this is what it comes down to...
you did not do your home work.
And that is saying a lot because it doesn't take much home work (if any) to
do any of the things you complain you were unable to do.
I suggest that your problems have very little to do with Linux and almost
everything to do with you.
As for your last comment which read: "My advice is to avoid Linux all
together and use Windows XP because at least it works with all my
hardware".
I wonder, why would I avoid Linux because it doesn;t work with YOUR
hardware? Works with mine. And has worked on every computer I've installed
Linux on over the four years I have been using Linux.