>>The *nix OSs require a technically capable person to properly configure and maintain. When "they" solve that and make it as complete and simple out of the box as Windows or iOS then they become a serious alternative for the average computer user. *nix always seems to me to be the techies OS, which is fine, but leaves the majority of computer users in the cold. Most average computer users I know, i.e. not technical users, barely know how to use and maintain Windows properly. In that respect iOS is probably the best option for user-friendliness.
>>
>>I use Windows because simply that is what our clients use. I don't mind Windows 8, it works fine. But then again, Windows XP, Vista, and 7 also all worked just fine for me.
>
>The last time I had to mess with .conf files was 2007, when I was trying to configure dual monitors in then Ubuntu (and it didn't work, because I tried to do it in 10 minutes). For a few things that I just wanted to get done and weren't readily available in the GUI, I have easily found the commands to paste into the command window (aka terminal window). The emphasis is on easily, because the sound technical advice always came on page one when googling. For anything M$, 90% of what you google for is
>- advertising, feature list, sales pitch to the purse holders
>- related to a wrong version of what you're looking for (and then you discover that the bug that hit you existed ten years ago and still isn't fixed)
>- buried in one of their sponsored forums with bad tagging of quotes (they don't use indentation because that would require horizontal space, and they need that space on the right for more self-advertising) and lots of "tag this as an answer, I'm an MVP"
>
>I always keep one Ubuntu machine on the side, just to (play a solitaire and gPlanarity and to) keep an eye on development.

Well it's probably about time for me to look at it again but as usual time is a constraint.