G'day Tony and Noel,
Tony, first I reckon age has nothing to do with it. So what if they're 75 plus? Anyhow, they have you to look after things... As for the linux netbooks etc. they are effectively single purpose boxes - the internet. Yes, they can be persuaded to do other things too, but go to the local computer store and buy a product that will install with no, or almost no, user input. Won't happen. This applies to all linux distro's at the moment. Aside from a very few productivity apps like Open Office (which usually comes bundled anyhow) you can't even really simply download stuff and expect it to work without tweaking.

Noel, my guess is your son and his cronies do nothing but surf the net - linux netbooks to this well, but.. see comments to Tony above.

I maintain that until you can download or purchase any kind of consumer application (including hardware like sound cards etc.) you want, especially games, and just plug in the CD/DVD or run the installer and not need to even think about the possibility of tweaking anything then linux will not be a true consumer product. It will not be a "white good" like a fridge or microwave in the way windoze is.

Mind you, I'm no great fan of windows, especially vista/Win7... I do want to see linux take over as the consumer desktop of choice, but it is still a very long way from that.

--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya laugh --=--
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