Why Ubuntu is better than other Linux flavors?

[sbasak]

Sorry if my question appears dumb, but I really like to know what advantage Ubuntu offers over other flavors of Linux? Are they all same really? :confused:

[gw90se]

One big advantage to me is the help that you can get from this forum.

[tktreload]

finding the right linux distro is quite a thing, some people try a lot of distros.
Until they find a distro with a forum that they like, a desktop that they like, or some utils that they like particularly.
try some, and then decide...

[BWF89]

what advantage Ubuntu offers over other flavors of Linux? Are they all same really? :confused:
Ubuntu isn't really better than any other distros. It just aims to be easier to use. The people that develop Ubuntu take the latest unstable release (sid) of the Debian Linux OS and build on that to create a stable Ubuntu release.

Comparison of Linux distros:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Linux_distributions

[maruchan]

Reasons why I feel a bit more rested using Ubuntu:

(Keeping in mind it's a free distro:)
-New release every 6 months
-Funded by a guy who knows what he's doing
-Builds on the work of others in an advantageous way (Debian)
-Large support community and userbase, meaning I can Google most any technical problem, append "Ubuntu" at the end of the query, and come up with working solutions
-Includes both KDE- and GNOME-centric sub-distros
-Huge software repository. Combined with the "large userbase" point above, this means that niche software I actually care about is very likely to be available through the repos.
-Unsettling number of "I'm going back to Windows" posts in the Community Chat area...oh wait, that's a Con, not a Pro. ;)

[steve.horsley]

finding the right linux distro is quite a thing, some people try a lot of distros.
Until they find a distro with a forum that they like, a desktop that they like, or some utils that they like particularly.
try some, and then decide...

I think this is true. I have settled on Ubuntu for now for two reasons, one practical and one philosophical. Ubuntu is the first distro I have come across where everything pretty-much Just Works (TM). And I like the fact that Ubuntu keeps the Ideals that it will always be free, no watering down with a "fully featured" commercial version. It also aims to be useful worldwide rather than just targeting rich countries. A distro that Just Works for everyone everywhere.

[Mr_Grieves]

Why is Ubuntu better?

Ubuntu Testimonial Archive:
http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=103

[Iandefor]

There's a big focus on the experience of the end user, although right now there are a lot of rough edges (which aim to be smoothed down). I think you should try it, and, if you don't like it, come back in a couple years and see how we're doing. I myself like the fact that it supports almost all my hardware with minimal fuss (audio was horrible to get working, but it's because I was being dumb). I also like the applications and the latitude granted via apt.

[Rackerz]

Why? These forums play the main part in my books, without these forums well I'd be no where. Ubuntu just seems to agree with my computer as well, no troubles.

[poofyhairguy]

I like its community more.

And it has more packages in its repos than most other Linux's (only Gentoo and Sid have more).

[eMuNiX]

My main reason is that I can upgrade my kernel and the ATi card still works without hosing the whole install. Something that happened to me quite regularly with some rpm based distros. This thing just works, is compact (1 disc only instead of many) and is very well supported as I can apt-get most packages and not have to do too much from source. I like Gentoo/Vidalinux but they are too time consuming to get going well. My other favourite distro is Yoper, but I only use that on old slow machines.

[aysiu]

It all depends on what you're looking for.

As a collection of software, Ubuntu is not the most fully-featured or immediately impressive. In fact, a lot of new users complain about its default lack of proprietary formats (MP3, Flash, etc.) and its need for the command-line to set up things like read-write FAT32 partition mounting. It has two CDs... one for installation, one for live... instead of just one.

If you're looking for a live and installer CD in one and want all your proprietary codecs already ready to go, I'd recommend Mepis or PCLinuxOS.

Ubuntu, however, is dedicated to being free (will, in fact, even ship you CDs and pay for postage), and it has excellent support (these forums). It also doesn't bloat up the operating system with a million applications--one application per task... simple. There's a beautiful simplicity to Ubuntu's approach.

If you're unsure what distribution's best for you, take this quiz (http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/).

[Omnios]

Its highly useable as you learn to use Linux.

[Quake]

First of all, it's the community. Even if you don't post much, just reading the replies is helpfull if you have a problem.

And I like the fact that it's not bloated with programs. Something you want is not there? Just get it with Synaptic or apt-get it.

[sbasak]

One thing I must admit that Ubuntu installation was very smooth! In my computer, Ubuntu live CD takes 7 minute to show desktop where as Windows XP starting from hard disk takes 6 minutes to show desktop (and stops hard disk reading after that).

My wish list in Ubuntu is following:

Adding MP3 etc. codec support by default
Adding more hardware support, especially WinModems
Adding some GUI development tools by default

[BSDFreak]

My personal favourite Linux distro is Slackware but that's because i'm more used to the BSD type init than the SysV.

Out of the debian based distros Ubuntu is the ONLY one that has worked flawlessly for me, i like the default Kubuntu apps and it has just worked in all my installs (just works for me means that it recognizes my hardware and i'm up and running, connected to the net and ready to start customizing the system).

And then there is the community, as much as i dislike some parts of it (sometimes it's highly unprofessional tone with tinfoil-hat like conspiracy theories regarding MS or just pure MS bashing) i still prefer it to most other forums (the exception would be a couple of OpenBSD forums and the Swedish Slackware forum).

[Gowator]

One big advantage to me is the help that you can get from this forum.

Definately not ... this forum is the biggest downside of Ubuntu for me ... I don't think I have ever had a single technical question answered here and most of them fall off the first page of new posts so fast that noone ever see's them....
Having the development release on a seperate part just means the more experienced people tend to only see the current devel release questions so mostly you end up searching for an answer yourself after a few days of it not being answered.

Reasons why I feel a bit more rested using Ubuntu:

(Keeping in mind it's a free distro:)
-New release every 6 months
-Funded by a guy who knows what he's doing
-Builds on the work of others in an advantageous way (Debian)
-Large support community and userbase, meaning I can Google most any technical problem, append "Ubuntu" at the end of the query, and come up with working solutions
-Includes both KDE- and GNOME-centric sub-distros
-Huge software repository. Combined with the "large userbase" point above, this means that niche software I actually care about is very likely to be available through the repos.
-Unsettling number of "I'm going back to Windows" posts in the Community Chat area...oh wait, that's a Con, not a Pro. ;)

Absolutely
I find Ubuntu is far more a google yourself distro because the forum is so poor at providing technical documentation and in places actually prevents useful stuff like alternative (non offical) repositories etc.
To be honest this is Debian through and through... (though its my favorite distro) however all the above is true and this makes for lots of answers. If you can't find it specific for Ubuntu chance is you'll find it for Debian...

[Gustav]

Eh.. You meen this forums?

I've never seen any better forums and all my technical difficulties have been solved in a matter of minutes.

[Gowator]

Eh.. You meen this forums?

I've never seen any better forums and all my technical difficulties have been solved in a matter of minutes.

Yep I mean these forums...
Try a search on any threads with my name and not a single one has been solved on here (even though I solved most myself from googleing)

Last month I did a test and posted the same question on the Mandriva users board in the other distro's ... After 10 minutes I had a answer but the post was NEVER answered here.

However this is still good becaause so many people use Ubuntu I can get answers on other forums much faster than here!

However I just searched your name and I can't find a question on the frist few pages just answers :D
I'm not saying tech questions don't get answered, Im just saying that percentage wise most of them don't because of the shere weight of non-technical questions like "How do I login" or "How do I set root's password"

If you compare this to say Gentoo forums you see the opposte that noone bothers answering such basic questions but real sticky ones are usually answered very quickly....

I haven't used the dev release but browsing Dapper it seems that tech questions are answered here much more quickly ...

[kenweill]

Ubuntu Forum is great.
Help is available, fast.

[drfalkor]

-This forum
-It's fast, easy, and stable:KS
-and much more

[Gustav]

Yep I mean these forums...
Try a search on any threads with my name and not a single one has been solved on here (even though I solved most myself from googleing)

Last month I did a test and posted the same question on the Mandriva users board in the other distro's ... After 10 minutes I had a answer but the post was NEVER answered here.

However this is still good becaause so many people use Ubuntu I can get answers on other forums much faster than here!

However I just searched your name and I can't find a question on the frist few pages just answers :D
I'm not saying tech questions don't get answered, Im just saying that percentage wise most of them don't because of the shere weight of non-technical questions like "How do I login" or "How do I set root's password"

If you compare this to say Gentoo forums you see the opposte that noone bothers answering such basic questions but real sticky ones are usually answered very quickly....

I haven't used the dev release but browsing Dapper it seems that tech questions are answered here much more quickly ...
You do have a point in that the more complicated questions can be harder to get answer to. But I prefer that to the Gentoo style were new and unexperienced users are ignored.

[Gowator]

You do have a point in that the more complicated questions can be harder to get answer to. But I prefer that to the Gentoo style were new and unexperienced users are ignored.

True ...

But the problem is a growing one.... its getting worse as view posts in last 15 mins becomes increasingly more pages!

When I come here I check any questions I have and try and answer some but I rarely get past the first page ... I don't have that much time ... if I topic looks like I will be able to solve it I do but I ignore so many because of time. Even then i have to track my own posts to find which questions I answered and might need to recheck since by the time I return the post is likely on page 30-40 ....

When on say the mandriva forum (and I don't even use Mandriva anymore) its more manageable and I end up answering more questions ..

This is due to many reasons not least the phenominal success of Ubuntu but it will keep getting worse as the forum grows .... especially as the ratio of experienced to inexperienced doesn't seem to change. Being a 'noobie'distro it has a fair rate of attrition of more experience linux guru's who tend to try other distro's...

[Gowator]

oops dup post

[Corcorelli]

I've just moved to Ubuntu from Mandriva and in two weeks I've been able to get everything working. After six months with Mandriva I wasn't able to get the same results.

Actually things would have gone even quicker if I'd had broadband installed at home from the start. I did spend a while surfing at work and trying to install bits and pieces via CDs. Much much easier with broadband.

Needless to say I also rate the forums. There's an answer for everything in here.

I'm looking forward to many happy years of Ubuntu use.

Now, if only I could think of a witty / profound message to include in my signature.

[Gowator]

I've just moved to Ubuntu from Mandriva and in two weeks I've been able to get everything working. After six months with Mandriva I wasn't able to get the same results.

Actually things would have gone even quicker if I'd had broadband installed at home from the start. I did spend a while surfing at work and trying to install bits and pieces via CDs. Much much easier with broadband.

Needless to say I also rate the forums. There's an answer for everything in here.

I'm looking forward to many happy years of Ubuntu use.

Now, if only I could think of a witty / profound message to include in my signature.

Trying to get either Ubuntu or Mandriva working without broadband is a waste of time. They are both internet driven distro's with repositories containing way more than is available on install CD's.. You can't just download an RPM or DEB at work and take it home and expect it to work because apt and urpmi won't resolve the deps until they open the file and then its too late to download them.

Using Ubuntu with my 22Mbit line is a dream ... I just apt-get any app in a few minutes at most and I can't imagine trying to use it without broadband.

[Gowator]

Forgot to mention...
One important aspect of Ubuntu to me is non of the GUI config tools deliberatly prevent other non-distro specific tools working (as in Mandriva and Suse)

A few do .. like the cups.conf which is broken in /etc/cups/cupsd.conf in the cupsys package but I am pretty comfortable this is accidental and not a deliberate attempt to break compatibility with other tools...

One reason I detest suse and Mandriva is the fact they hack KDE/Gnome to take out config tools that might interferer with YaST/MCC thus forcing a user to use the GUI tools they provide.

Any distro that has "#Do not edit this file by hand" is IMHO complete trash and not worthy of being called a linux distro because it is attempting to keep users locked in through ignorance. Ubuntu will loose some users because they will try other open distro's and find that what they learned in Ubuntu is transferable BUT .. they will always respect Ubuntu... and probably continue to tell noobies to use Ubuntu!
I have been driven away from Mandrivel largely because of the practice of hacking the non-distro specific config tools to have reduced functionality and now detest it with a vengance. Suse took me all of 10 minutes to hate when I went to the XF86Config and found #Do not edit by hand!

In this respect Ubuntu is not better than Gentoo, Debian or slackware but it is outstanding as being noobie friendly and yet maintaining this principle!