Linux for everyone?

Can Linux really be for everybody? I read not long ago about a family father who wanted to make all his family windows free and use only Linux... whether they wanted it or not.
Should everyone become a Linux-only user, should we, the Linux community talk everyone we know into using Linux instead of windows?
My answer is: NO! Linux is much more than an operating system, and free software is not only a bunch of programs you can download on the Internet for free, both have a strong non-technical or economical context: they show us what an individual without being controled or monitored can achieve and show that not only commercial software works or can get things done.
For these reasons (and many more) i'm simply fascinated about Linux -and i would use it even if it was the world's technically worst operating system.- Which is of course not, but it isn't either a replacement to windows, but an alternative: it does the job in a different way -and many times better- although different. Linux gives the user total control over his system, which is a Pandora's Box effect, in the hands of an unexperienced user this can have catastrophic effects on the health of the operating system, this i think is one of the main reasons that makes the transition to Linux difficult for many people.
Some people even think of Linux as a windows-wannabe with less functionality, integration and much more complex.
So how do you talk these people into trying Linux?
First by waking up their curiosity, by showing them under windows what many free alternatives to commercial software exist: The Gimp, the Mozilla Suite, Open Office, etc.
Explain them what free software is, that is free as in freedom and not free as in beer (sorry couldn't help myself:) )
By showing them what a Linux OS looks like, by explaining how things work and most important by supporting them and answering their questions.
I used these steps to talk a few people into trying Linux, many of them stuck with it, others got back to their safe point-and-click windows enviroment, that's just the way it is, after all, they have the freedom to decide.

Linux powered subnotebook.

Asus presented in the Computex in Taipei a project they've been working on together with Intel, the EeePC is powered by a Intel mobile processor, has 512 MB of DDR2-400 memory and comes with a choice of between 4 and 16 Gb flash drives.
Although the EeePC is windows-compatible, Asus has decided for a self-developed Linux operating system (Hooray!) The EeePC's main target will be the comunication market (web-browsing, e-mail, office work and digital communications) in order to achieve this, is equipped with a fast-ethernet port, 802.11b/g WLAN and a 56k-modem, in the multimedia department has a 3 megapixel webcam, hi-fi audio and microphone, the smaller model with a 7" screen will cost around 199$, while the 'big brother' with 10" screen will start at 299$ (hardware specifications and prices are from press releases)
Asus plans to start producing the EeePC in August (and so do i), will be looking forward getting my hands on one.

The Gimp

Of course this blog wouldn't be complete if i don't make a little tribute to what i consider to be the most special jewel in the Open Source crown. The Gimp (short form of 'GNU Image Manipulation Program') is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring.
It works on many operating systems, in many languages. In the official GIMP web site you'll find information about downloading, installing, using, and enhancing this fantastic graphic suite. This site also serves as a distribution point for the latest releases.
What? you're still reading this? go check it out!!!!

Microsoft will help making a better Linux. (????)

Well, it's finally happening, ms realizes that Linux is a real competition and a possible threat to them on the desktop and is now throwing it's tentacles around and trying to get a hold on it... just shortly after saying that Linux was violating some of their patents, now they're willing to happily "work" together with some of those companies? Funny i'd say, i used to be a SuSE user, but after novell threw herself to ms feet they lost my respect, i can do on Linux everything i can do on windows (and sometimes even better) and i'm no Linux guru... heck i can barely write a shell script!! if something doesn't work "out of the box" i still make it work, even if it takes sometime reading in a forum or asking Google.
Fact is that most PC users just want things to work, and ms does a great job at that (which to me translates into treating you like a braindead moron), insert the cd and watch the light blink.
I won't say that novell/xandros/linspire and whoever else is throwing himself to ms feet is doing a bad move, i just truly hope that in a future our Linux stays pure, open and free.
I wonder what does Linus think of all this mess...