I’m running Intrepid (8.10) and don’t have the issues you list… except the sounds. The login screen seems to be uncontrollable from within a session. That is SO annoying.

I’ve been a Windows/Linux user for many years – but mostly Windows. Periodically I’d install some flavor of Linux, whatever seemed the most “up” at the time, to see if they were ready for mainstream users yet. I have to say, if they aren’t, they’re damn close at this point. I use my wife as my benchmark. Not that she isn’t tech savvy, she has the ability to comprehend things, but doesn’t want to have to bother with it. Things should just work. Windows is a resource hog, and that is my biggest problem with it. That, and the malware.

I’m a little surprised that you often find yourself not wanting to edit configs and such, given your very high level of technical aptitude. However, I think you’re kind of like me, or even my wife, and are simply put off that it doesn’t work [by now]. What I have learned is that for every issue you find, some geek (present company included in that brand) has worked it out, but simply has not shared his/her fix with the Linux world, or distribution development team. I think this is the answer you’re looking for. The solution is to find a way to get those people more involved, and even to instill a sense of responsibility to “the community”. This would exponentially speed up the process of getting Linux where it belongs.

I do really enjoy reading your blog, keep it up!

Shawn