> it is not easy to learn. (apt get? Why not create a simple GUI for
> it that's accessible from the menus?)

there are two: add/remove under the applications menu


> - An OS that installs applications but doesn't create menu entries
> for them is not easy to learn. (Edit menus? Seriously?!?!?)

OS's don't install apps users do. Had that issue under windows on
family machines but never on Ubuntu to this point.

> - An OS that doesn't understand common accented characters (è, é, ê)
> and even refuses to load files (claims the files don't exist!) with
> such characters in the file name is not easy to learn.

works here

> - An OS with inconsistent mouse action responses (no right click
> drag'n'drop) is not easy to learn. (if I can't do a right mouse
> drag'n'drop in Nautilus, why would I assume there are other
> right-mouse options available?)

no issues for me

> - An OS that requires manually editing config files to permanently
> mount network drives is not easy to learn. (temporary drive
> connections are simple to do through the GUI - why not add a simple
> check box to make a mount permanent?)

that one could be suggested if its not available through a package
already.

> - An OS that claims to be able to run on older hardware that requires
> a manual compilation of video drivers for a Sony laptop to be able to
> run main-stream applications like Google Earth is not easy to learn.

sony. remember that they are the root of proprietary crap. rootkit
anyone? oh the bluray spec that potentially makes it impossible to run
your disc on two players and already prevents it from being played on a
machine that does not support drm.

most things that can be done on the cli can be done on the gui but with
experience the latter is just quicker for many of them. It is easier
than microsoft imo. 3 min and no install of software for my laptop and
my son's and 45 min to get the same brother printer running from my
wife's windows laptop.

its not windows and that imo is a good thing and even better that its
not apple.