Really? I can get you H1N1 for free.
Linux is supposed to be an ALTERNATIVE to Windows, except it doesn't work most of the time. And by the way what is the problem with actually paying for something of value?
I like free stuff as much as everyone else, but when I have to sweat 20 hours with it, I would rather pay for something that can be used! Also, it is only worthy to use if it is actually BETTER than the original, otherwise it is just a toy for tinkering geeks. (nothing wrong with that, just let's try and not to spread it as the biggest invention since sliced bread)
Also after having PCs for 15 or so years, I never paid for Windows. I know, I know, the manifacturers paid, but as long as it is a hidden cost, I don't care.
XP for netbooks only costs $20 for the manufacturer, just so you know....
So if geeks want to spend countless hours trying to make Ubuntu work with an average monitor, hey that is their life, but it won't be for the masses for at least 5 more years. Red Hat was actually released back in 1994 so that is a shame not to be able to make a working distro...
From your incessant complaining and your clear misconceptions about the usability of Linux, I have a feeling you don't understand what Linux even is.
My fathers first computer ran on a Multics systems that he utilized to do calculations at home to take to work the next day, it shared time on a server down town. I didn't use it much. The next step after that was a humorous coinage of phrase on multics, Unix, in that it stood solitary and independent (somewhat).
My experience on Unix consisted of webpage creation using Pico or Emacs (Not Vi) which I would view with Lynx...my e-mail would be checked by Pine...and it would be hosted by a server my father had from his work. You read news through Usenet and chat (which I didn't use) went through IRC.
I accessed my personal machine through terminals, in a non-Gui environment...though I remember a semi-Graphic mapper I used to use...I forget the name though.
My first program I wrote (a simple input output text thing) was compiled down town on the time shared server.
This is how computers used to work...
Linux is a joke on a joke...a free Unix-like kernel that drives Linux distros. It runs on the premise that a computers primary functions should be accessible through non-GUI command lines. Since modern computer users have never even seen the inner non-virtualized elements of an OS...they have no use for it. Since XP, (and maybe arguably 2000) the DOS processes have been hidden...you can find virtual software for nearly everything you need to do. You know those processes in the Task Manager? You'd have to manage those yourself without the TaskManager.
Linux seeks to bring back the functionality computers used to have with modern amenities...and to do a user needs a
little patience to utilize the system, a
little memorization, and a
little intelligence.
If you're not willing to have those things, stop using it. If you can't see why it's useful to you...then you're probably raised on a different fundamental understanding of computing...and it's probably of no use to you.
ps. You need to know what computers are good for Linux...Lenovo / IBM are the best in my opinion.