I'd something that is:
- As easy to install as Windows XP
- As functional as Windows XP
And it has to be:
- Easy to download
- Free.
- Up to date when I want it to be.
Linspire loads on a blank hard drive in less than 10 minutes start to finish - 1 reboot and you're running. It has a familiar Windows like interface -which some people like and some don't (because it looks like Windows). It also includes the office suite and most readily needed programs - others can be easily and quickly downloaded.
It's not free (but neither is WIndows!) There is no restrictive license - use it legally on as many computers as you own. Updates to operating system and software are free and can be automatic if you want. There is a minimal charge for this service of $19.95 a year. (There is also a higher tiered service of $49.95 a year that gets you other perks including all new versions of the O/S (unlike Microsoft) and those costs are cheaper than buying one Windows program. Plus you are free of virus/spyware/adware/security, etc. Quite a bargain in my book. My father in law can install and use it and he is NO computer whiz kid.
So the only hurdle is the free issue. What does a new XP cost?
There are free distributions that are almost as easy - Mepis, Xandros, etc.
If you are into gaming, I would set up a dual boot system. Expecting Windows written programs to work on Linux is like expecting them to run on Appple. They don't natiovely, but there are SOME emulators that let you run SOME programs.
