[blindluke]

> In the end, complaints about Linux boils down to "i can't apply Windows (or Mac) rote gestures on this".

Would that it were so simple.

Unfortunately, there is also "I can't comfortably use my printer/scanner on this". Some manufacturers still don't provide Linux drivers for their devices.

My mother uses Linux too, quite happy with it, but I had to buy her a new printer.

EDIT: a thing I might add here is that I think that for the older generation, a pre-configured Linux desktop can give them that Win95-98-XP experience they want. Familiarity, as you said, is a key factor, and the Metro UI can be much more difficult to get used to for people that put a lot of effort in getting familiar with the 95-XP UI paradigm they used for the last 20 years.

[u02sgb]

Some, but not all. Also a new Printer/Scanner that is supported by Linux is a lot cheaper than a new computer to run Windows 10 (and will always work with Linux, unlike a printer/scanner that "currently" works on Windows). I use Windows and Linux at home but I've moved my Mum to Ubuntu as I had less worries about her getting taken over with Malware or RansomWare. Only issue we've had is the photo management isn't as smooth but she's used to it now.