Ubuntu Linux As Slick As Windows or Mac, Reviewer Says

Don't be intimidated and try Linux (again).

I've been running Windows since it's beginning, loved Windows 95, 98 and XP, hated 3.1, NT and Vista. During those times I repeatedly tried to get away from that Microsoft addiction, but whenever I installed Linux, it felt sluggish or some drivers just weren't available or software applications that I desperately needed simply didn't exist.

Until Vista nearly forced me to look elsewhere. I installed Ubuntu 8.04 and later 8.10 without ANY hiccups. It offers you installation within Windows, next to Windows by reducing the Windows partition (dual boot) or instead of Windows. I gradually went from the first option to the last. Ubuntu comes with OpenOffice that rivals MS Office and is absolutely free. Especially the new version included in Ubuntu 9.04 is considered better by many. Most 'small' tools that are needed to run a system effectively and cost $30-$50 for Windows are absolutely free on Linux, and their installation is as easy as picking a product from an online retailer.

Linux has virtually no viruses, so I don't run any virus software. Never had to worry about nasty spy ware either (which forced me to reinstall windows many many times). Linux/Unix is about as secure as it gets. I never really reboot my system either, it just stays on all the time (try THAT with windows), but if I do reboot, it's insanely fast.

As for looks, with some experience down the road, you can choose pretty much any theme for your GUI you like, make it look just like Windows Vista, Mac OS X or whatever else you please. I have settled on semi-transparent glass look for my windows, really cool.

I honestly cannot comment on games, because I don't play any, so IMO that would perhaps be the only reason to keep Windows around.

I convinced my gf to install Ubuntu on her desktop and within days she figured out how to use it remotely from her mac laptop - and she's a newbie!

Lastly, there are always a few programs that you will miss from Windows. In my case Adobe Photoshop (no guys, GIMP does 70% but not everything that Photoshop does) and Corel Draw. For this I installed VirtualBox (for free) and run Windows XP in a window. It's slick and super fast and puts Windows in a place it belongs - a sandbox. Try it for yourself, you will love it. Run XP and Vista in separate windows under Ubuntu, it's hilarious.

Bottomline, Ubuntu is coming out with a brand new version 9.10 in a few days. Try it, regardless of what your previous experience years ago may have been. As I said, I wasn't a huge fan before, but the learning curve is smaller than it has ever been and once you get used to Linux and start thinking "linux", I promise you will never look back. Today I honestly would not switch back, if Microsoft paid me the amount they charge for Win7 and Office. I am sure Windows 7 is great in many ways, but I just love the architecture and conceptual differences of Linux so much by now that I just can't go back to a less professional OS.

So try it, you'll be surprised.

Dan X of CO @ Oct 25, 2009 13:07:59 PM