I'm pleased to hear that Ubuntu was the solution to your problem. I also use it and like it. However, while I have recommended it on other forums, this is one place where I won't recommend it. You can correct me if I'm wrong, but aside from the regular contributors who frequently offer their kind assistance, it appears to me that most of those who find their way to this forum are Windows users who have one or more of the following problems:

Help I'm infected by a virus/trojan/pop-up/malware

Help I've made a mess of trying to network 2 or more computers

Help me find a freeware program because I can't or won't use Google

Help my computer crashed Is it a hardware or software failure

Help me perform a simple task (e.g. back up email) because I really haven't learned yet how to use my computer

Even though Ubuntu is perhaps the most user-friendly of all the Linux distros, it is still a significant departure from the way Windows does things. Recommending it here is sort of like recommending advanced calculus to students who haven't yet moved beyond basic algebra, IMHO. I use the following as an example of a problem I needed to fix:

$ cd /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins Â
$ sudo unlink libjavaplugin_oji.so  Â

$ sudo ln -s /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun-1.6.0.17/jre/plugin/i386/ns7/libjavaplugin_oji.soÂ

So...unless you want to become the resident Linux guru here at GW, please reconsider. BTW, running Linux from the Live CD is great, but oftentimes third-party or proprietary hardware drivers cannot be enabled from the CD. This is especially true of wireless drivers. This means that a person won't always be able to determine if Linux is compatible with their wireless until it is installed.

I just got a new hard drive installed in my main box to load the new Mepis8 distro on, I have been running Mepis Linux for years now and love it, one of the great things about Mepis is how well it will run things right out of the box. I have a dual boot box with an older ubuntu+kde and Mepis7 also along with boxes running xp pro, xp home, and windows 7.
I think learning to use Mepis was easier than learning the new windows 7.
I do not think there is an age limit or knowledge limit for using linux I know many seniors that have gone to linux so they do not have to worry about all those infection problems and looking for programs to protect them. In linux you can get darn near anything you need right in the package manager, if it did not come pre loaded on the live cd. the new linux distros are made for GUI use, use of command line is not as essential as it was. Some people want to learn command line and go on and on about using it, I have found that when I have a problem I can generally find a way to fix it with out command line. Plus the linux community forums are fabulous and helpful.
I prefer using it because it is faster, has everything I need built right in, and it is safer.
Is it right for everyone maybe not but same goes for new versions of windows or switching to Mac it all takes a new learning curve.
I however do not preach linux, I think it is a personal choice but picking up a free live cd of a distro and putting into the cd drawer and running it on a pc is an excellent and safe way to see what linux is all about without touching their windows and with no install, just like playing a cd, and everyone should have a live cd in their possession for when they have a crash and need to access their info from the drive.

We have many linux users here at GW, some decided to give it a try after seeing it mentioned here. I enjoy occasional conversations with others that made the jump.

azinoh, I'm not sure of the purpose of your response to premio, and I purposely did not respond to your post yesterday, but do I sense a little bit of a "superior" attitude? Every forum is different, and this one has many "newbies" who come with questions that seem quite simple to some of us. But remember, we were all "newbies" at first, and there are undoubtedly some who should not try to use computers at all regardless of the OS used. So to "put down" anyone who uses Windows as opposed to Mac or a Linus distro, serves no purpose, IMHO.

Web browsers were foreign to me when they first came out.
Remember being wow'ed,, to have text and graphics in the same screen.

...And wow, its sure slow navigating the web with all these pictures, who would want this stuff.

I'm not familiar with the OP, and I don't know if he/she is a regular poster or not. I was surprised that premio53's post was not a problem or question. Instead, it appeared to be an announcement pertaining to how a Linux problem had been solved. The remainder of the post seemed to be a very blind recommendation that users should try Linux in general, and Ubuntu in particular. I have seen very few, if any, posts regarding Linux in this forum. As you say grandms, this forum has many newbies...and unless they are seeking help with Linux it would seem to be the best use of the forum to help visitors with the question they are asking about, rather than offering them a whole new direction which they may or may not be equipped to handle.In no way am I putting down Windows users (I am one myself and will remain so). But if the reality is that this forum is frequented mostly by less-knowledgeable users (and I am not as knowledgeable as I'd like to be...that's why I read these posts), then it's just confusing to them to mention alternatives to Windows when Windows is what they need help with.

Yes, I do agree with you about that, and I, too, wondered at the original post and its purpose. Sorry if I jumped on you; that was not my intention at all. As I recall, the OP has posted here before, but rarely.

Every once in a while there are posters promoting either Mac or a Linux flavour. I assume the intent as always being with good intentions even with so many learners here there are always that tiny few who seek something else. These posts remind them that there are choices providing they realise the risk if they run into unforeseen issues.

In the same way we have those who might bash any particular flavour of Windows. Usually because they cannot grasp whatever it is they are trying to understand at that point in time.

Anyone who wishes to try a dual or triple boot should read up first then have a go. It is nice to be able to say 'I did that' even if after a short period you realise it can be irritating having to select the operating system at every start up. The novelty can be short lived.