1) Why are you linking to 10.04 when 12.04 LTS has been released?

2) Saying Ubuntu is really close to Windows is somewhat disingenuous, imho.

3) If your only concern is crashing during Diplomacy games, there are several things I would try before getting a new OS.

In defense of the 10.04 choice, Ubuntu has kind of lost its awesomeness in more recent versions. Mint is really the way to go now, if you want a simple, usable linux distro.

Erm... the version 10.04 of Ubuntu, as the name actually indicates, has been released in April 2010. There have been 10.10, 11.04, 11.10 and 12.04 which have been released since. And as always, newer versions have patched known security issues and support a wider range of hardware, and are therefore seriously recommended. If the user interface in the newer versions puts you off (more Mac OSX style, rather than Windows style, I would say), then you can try other distributions, like http://linuxmint.com/. Also good thing with most modern Linux distributions, is you can try them from a live CD, without touching your existing Windows (or whatever) installation.

And for running Diablo III under Linux (provided you have upgraded to one of the latest versions), you just need to use a program called wine (see: http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=25953).

Even in 12.04, you can change your Desktop Environment; you don't need a different OS to do that.

Honestly, I would rather hammer a nail through my hand than try to use wine to play games on Linux.

@abge, it's not just the desktop environment, it's more bulky than it needs to be and I've run into a lot of driver issues.

As for wine, I tend to agree with you, but I have a friend who recently started using wine regularly, and he's gotten steam and several recent blockbuster games working without too much hassle.

"it's more bulky than it needs to be and I've run into a lot of driver issues."

Yes, on that I'll agree.

My main gripe with this OP is that it seems to be targeting people with little computer experience and it's bound to get them in trouble.

I'll agree with that, and add that it implies that "linux" and "ubuntu" are synonymous, which annoys me.

I prefer archlinux. Although it has its own issues (requiring you to have the latest version of everything -- need I say more?)

Arch is too bloated. It comes with a kernel AND a package manager.

you guys... I am never switching to linux. Windows all the way, no crashes for me.