Just recently I got a popup window that said my computer was infected, and it was scanning for viruses. It found 47 errors, and said I needed to download the program to remove the threats. Unfortunately (for the scammers), it was 'Antivirus 2009 web scanner for Windows XP', and I am running OpenSuSE 11.0. It infects the 'program files' directory, and the registry. Since Linux has neither, I laughed, did a quick search for the rogue .exe names (they didn't exist), and closed the browser. My question is, why does anyone use Windows?

Linux Rocks!

i belive there is an atricle on the web somwhere about what happens if you insatll one of thease scanners.... its many pages long

Was this rhetorical or do you really want an answer?
...there ARE good reasons in favour of windows - one is:
not every one is a geek. Most people just need it to get work done - no matter how and not even knowing of, nor being interested in, different ways...
just as in real life

wonder why i seem to recomend OSX to computer newbies who havent allready got used to windows and are too technophobic to use linux....

then again for family i prefer ubuntu (with limited sudo privs) leaving a ssh acsess for me when they call me up to fix it......

havent actually implimented yet, still trying to convince then that for what tehy want to do a computer really is the easiest solution. (and cheapest) and they are not as hard to use as the DVD player!

well - that depends.
while operating DVD-Players really sucks - they are connected to the TV - the TV is larger and in front of the couch

The "scanner" was probably a GIF or flash animation, and "antivirus" was a windows trojan.

P.S. There was similar thread recently with more detailed information. Can't find it right now, unfortunately.

I didn't expect this much response, but cool. Btw, windows viruses can't do much to a linux os... Hence the satire. Yes, windows does have its place, and OSX, well, it's a GUI on UNIX. (for all you Mac users out there, I love OSX too, but I have Ubuntu installed on my Mac)