I've been having some major trouble with Windows lately (big shock I'm sure) and I would like to see How easy it would be for my family to adjust to Linux. (SuSE in particular) They will still require the use of some Windows apps at home and at work, so wiping windows permanently is not going to be an option. They are not very computer literate, and are turned off by the use of passwords. These are my biggest concerns about exposing them to the unknown world of Linux. They need to have the familiarity of the windows interface so they don't have to re-learn another OS, so I'll probably try out XPDE. Also, is there anyway to not have to use password and still be secure? And can you have something to windows fast-user switching so each user can have an X session going without disturbing the other people's?

I'd really like to have an OS that I don't have to reformat every 2 months because the system's falling apart. Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated.

I hope you're joking.

If not, there's this:

http://www.bellevuelinux.org/automatic_login.html

HTH

No. Passwords and security are a fundamental part of a reliable system, and it's no more "difficult" than locking your door at night. You don't think about that, do you?

You see, any program that executes on your account has your privileges. If that account is all-powerful then so is every program .. "rogue" or not .. intended or not .. that manages to run there. If there is no security on files, no password challenges, then the entire system is basically un-protected.

So... give 'em passwords. Teach 'em to log in. Make sure they're not "root." And do the very same thing on Windows. The days of "everyone is a password-free Administrator" are over.

I should have known about the no passwords part.
Thanks for pointing that out to me. I guess they have to learn sometime.

Everyone was had a limited account, and the admin was password protected, but I'll be sure to double check permissions in Windows/Linux.

Thanks again