Ubuntu, good but still Linux

I’ve been using Ubuntu almost exclusively on my laptop, and it’s good, but it’s still Linux. What’s wrong with being Linux? Nothing, unless you’re in the 99% of the population that believes that everything should just work automatically and you shouldn’t have to compile any code on your OS. It’s very close to being as easy to use as a Windows or Mac OS, but that little barrier will be too much for most. This is not a mainstream product.

Despite its minor flaws Ubuntu is a very nice and easy to use Linux distribution. The installation could not have been easier, and to make the transition even more seamless, you can run the OS off a CD before you decide to install it. The installer does everything for you, it makes a partition and installs with very little action required from the user. Once the system is installed, it continues to be very easy.

Easy is good and all, but what really matters is speed an reliability. It boots faster than XP and thus far I have had no problems running it. Firefox runs quickly, which is perhaps the most important aspect, since it is far and away my most frequently used app. In fact, it seems to load and run faster than it does in XP, as does openoffice. Aside from FF, it comes preloaded with all the necessary replacement apps, from office productivity to instant messaging and even a few games. Better still, if something is missing it is very easy to browse and add applications (all free of course).

The only real downside is Gimp. It’s an alright image editing app, but it is by no means as good or as easy as photoshop. Other than Gimp, I don’t feel limited in anyway by using Ubuntu, and that’s what really matters. There’s been a lot of talk about Ubuntu lately, but really best way to find out about is to try it.