Why must EVERTHING be aHasel?

Chances are you have unsupported hardware. Does your printer say Linux compatible or did it come with Linux drivers? If not, you need to blame the maker of your printer not Ubuntu. That said, Linux is way more robust than windows or osx and nearly every problem has a solution. Obviously, the best solution is for hardware makers to support it. However, if you are stuck with incompatible hardware, give us the details and we'll be happy to see if there is a fix.

One thing that is not helpful, is to bash something that no one is forcing you to use in the first place. A great many people use Ubuntu without issue. Every computer in my house runs Ubuntu and nothing else.

If you want some help getting your printer to work, please provide as much info as you can including printer make and model and version of Ubuntu you are using.

I do understand your point though, everything does seem to be a hassle! Ubuntu is not an operating system that just anyone can install on their pc and away they go! All my hardware is compatible, but not totally simple to get running the way it should, using a second HDD for storage is a real pain and it took day's to get it working as it should, and all the command lines I was told to try in the terminal never worked! and there is the point of the issue, "command lines terminal", I used Windows for years and never used a command line or a terminal of sorts! But I love Ubuntu and I am like a student again learning the system, but it ain't easy! and takes a lot of time. and I still can't get my Epson Perfection 2480 scanner to work! all I can find is some websites giving a page of command lines to input but I don't really understand how to input it all, it's only a scanner for Christ sake.surely it should be easier than this?

Mark, for the record I can install ubuntu and away I go - and I am a teacher not a Linux admin or anything. Sure, I change my theme and tweak setting the way I like but everything just works fine for me. What people tend to overlook is that their windows computer came from the manufacture fully installed and tested. With Ubuntu you have to do all the install and testing yourself. Comparing the two situations is unfair - especially if you have incompatible hardware. That isn't the fault of the OS (any OS) but the hardware maker.

It did take me a good 6 months of playing around a lot to really learn things and there is a lot I still don't know, but I now use Linux 100% at home - I don't even have windows and I hate that I have to use it at work. Once you really learn Linux, windows becomes a serious annoyance.

As for the "command lines terminal" I love it. I use it all the time to do lots of stuff. True, you shouldn't "have" to use it to do simple things and usually you don't. There are GUI front-ends for almost everything. However, if you are asking for help in a forum, you will have to expect the answer to use the terminal because it is so much easier to give a few commands than try to walk someone through a bunch of clicks. The command line is also frequently used by windows admins - well, those who really know what they are doing - though ms has gone out of their way to make admin overly simple (perhaps part of the reason windows is relatively insecure). But then you pay for all that effort as well.

As for your scanner problem, post your own question and you may get the answer you need. However, if your scanner is not supported that is Epson's issue. Be sure to complain to them. I have an HP all in one and everything works just fine - print, copy and scan and all from a gui. But HP also supports Linux big time and hence the difference.

It's a bit of work to switch but keep at it. I found the effort to be well worth it. I especially love that I can install just about anything I need in a matter of seconds with no searching all over the web for some tool to do what I need and finding mostly "trial" versions.

Just for the record, my PC has never had windows on it it is a new custom build, I don't blame Linux,Ubuntu for not supporting hardware, I am willing to do my homework, I also hate Windows, I also tweak my the settings and change my theme. And I do love to be able to use the Terminal,command line way of doing things. But it is fact that Linux Ubuntu Isn't a install and away you go, as I have given install cd's to a lot of people and many, not all! usually come back and say. "I haven't got the time to sort all the little faults and issues with it, but I do see the potential, But Windows just works for me so I will stick with that". That is what I base my theory on not just my own PC!. I think we should agree to disagree. on this one. Kind regards, Mark.