One thing I've been reading a lot lately is that GNU/Linux is utter crap on the desktop.
I used to agree with this sentiment. I thought that the problems you run into on a GNU/Linux desktop are not well documented, and hardware support was lacking. I use GNU/Linux for my reasons, many of them based on principles. I believe in the open source movement, and I encourage others to contribute or be a part of it.
But recently, I've had a change in heart as to how usable GNU/Linux really is. I installed Ubuntu on a laptop belonging to a good friend. I give Ubuntu live cd's to people all the time when their windows system is down and they don't have time to do a full backup and reinstall. Their reactions to Ubuntu are surprisingly different than I suspected. They all liked it. No problems.
None.
I thought wireless might be a problem, and only one friend's laptop didn't work with wireless.. but he doesn't move his laptop.
Printers have been a problem in the past, but the only thing that has happened so far is that GNU/Linux has worked with printers faster than Windows. They didn't have to go searching for drivers, they didn't have to run the CD that came with the printer. They just printed.
A lot of people have asked me if their favorite Windows program will "run in linux". The ironic part is they are usually talking about Firefox. Or pidgin. Sometimes they ask about iTunes, but none of them mean "I really want to stay using iTunes and have access to the iTMS," they usually mean "Can I sync my iPod? Can I play my music?" The answer to both of those is YES, and usually once again with more ease.
I know this sounds like one more love piece to Ubuntu on how easy it was to use... because it is one. As an archlinux developer, I understand how hard it is to have things usable. Obviously ArchLinux and Ubuntu have completely separate goals, but I gotta give props to Ubuntu.
Remeber that old "Is GNU/Linux ready for the desktop?" question everyone keeps asking and answering on blogs? Well let me clear some things up for people.
GNU/Linux is all ready on your desktop
3 months ago
Don't forget that Ubuntu is not the only distribution focusing on user friendliness. It's only the most (over)hyped one. For example Mandriva, PCLinuxOS, openSUSE, and MEPIS are good alternatives too. They also have much better graphical configuration tools.
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Ubuntu may not be the only distro that is focused on usability, but I must contend that it is the best distro to use for people who have never used anything but Windows and Mac. The learning curve is practically non-existent when switching to Ubuntu, which is pretty important for switchers, as learning a foreign environment isn't something most people want to do.
As for openSUSE, Mandriva, and PCLinuxOS, I've found that their hardware support and documentation are somewhat lacking, especially for a new user who isn't savvy with Linux yet.
Not to mention the vast amount of packages available through Ubuntu's apt repositories, something the other three have yet to match.
Hyped? Absolutely. Overhyped? Overhyped implies that it's not deserving of they hype it has received. On the contrary, my friend, Ubuntu lives up to the hype. No doubt about that.
2 months, 3 weeks ago
A lot of the problem is that we old dos and win users don't understand Linux. Ubuntu is fairly easy and adaptable. I was impressed. The online support is great. I'm giving Linux a fair shake this time.
2 months, 3 weeks ago
i had a laptop "fall off of a truck" and decided after 30 days i would try Ubuntu. First off, lets start this with a fact: Windows XP took me over 4 hours to install. yes, this includes formatting and installing the OS, setting up all the drivers and getting them to work properly, and installing any "normal" software needed (which most of it was MS brand, like MediaPlayer and office and such).
so, i take my LiveCD and sit down in front of the laptop and slide it in the drive. It takes me only a few minutes to get the format/install going and i walk away from the laptop. about an hour later... "oh crap! i forgot about the laptop"...
well, the laptop is finally done and just sitting there waiting for me to do something. i reboot it and then Ubuntu pops up on the screen. i set the password and then walk away as Ubuntu loads. why did i walk away? to go grab a drink and a snack. i'm thinking that driver installation is going to take me a while. i figure that this will take longer than i am used to because i am unfamiliar with Ubuntu/linux...
was i in for a surprise!
once the OS had loaded, i grabbed the driver disc and slid it into the drive. as i'm doing this, a bubble pops up saying "wireless networks found..." uh... really? no...
so i click on the utility and sure enough, there is my wireless network and the one other network normally present! wow! that's pretty damn cool. so i check all the other things i would normally need to install.
sound? check. (pun!)
wireless? check.
unwired network? check.
video? check.
bluetooth? check.
PC Card? check.
everything was already working and i had only been sitting at the laptop for 3 minutes! then i notice that any type of "windows" software i need is already available! firefox, openoffice, thunderbird, etc. they are all there!
so, with a nice little smirk on my face, i proceed with the prompted "updates" and then proceed to enjoy an episode of That 70's Show as I watch my 10 minute old Ubuntu build update itself over the wireless network that i didn't have to configure.
sidenote: i currently have 3 windows laptops that are making my hair fall out trying to get them to connect to the internet.
Ubuntu may or may not be the "next desktop software" and it may have a learning curve for a windows (or inexperienced computer) user to adapt to. but, as far as installing this is the BEST install i have ever done...
Ubuntu = Pretty Darn Awesome!
2 months, 3 weeks ago
I can remember a news article titled "Will the internet every be useful?" I think this question if GNU/Linux is ready for the desktop is similar in that I don't want to be the last one who is afraid to realize the answer has been YES for quite some time. I have used Ubuntu almost exclusively since September 07. I do not miss Windows.
Dale
2 months, 1 week ago
Heya Jeff!
Had fun catching up with you today @ OSU. Glad to hear all is well. Nice to see you kinda had the "Andy Hertzfeld" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Hertzf...) look going (he's in the middle-backrow with the sweet stance going on) with the hair and all. Rock on. :)
So Linux on the desktop... Well, "I've got something in my front pocket, for you...": Pen Drive Linux! (http://www.pendrivelinux.com/). Why limit yourself to the desktop? :) I've played around with this on my little 4GB SanDisk flash drive (Ubuntu 7.10) and minus a few weird UnionFS problems cause of a bad block or 8, I've used it to great success.
There's just something waaay fun about walking up to a desktop running windows, slapping in the flash drive, rebooting, working, then walking away with a reboot, leaving the machine pristine in its pitiful windows-existence as if I had never been there.
"And like that....he was gone." --Roger "Verbal" Kint, Usual Suspects
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