is Intel CPU & VGA . No problems with drivers on both so far... and this is with Ubuntu in beta ;)

From Ubuntu 10.04 to last release I didn't have issues with drivers... so I guess the problem is in you ;)

Prostitute doesn't quite fit, since Ubuntu's services are free. I'd rather call Ubuntu the local cybernetic lover boy.