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But honestly, my argument for Ubuntu has more to do with long-term viability than with short-term pragmatism. Over the last couple of years, Ubuntu has done more for the advancement of Linux on the desktop than any other distribution. This has everything to do with the practical benefits I've already discussed at length, but it also owes a lot to some less tangible factors. Thanks to a monumental outpouring of praise from both its users and the mainstream tech media, Ubuntu is now more popular with end users than Red Hat ever was. All this buzz has generated a terrific amount of momentum for Ubuntu, which has in turn made it the best supported Linux distro in the history of home desktops. By speaking out in overwhelming unison, end users made Ubuntu Dell's first choice for preinstalled Linux systems. By virtue of its popularity, Ubuntu has begun to overcome one of the greatest hurdles faced by all Linux distros: obscurity.
Historically, supporting Linux has been a thorny problem for hardware developers. The daunting task of working with a variety of packaging systems creates consternation among vendors, making it hard to decide which distros, if any, to support. Too often, vendors simply throw up their hands rather than deal with this issue. Ubuntu's high-profile status gives developers an obvious starting point as they venture into the Linux world, which significantly lowers this critical barrier to entry. And because Ubuntu appeals to home desktop users rather than just admins and supergeeks, it's more likely to spur growth on higher-end graphics hardware, which could potentially lead to much-needed improvements in the Linux gaming experience.
The point here is that, in order for Linux in general to succeed on the desktop, it must develop a distinguishable reputation as something other than a nerdy, niche operating system. To (ab)use a common phrase, it must attain critical mass. So long as the world of GNU/Linux appears fractured and chaotic to potential users, developers, and vendors, such critical mass will remain elusive. From where I'm sitting right now (in front of an Ubuntu-powered laptop), Ubuntu looks to be the best hope for a unified Linux community that is inviting – rather than threatening – to major hardware and software vendors, and the non-techy end users they cater to. And if Ubuntu manages to withstand the tumultuous growth it faces in the coming year or two, it will likely arise as a major third choice in the world of desktop operating systems, which is something no other Linux distro is currently poised to do.
Comments are closed on this article
EmilyAv35
December 29, 2009 at 10:48pm
It’s good that you make a king of superb topic just about this good topic. Moreover we think that it can be very good if some people receive the thesis topic or just dissertation writing from you.
johnh3
October 03, 2009 at 7:39am
I have used Linux for about 3 years. Ubuntu is fine. But my personal favoritue is Pardus 2009.
I recommend everyone to give it a try. Version 2009.1 will be released soon to:
http://www.pardus.org.tr/eng/
http://worldforum.pardus-linux.nl/index.php?topic=2982.0
Tips Photo
February 03, 2009 at 8:25pm
Thanks for the post. I have always wanted to put Linux onto my other computer because I hear good things. And with this I might just go ahead and start using it. Great information.
plastic96
January 07, 2008 at 5:16pm
I recently had a computer in my office fail. While it was undergoing repair, my partner demanded a computer to use while his was out. I found an old Gateway (PIII 450 mHz) loaded with Win98. However, when I fired up this old warrior, the hard drive did not join the party. Uh-oh. I pulled an extra hard drive from another unused computer (guess what MY closet looks like) and put it in the Gateway. That left me short just one little thing- an operating system. Considered buying a version of Windows for just long enough to laugh out loud at the cost. Then I thought about the articles I had read about Linux. Hmmmmmm.
I did some research and ended up on the Ubuntu site. After downloading the most recent LTS version, I burned it to a CD. Then I was introduced to the ISO concept (after the CD wouldn't load no matter what I did). OK, more reading, download and install ISO recorder and burn ISO on CD. Set computer to boot from CD (yes, I almost missed that). Insert disk and close CD.............
It LOADED! After about 20 minutes of quite verbose and sometimes hilarious comments about failures during the loading process (none of which stopped the process, by the way), I was deposited at a quite reasonable screen. Everthing worked, albeit a bit slowly- this was running off the Live CD. I played with the computer for a couple of hours to make sure it worked. It did, except I could never get a Microsoft USB wireless G adapter to work (an apparently quite common problem). Open Office did exactly what it was supposed to do.
Excellent. Turn everything off, and take the computer to the office.
At the office. Power up and everything still works great (notice that I still haven't stopped running the Live CD). I notice, at that point, the install option. Hadn't I just done that? Apparently not. Chose the option, and off we went. Once installed, the computer was MUCH faster. Indeed almost as fast as some much more up-to-date machines in my office. Then the fun started. I plugged in the Ethernet cable for the office LAN. I waited for some screen to pop-up and tell me I was connected. Well, it didn't, and by the way I wasn't. More reading (get used to this) and configuring. This was really not that hard, and if I had ever done anything with networks before it would have taken about ten minutes instead of one and one half hours. Did it ultimately work? It absolutely did! Did I learn a whole hell of a lot about my office network? I sure did :).
Overall impressions of the experience:
I liked Ubuntu. It was easy. My partner, a noted Windowsphile, just started using the machine and didn't complain.There were two issues I couldn't beat- I could never get the two printers to do anything more than basic functionality. The printers did excellent work from Open Office Text and spreadsheet. They would, however, never print pictures very well at all.
marudd2002
August 02, 2007 at 4:49pm
I have a Sapphire brand ATI x700PRO 128MB PCIe card on my nVidia NB/AMD CPU/MSI MB system and when I tried to install ubuntu it would always give me the same error about a *something* "x" failure in regards to the video card. i would never get any other error other than the xfailure and it always blamed the video card. a few of my linux tech buds informed me that i should have an nVidia GPU if i want linux to work correctly because ati isn't supported worth crap. what's the real deal on this?
Fanboys are annoying! I like to get the most performance per dollar possible and that's all there is to it. Why pay $600-800 for something now if it'll be $400 or less in 6-8 months? Doesn't make since, just be patient.
clumsypenguing
July 29, 2007 at 11:16pm
I've been using Linux for almost three years. I'm no geek, I'm no hacker: So, it has been hard.
I've been through a few distro's and Ubuntu is beautiful. When I first installed it, it was what I 'do' know about Linux that got me into trouble, not what I didn't (passwd: I finally had to use shred to completely erase my hard drive so I could start again.)
Since then - sweet!
I am actually using Xubuntu (on my P4) and it is like getting a new computer! My friends are complaining about how slow their Celerons are running; but, they are worried about jumping into Vista, because of the price and the inevitable 'updates'(they don't even know what the the terms 'bugs' and 'bug fixes' are).
Why do I use Linux?
'Cause, I just want a f**kin' computer; a g*damm machine; that will do what I tell it to do: without a sh*tload of advertising; or, worrying that my personal information is going to be RAIDED!)
I'll give the geeks that made it: money, respect, even love (maybe) - But, I need FREEDOM! As in choice, not beer.
I'm a user; a Linux user.
Ubuntu works.
babble
July 29, 2007 at 10:19am
Buy a new PC or a Mac and you'll need to spend "a couple of hours" installing "all your expensive software" before you can do "anything?"
This brings back so many fond memories of Windows fanboys pulling inaccurate stuff out of the thinnest of thin air with which to critique Macs (my favorite, 10 years ago or so was "Macs simply CANNOT run Microsoft Word.")
It's lovely that Ubuntu exists. It's lovely that Linux on the whole exists. But if you have to resort to inaccurate, "I just pulled this from my butt"-isms to promote it, maybe you're not exactly helping the cause.
If you'd spent any time at all near a new consumer Mac in the last decade or so, you'd know that they come with a whole pile of software preinstalled. If you'd touched a new Mac since 2004 or so, you'd know that iLife and iWork come preinstalled on EVERY new Mac, pro or consumer. Talk UP the good stuff about Ubuntu, I'm right there with you. Spread FUD, not so much.
askTheADmin
July 27, 2007 at 11:34am
Thank you for this great article - i passed it along to my dad. And you probably guessed it he is going to be Ubuntuized! Thanks would love to reprint some blurbs from this article!
Let us know stop by and say hello
AskTheAdmin ohh and BTW today is SysAdmin's Day check out this Here:
ecartman
July 27, 2007 at 5:00am
Agreed, my path to Linux was trying Wubi to just see how Feisty worked. Wubi is great,it allows a Ubuntu install and you can uninstall from the windows uninstall program applet. Anyway loved Ubuntu and now have it on the wives computer and dual booting on my gaming computer. Funny though all my gaming time seems to have changed into Learning Linux time lol.
Cart
heden
July 27, 2007 at 3:43am
i'd like to take a minute to agree with everything that was stated in this article. first of all, it was very well written, and second: it was very well read.
those of you who are n00b5 should take this article seriously, as ubuntu probably is your best choice.
the only reason i have decided to chime in is to agree. ubuntu is a great choice for beginners. very simple in it's use, and the dark side of the force can always use some more followers.
step 1) start with ubuntu.
step 2) learn the basics.
step 3) move to gentoo.
step 4) learn the specifics.
step 5) move to freebsd.- heden
AMD64Blondie
July 27, 2007 at 12:58am
I'm running OpenSuse 10.2 on my backup PC,and I think it's wonderful.
Fast,stable,and has detected every piece of hardware I've added.
(Which hasn't been much..yet,as I'm trying to keep my Linux rig as stable as possible.)Also, Suse is IMO,one of the most user-freindly Linux distros out there.
JohnF
July 26, 2007 at 8:59pm
And it's great on a pre-installed Ubuntu PC. For those of you who want to test out Linux, you may want to "test out" different Linux Distros (Distributions); one, to see if they work well with your setup, and two, because other Distros may fit your needs better.
You can go to sites like http://www.distrowatch.com and download "Live CD" iso's, burn them to CD, and test drive the software (just by booting up with the new CD in the drive). This way, you can get the full experience without having to install the software. Some Distros handle video better than others, some have better multimedia support, and some work better on older equipment.
My favorite Distro (because it works so well on my system, and is friendly to people used to Windows) is PCLinuxOS (http://www.pclinuxos.com). I've had very good success with other ones as well (Memphis, Linux Mint are
based on Ubuntu, and have great communities...Puppy Linux is a marvel on older machines, and so forth). Remember to check out the developer's websites and the communities that have developed with them, that's a huge factor in how well your Linux experience goes!
Gigahertz17
July 26, 2007 at 4:47pm
I've always wanted to try Linux, but being a gamer I'm a little hesitant. Steam and 99% of the other 3rd party games it offers are not linux compatible, especially having to find drivers for everything. Printers, webcams, and lots of the other devices need special drivers to work on Linux if I'm correct?
It's to bad we can't find a way for everybody to ditch Windows and switch to open source OS and software, then we would get some major support from companies.
alex911
July 26, 2007 at 4:54pm
Many games on steam you can play on wine no problem. The performance isn't 1:1 but it is like 90% or better on many. For a gamer too, you can use vmware to try linux inside of windows, then if you like dual boot so you can still boot to windows for games.
