My history with Linux is only two years old, and my Mint history as far as being member of the LM forums over a year. So far, I have seen and red much more then I have written/posted on the forums. Currently I do not feel confident deleting my Windows part of my dual-boot with Mint. In my opinion Linux, including Mint, Mandriva, Fedora, PCLinux OS, are all by far not ready to replace Windows. Ofcourse on Linux forums youŕe supposed to rather speak of "That other OS", but I don't think anyone will confuse Linux with Windows. As long as I need to solve most issues on my laptop Pc by using a command terminal, I am convinced that the title "a good alternative for Windows" or the "best Linux system for ex-Windows users to start with" are just hollow phrases. It assumes you can train people who are not even properly trained to use 99% GUI Windows. It assumes these people are trainable. But in fact they are mostly just not trainable, or simply not interested in Pc's to the level of wanting to learn command-line programming.
The gap between computer-programmers and real live end-users is evident to me, and to many people who posted in this topic before me. Btw I have also posted in this topic before.
Now what you need is a middle-man (m/f) to help these two communicate and understand each other. Ofcourse the active presence on the forums of the programmers is invaluable, but they often lack patience and understanding. Programmers will always have new programming tasks laying ahead of them and when they need to also solve most problems through forums they won have time left to further develop the software. Result in the end is that communication will simply end. In my opinion it is also easy to hide behind the communality of Linux. E.g. "No, I can't help you, go submit a ticket at Launchpad, since it is not a Mint application". In my opinion the support within a distro should be much wider than it is. That is if you want to replace Windows. My clock in Mint hasn't shown any correct weather info since a year. It always says it's the same weather. Apparently I live in a country without climate or seasons. This is probably the most minor grievance of all the minor and larger ones I have, that I also do not expect to be ever solved. If I want to get my Mint working the way it should with Mint I would have to:
a) Move to the USA - since the most complete settings are for Americans.
b) Become member of dozens of different forums - since I will be referred to the different applications creators all the time.
c) Buy one of the tree mainstream computers since the parts used in my laptop will probably never be supported by the Mint team, who will just sit and wait for factories to supply the proper drivers instead of harassing them until they give in. For example: Silicone Integrated Systems has had a Linux 3d graphics driver laying ready in a drawer for over two years, but won't release them until a valid party asks them to do so. They are a OEM-chips supplier and won't release anything to end-users. I as end-user am quite unable to do anything about that, but although relative compared to giants like MS, the Linux corporations have much more cloud then I do. But they won't do anything, since they prefer to work for the largest common factor and go for the new and trendy chips. Too bad for third world students who can not afford the main brands computers.
You may state that a fresh install of Windows doesn't provide all needed drivers but at least you can find them on the websites of the producers of the chips. If Linux doesn't take a more aggressive approach towards these producers demanding them to supply the needed drivers, then I do not think Linux can replace Windows. These are just my thoughts, and I am well aware that expressing them won't do any good, but at least when I leave it won't leave anyone behind wondering why. (assuming anyone cares)
Reading the above you may understand that I do not think that I will have a Linux Mint installation going into the third year.
