Using Ubuntu 9.10 and everything works out of the box. Although, I had a problem with WiFi on my other laptop, but doing some /etc configuration solved the problem. Is it that hard to write a few configuration lines only once?
In fact, most of the configurations are available in UI, but what makes *nix different is, it allows you to make it work the way you want(that's what /etc is for).
On the other hand, I'm not happy with Windows until some registry tweaks are done and some useless services are turned off.
On hardware compatibility, I don't think it's Linux' fault that some vendors don't publish hardware documentation. This should be considered before installing Linux at all.
If you're not a geek, yes. Most non-programmers find the Unix command line a hostile environment and are not that interested in tweaking the operating system as an end in itself. Would you want a TV that required a soldering iron as part of the installation process?
Let me say it this way, if I really ever wanted this TV set then I wouldn't mind. The same is with Linux: if you want free, open-source OS then you should know that there's no Photoshop, IE and all those games you can have on Windows. Also, before installing Linux you should be aware that not every piece of hardware can work in Linux. I agree, these are big disadvantages for normal user - the choice depends on users' priorities.
Agreed. However, a key goal of desktop Linux is to be sufficiently useful and easy that user-facing software will find an audience, and it becomes worth a developer's time to code for that platform.
