^this
There is nothing magically special about Linux (provided it has been properly designed) that makes it any more difficult to use than iOS or Android, or the Sony interface or the Wii interface or the XBox interface or whatever, as opposed to Windows. Yes, it's a little different, but so are all these other things and no one has any problems.
My favourite example that I tout out every time someone says how they don't know if they'll be able to "figure out" Linux because they are a Windows user: Tivo runs Linux. My grandmother knows how to use Tivo, my grandmother can use Linux (technically), and so can you!
most users are just idiots, they say they don't like windows vista because they heard an IT guy say it at one point in their past, or it's just different. Once they hear an IT guy say "i like windows 7" they all of a sudden like it as well, that or they just got used to windows vista and seen 7 being not that different from what they familiar with. People say "i don't like linux" because it has the stigma of just being complicated. But it's like you said, some distros of linux are extremely easy to manipulate for most people. Most of the people I talk to wouldn't even know the difference between a nicely skinned linux over a legitimate copy of windows for just about everything they do. Most people I deal with just browse the net, chat, or type documents or spreadsheet work. For them, they have no room to even care about the OS they're using, because for that crap it honestly doesn't even matter.
This is why I think chrome OS might just take over the world. (if capable of running android apps)
I have an authentic reason for not moving to or even remotely liking linux. I'm a serious windows ninja, I can literally fix damn near any windows problem you trow at me... I better, it's my job. However I get frustrated very easy, and when I go looking into an area or menu where I think something *should* be and it's not, I get angry really quick. (punching monitors, punching users) I gave up on the GUI of windows about 3 versions ago and just pop open a command line or start>run %variables% or pluggins.msc or regedit fix just about anything I do nowadays. I don't like the feeling of going from ninja to noob... that's not my thing, thats why I stick with windows.
Smartphone OSs, I love android because it's going to be the most popular os in the universe someday, even more than windows, it may not have the history of windows behind it, but someday more people will be eventually using it. Those that can't afford a computer will be able to get a cheap smartphone/tablet that can do basically the same thing a computer can do, but for half the price because there is no licensing involved in having to be a certified windows device or have a legitimate copy of a closed software.
The popularity has exploded recently because it's the latest fad, but it's long term effect of free as in lunch os, and open development means cheap production, wide distribution, and wide acceptance. It has done, what I belive linux cannot do, or at least has not done previously, be people friendly and socially acceptable. It has google backing it and eveyone knows what google is. And just like you said, my grandma knows how to use google.
If chrome OS kicks off the way I think it will and you can take any app from your desktop and move it to your smartphone seamlessly, picking up exactly the same spot you left off, then it's done for the competition.
