I still don't think Linux is ready to be used on the desktop by
everyone.
I've been using Linux for years now (I think 6 or 7?).. on my own machines and on production servers, and I still wouldn't run it on my everyday desktop. It runs on my servers, sure.. but desktop? No..
I use Windows every day (business use) for my job.. my laptop is a Macbook Pro running OSX; OSX is SO SO SO SO SO far ahead of any Linux distribution on the desktop it's unreal.. that's my take anyway.. AND, you still have the power to do stuff you can in Linux anyway - there really is no point in messing around with anything other than OSX nowadays
Anyway, I'm sure I've had this conversation before
I do actually agree
Your
average modern Windows user would be lost and frustrated with just about any Linux distro. I bet most users have never even seen a command prompt, never mind know what to do with it.
I grew up back in the day where you had to run games via MS DOS because Windows didn't have the functionality. My MS DOS manual was so well thumbed it was in pieces. These days Microsoft spoon feed users, just about anyone can use XP without having to refer to a support forum or wiki.
That said, there are more and more gui's being implemented now giving an alternative to the command prompt so it won't be long before you'll be able to do everything in Linux without the prompt.
Linux in its current form can be successfully used on the Desktop. I have been using Ubuntu for a year now and my fiancee (average windows user) has been using Ubuntu for about half a year. We do not have Windows installed on any machines in our household and manage perfectly well.