I'm a user of both Windows and Linux (Ubuntu). My guess is that Linux is easier to begin with if you're a complete PC novice. Ubuntu is easy to use, everything

I'm a user of both Windows and Linux (Ubuntu). My guess is that Linux is easier to begin with if you're a complete PC novice. Ubuntu is easy to use, everything is completely logical. Windows is a bit more cluttered and some things are not clear from the start. Also (especially W7) asks your permission for about every single mouseclick, which I think will scare novice users more than it will do them good. As for the experiment, I'm intrigued. I'd love to know how long it will take them to learn specific tasks (for instance, writing a letter, browsing the internet, and some more complex tasks like installing software, configure the wireless internet or make a network connection). As for testing methodologies, I'd make clear descriptions of the tasks and record how long it takes the students. More importantly, let the students make notes about their progress and problems. Good luck with the experiment!