Ubuntu is always better than any microsoft os. As for user friendliness is concerned use sabayon mint.. It is awesome...u will forget windows...i dont know y people say linux is not user friendly...if u cand understand simple english (any messege, warning or error comes in english) then goto language class and dont blame developers. Ubuntu is much much better than windows in al respect. Its free, open, easy to use, better user support, more secure, with lots of utility softwares and much more...but in windows u have to purchase the os itself and after that u have to purchase every software...how it can be better for newbies if they donno anything and they have to spend money at each step?