I haven't QUITE given up on Linux, but I'll share the things that have gotten me close.
Background... I got into computers in 1990... and I have a fair amount of DOS command line experience,
then got into GeoWorks (fast alternative GUI in the early 90's) so I'm prone to rooting for underdog OS's.
Finally (and reluctantly) got into Windows 95 (in about 1998), Windows 98 in about 2002, and XP in about 2006.
I'm a musician, which is a big part of why I got into computers in the first place.
The reason for migrating to Linux was:
1. Hearing about Knoppix ability to boot from CD
2. A friend using and talking about using Ubuntu.
3. Two of my favorite music sites getting hacked, and getting a virus from one of them.
4. Getting tired of the time expended dealing with virus checkers and Windows system cleaners.
5. Did some research on DistroWatch, and Mint seemed like the most friendly for a Windows refugee like me.
6. Started with Elyssa, since upgraded to Isadora.
Things that have tempted me to give up on Linux:
1. Problems with video drivers, or with things that don't seem like video driver problems, but are.
Someone gave me a laptop, and I had a tough time getting Mint to fill the whole screen.
2. For a long time after installing Isadora, every 4th of 5th time I booted, the mouse pointer would be invisible, but still function when it would highlight something. I bought two different new mice, thinking it was the mouse. Finally installed the nVidia driver- problem solved.
3. Sound... in Elyssa, I had a lot of problems with sound- I have had a USB interface since before using Linux Mint, and the whole way sound is run in Linux seems counterintuitive and a bit flaky.
4. Music Programs. Finally, people buy a computer to use programs. In switching to Linux, you have to USUALLY resign yourself to kissing your familiar Windows programs good-bye. This was somewhat easier for me since I have been using Audacity and Firefox for some time.
And Open Office/LibreOffice is mostly fine for word processing. But there are still other programs that I want, BUT:
They are hard to find (poorly advertised)... I keep running across stuff that I think... why didn't I hear about this???.
When I find them, sometimes they need to be compiled, which I have not yet learned to do... so fergitaboutit.
Other times, when I finally find them (and it may be the only example of the program I have found to date) I find that it is buggier than all-get-out!
I found some notation software, and three times, I clicked on a menu item, and it caused the program to terminate!
Recently, I found a guitar amp emulator for Linux, tried to run it, but it needs JACK, and jack won't run.
Reason... /etc/security/limits.conf needs to be edited, but it's read only, and I need special permissions to do that... I THINK I found the answer, and am trying to get up the gumption to do it.
I HATE USING TERMINAL!!!
DOS was challenging, but Terminal in Linux combined with the security hoops you have to jump through is MADDENING!
Because of my DOS experience, I usually force myself to bite the bullet and open Terminal, but I HATE IT!!!
And so often, fixing a problem in Linux means dealing with the terminal.
But you could say the Linux Terminal is TERMINALLY USER UNFRIENDLY.
The commands are less like English than the DOS commands, and often much, much, longer.
5. While the Linux Forums are mostly very friendly, they are NOT very easy to navigate or to find information in.
The recurring feeling I have using Linux is "trying to find a needle in a haystack".
Just finding Mint among all the other distros is like "trying to find a needle in a haystack".
Trying to find the software I need is like "trying to find a needle in a haystack".
Trying to find answers in this forum is like "trying to find a needle in a haystack".
Trying to use Terminal is like "trying to find a needle in a haystack".
The original meaning of YAHOO was "you always have other options"... with Linux, it seems like you nearly ALWAYS HAVE TOO MANY OTHER OPTIONS... except maybe for good reliable software choices.
Years ago in a computer magazine, Jim Seymour had an article about "Fascist Software",
and the idea was that "fascist software" was software that, instead of allowing you to do work the way you wanted to,
forced you to do your work ITS way. Very often Microsoft software is like that.
And Linux, with it's security layers is sometimes very "Fascist"... lots of security hoops to jump through.
In Windows, I waste time dealing with viruses and virus checkers, and unhelpfully helpful things like "Do you know you have unused icons on your desktop???"
in Linux, I waste time jumping through hoops designed to hinder viruses.
Anyway, with my DOS experience and basically good computer skills, and long term loathing of Microsoft and the way it and it's software operates, I'm still tempted to BAIL on Linux and I know that a lot of the things I've experienced, a more typical Windows user would have gone back to Windows long ago.
When I look around at the Linux world, I see WAY too much effort going into reinventing the wheel with endless respins of this and that OS version, and all these competing desktops.
I think some kind of focus needs to be put on making sure that all the software in the repositories:
1. Is as bug free as the operating system itself, or as close as possible
2. Can be installed without resorting to Terminal.
In addition, if there is useful software that needs to be compiled to run, it should be compiled and put in the repositories.
3. There needs to be some kind of separation in repositories between what I would call "normal" software for normal people, and what I would call "geekware"- stuff only useful for scientists or programmers or IT techs.... ANOTHER "needle in a haystack" situation!
Hardware. Something needs to be done to minimize hardware headaches.
Many people probably migrate to Linux after their Windows computer is about 5 years old,
and really needs a reinstall of the operating system or Microsoft is trying to force them to upgrade to the new version of Windows,
which may mean major hardware upgrades or a new computer.
Linux versions need to be targeted to run FLAWLESSLY on the most common hardware from between 5 and 10 years ago, and potential Linux users need to be advised that if they want a flawless Linux experience, they may need to sell their old computer, and buy a used one in one of those guaranteed configurations. IDEA... Linux distros should advertise what kinds of computers and other hardware the distro was tested on so, in case someone does have hardware problems, they have a good idea about what other computers would work better.
Hmmm... a thought just occurred to me.... you know, I don't think the same kinds of computers get marketed all over the globe... many of the best and most important Linux distros are in Europe or the U.K..... could that mean that those Linux distros are most likely to work best on the computers commonly sold in the British or European markets? Perhaps Linux distros need to regionalize according to the kinds of computer hardware most likely to be found.
I ran across a thread here last night with a theme similar to this one, and there were WAY too many Linux geeks saying "Use the terminal- it's a piece of cake- it's a powerful tool! etc.".
I used DOS back in the day, and in Windows, you can STILL drop down to DOS if you REALLY want to... but it was really amazing- from the time I started using Windows 95... I NEVER NEEDED TO!!!!
Telling a former Windows user to "Use the Terminal" is tantamount to telling them to take a flying leap at the Moon!!!
For a former Windows user, EVERY TIME a Linux distro forces you to use the Terminal to fix a problem...
THE LINUX GUI IS BROKEN!!!!
Oh yeah.... I'm a musician.... when I'm being musical, I'm right brained. When I'm writing, I'm right-brained. When I'm learning or speaking a foreign language, I'm right brained.
But I can switch. When I used to do my own minor auto repairs, I would get into left-brained analytical mode.
When I got into DOS, and write batch files, I would shift into left brain mode. When I attempt to record myself playing music,
I have a hard time, because I have to shift into left brain analytical mode to pretend to be a sound engineer, but back into creative right brained mode to play music well. It's getting harder and harder for me to switch back and forth as I get older, and many people CAN'T SWITCH AT ALL. Probably many of you who are good at using Terminal are "left-brained" and think somewhat analytically ALL THE TIME. You really don't have any idea what it's like for someone who is primarily right-brained to function with a computer. For "right brained" people NOT USING THE GUI IS NOT AN OPTION!!!! Telling such a person to use the terminal is "like teaching a pig to sing- the results are unsatisfactory- and it annoys the pig!!!" I am way more comfortable and at home in "right brain mode" and I HATE, ABSOLUTELY HATE how often Linux makes me shift into the left brain.... imagine what it's like then for those who can't shift at all.
In effect, Linux needs to retrace Apple Computers steps into GUIs- "Computers for the rest of us" (IOW- for non-geeks!)
I'm pretty sure Clement gets this...that's why Mint is as user friendly as it is.... but I'm NOT so sure about many of the rest of you!
It's not that I don't appreciate computer geeks (including Linux geeks) and all the hard and difficult work they do- but in order to make Linux accessible, you HAVE to understand- MOST of us CAN'T think like you think.... and if we CAN a little, like me, we do it REALLY SLOWLY and are REALLY UNHAPPY CAMPERS while we're doing it!
Hmmm... another idea...
ANOTHER reason why people give up on Linux.
With Windows, until I got too far behind in versions (or the versions got too complex- I was often the "computer guru" for my family and many of my friends. Sometimes it's just easiest to have someone look at your computer and diagnose what's wrong... especially if the computer won't work and you can't get on-line!!!
I think I might know ONE person in my town who I could go to about a Linux problem, and he's a busy man, setting up used computers for schools. IOW- there just aren't enough local Linux geeks to go to for help.
Oh yeah... I blog a lot on one of my music forums (we have personal pages there) and a few months ago I blogged about switching to Linux...
ONE guy on the whole forum responded as a fellow Linux user!!!! One lady responded- she is a computer whiz- but her business is helping Windows users with problems... so the motivation for her $$$$ is to stay with Windows.