Decius wrote:
It did not "just work." Within a few minutes I'm googling around for long winded explanations of how I have to configure this and compile that and download this other thing in order to get this OS working on this extremely ubiquitous hardware.

This HOWTO describes how to get Wifi working on your Dell Inspiron E1505/6400 laptop using Ndiswrapper.

Im sorry, but if in 2007 you STILL have to compile something in order to get a basic thing like wireless networking working on an extremely popular hardware platform, LINUX WILL NEVER BE SUCCESSFUL ON THE DESKTOP.

I would concur with your perception. I installed Ubuntu Gutzy Gibbon on my new Lenovo T61, and sorry to say, it just works.

I don't see a need to move to a proprietary laptop (osx) to run an operating system. If I was closer in miles, I'd volunteer to fix it for you. I love my Ubuntu, and at work, all the mac users are jealous of the graphics that I have, compared to the $$$$ they shelled out to get a mac.

RE: Ubuntu sucks, nothing has changed.