XP is a bear. Without the OEM install disk, I've spent many days trying to install a retail copy on some systems. I've never had a Linux install as bad as some of my worst XP installs. But that's not germane to the discussion.

You don't need an Internet connection to use Linux. If you have problematic hardware with a modern Linux distribution, odds are you'd have problems with any OS. Unless someone has customized an install for you (an OEM install disk), and you have all original hardware, things can be difficult. Just do what the vast majority do - buy a machine with the OS you want pre-installed.

If you can't do that, and you have an OS that works with the machine - use it! There is no law that says you must use a particular OS. If you are happy, your job is done. If you are buying a new machine and want a new OS, buy it that way. There are many vendors all over the world, long before Dell, that provided this service.

If you want to use Linux (or Mac OSX), you must recognize that it's not Windows and you will need to learn new things. If you are not willing or able to do that, then just stay where you are. People do it every day. People here sometimes act like they are being forced to use Linux, and developers and the community are somehow letting them down. Get over it.

I do allot of computer repair speeding up the turtle Windows becomes after installing/removing too much software. This is where I get my Windows fix. The biggest advantage with Windows is that you're usually on-line soon after installation, just like Linux, there are native drivers to get you the basics. Not to mention the fact most computers come with Windows pre-installed and all you do is plug in the cords and start surfing. The bear's share of the computer market is in personal computers, and most people who buy their first computer dream of surfing the net, not playing solitaire, why pay a thousand dollars to play solitaire when you can buy a deck of cards for a dollar?. And everybody wants to keep up with the Jones and have the latest, and be "secure", therefore they are compelled to chase the updates. And service pack 2 pushes you to have automatic updates turned on.
I don't know what it's like in your part of the world, but in my part of the world....there are two things most people prefer not to do, and that's "reading & writing", it's more of a "shoot first, ask questions later", society. And the Windows designers capitalize on this human trait.

You apparently selected the wrong distribution. Fedora is targetted at folks that want a secure leading edge distribution. Leading edge means that it closely tracks upstream (the development for each package). Fedora is composed of about 7400 packages (not counting those in external repositories). Of course there are going to be many updates. In addition, if people report bugs, they want them fixed. A fix means a new update. Complaining about a distribution for doing exactly what their goals state is not productive.

If you are looking for a lower security, more stable, end-user friendly distribution try Ubuntu.

That's pretty sad. I love reading, and always have. My wife is a teacher at a public school where all the kids hate reading too. I don't understand it.
Nothing is more important to the rich and powerful than keeping you dumb and happy.

OK, that put you on my buddy list.