Why do you choose Ubuntu over Windows

[newbie-user]

For me, I prefer Ubuntu because out of the box, it has all the utilities, software, etc. that I need to be productive. With Windows, I have to go install this and that and some other things before I can get to the same level of productivity that Ubuntu provides even with just a fresh install.

[peyre]

You do not have "Billy" on your machine is the biggest advantage of using linux. Until the people who make linux products figure out a good way to help noobs with installation and other problems sadly linux will not become popular with the masses. Also as you mentioned, you can not play most games with linux products.

I'm not worried so much about Bill as I am about Steve (Ballmer).

[Sarai]

Because it works!\\:D/

[HoochShepherd]

So I have a PC. PC all the way. Less money for more computer!
I triple boot with Windows 7, Lion, and Ubuntu.

Honestly, OSX is way to kiddie proof. It's virtually impossible to actually do anything you want. They've repeatedly burned bridges with game companies, making them neither a gaming platform or one I use for utility.

Ubuntu is great!! I love it! But... The market is way to focused on the big guys, so gaming is not really an option. And it also poses problems with things like Virtu. Otherwise I would be a Linux fanboy.

Windows just really has the mainstream support, and while there are loads of faults there are more developers there to pick up the slack. For watching movies I need to be in windows so I can use my igpu, for gaming I need to be there as that's really where the games are. Everything else though is Ubuntu...

Although I will say, as sandboxed as OSX is.. It is awfully pretty and kinda fun at times.

[Dy1anW]

Stability mostly.

I've had Ubuntu on my own personal ISP-style server, laptop and desktop, and haven't had any major issues to date (became a convert since 8.04 from Mandrake). I've even had uptimes for over a quarter (year) without any issues, especially involving memory. In fact pretty much the only reason why I kept Windows on my desktop was because of work related programs that don't work well under Wine, but all that changed after the latest SP1 update for Windows 7, where I lost all my data. That was fun...

I also find Ubuntu easier to use than Windows to some extent. Something goes wrong? Not a problem! There's usually an easy(-ish) fix or that, or someone on forums will know what to do :p but when something goes wrong in Windows, it REALLY goes wrong.

Plus, Ubuntu has a more customisable/extensible feel to it (if that even makes any sense), and I don't feel limited by the OS... much.

[freshminted]

Windows 7 does have one function I like: the interface between my printers. For EVERYTHING else, give me Linux. Especially as I have tried MS Win7 with the MS Bluetooth Mouse on a Bluetooth enable laptop. Tried for more than 20 hours, with help from HP to make it work. Then went to MS who promised a response in 'one working day'. I am still waiting after several 'working days'. My verdict? Not only does Windows stink, but everything to do with the company does too. But then, look at the Chief Executive - surely the original model for Miss Piggy? Perhaps the most arrogant looking man to grace the internet? Ubuntu 11.04 is almost as easy to install, set up and run as any Windows configuration. A slight tweak, and it could so easily replace Windows throughout every government department (in UK) solving a good 15% of their overheads.....

[MagicThinker]

G'day,

The only time I use Windows is for Business. As most Businesses use Windows.
I dare not depart from Linux due to the freedom to develop and to stop a malfunctioning or crashed program instantly, try that on Windows 7 running nativly it can take a few minutes to terminate the crashed program. I only use Windows in a virtual setup for Business as most people I work with are so humdrum on Windows and no no other OS. Or for that freedom to do what you like with your OS to improve it or to break it. Which ever comes first.

Most people just use what they are given on the computer and dare not venture out with another OS let alone UBUNTU.

Cheers.

[cirelosborn]

Ubuntu is the graduate level of computing, whereas windows is still in grade school stages. If you want to do social networking and chat then windows will work with minimal crashing. If you want to be productive and perform high end editing then use mac. But, if you want the complete package, with cross platform functionality, faster and easy computing, linux is the ultimate os.

[Dragonbite]

Ubuntu is the graduate level of computing, whereas windows is still in grade school stages. If you want to do social networking and chat then windows will work with minimal crashing. If you want to be productive and perform high end editing then use mac. But, if you want the complete package, with cross platform functionality, faster and easy computing, linux is the ultimate os.

My observations are opposite:
If you want to do basic stuff like email, web, social networks, etc. without crashing, networking issues, etc., use Linux.
If you want to do high-end editing on a stable system, use a Mac ( I guess, I haven't touched one in years upon years).
If you want a larger collection of packages to do a task (open source and proprietary) and to use software with functionality, compatibility and capabilities, use Windows.

This doesn't mean Linux is not capable of higher-end editing and development, but they are limited to some degree by not being able to run proprietary products (Visual Studio, Acrobat Pro, Photoshop, MS Office) while Windows can run these AND run a number of popular open source programs (Eclipse, Gimp, LibreOffice).

Plus, open source applications do fewer jobs but does them well while proprietary applications usually try to include more "bells and whistles".

But what Windows cannot do is run on older systems, be up-to-date and run it all "on the cheap" (little or no money paid).

[beew]

It is not owned by MicroSoft.

[fishandchips]

It is not owned by MicroSoft.

Whoa there fella, them's fighting words!

"pwned" by Microsoft is a prerequisite around here these days.

[Gawains Green Knight]

I hate windows. When I have to use it I get annoyed. I teach and all the classrooms have windows on them. So I've installed wubi on a couple so that they are at least usable now....

[BillyBoa]

The truth is that Win7 is very good. In any case I use ubuntu because I can visit any website without serious security problems. And every month I reformat my hard drive and re-install a fully working ubuntu in just 45 min. You cannot do that in Win7 because you are exhausting your licence in only a few re installations. The same with MSOffice and all licensed software installed.

[beew]

The truth is that Win7 is very good. In any case I use ubuntu because I can visit any website without serious security problems. And every month I reformat my hard drive and re-install a fully working ubuntu in just 45 min. You cannot do that in Win7 because you are exhausting your licence in only a few re installations. The same with MSOffice and all licensed software installed.

Reformatting and reinstalling Ubuntu every month??

[oldsoundguy]

The truth is that Win7 is very good. In any case I use ubuntu because I can visit any website without serious security problems. And every month I reformat my hard drive and re-install a fully working ubuntu in just 45 min. You cannot do that in Win7 because you are exhausting your licence in only a few re installations. The same with MSOffice and all licensed software installed.

???????? WHY?????????
I have NEVER had to re-format a Linux install.
First off, just doing an install formats the drive.
Second, and most important .. Linux is NOT Windows. The drive does not get fragmented beyond recognition. Been running Ubuntu and variants on various boxes (5 at present) since 6.04 and never had to re-install. And, since there are no .reg files to get corrupted, no need to wipe and re-install.
IF you did not know, just the act of re-booting a Linux build re-aligns the drive and every 30 or so re-boots, the drive will be put through a disc check. Does that automatically.

The PRIMARY reason I got away from using Windows as an every day and main computer is just that maintenance factor and the copious amount of time wasted updating and servicing a Windows based computer .. especially if you take it on line.

[Glynnux]

I chose Ubuntu cos it's gooder..

I think all the real reasons have already been covered in the past 500+ pages.

I still keep a pc with Windows 7 for a few purchased softwares, but Ubuntu is so quick from power on to riding a wave and so much more user friendly that I would never go out of my way to start Win 7 just to check mail or surf. Same as I wouldn't spend any time with Wine to try and run Sturmovik, ROF, Reason or Cubase in Ubuntu.

Recently that means I'm running Ubuntu 95% of the time (this will vary with demand or whim).

[homogenizer]

I use Ubuntu for peace of mind in my work. My production laptop (Asus A43SJ-VX335) uses Ubuntu 11.04 32-bit. My previous laptop (HP500) uses 10.04LTS. Been using linux fulltime since 7.04. Simple email, chat collaboration, openoffice/libreoffice, PDFedit, QCAD and online research.

I use windows just for games like eveonline and world of tanks.. thats it.. I have a separate desktop for gaming.

[LinuxFan999]

I chose Ubuntu (and Linux in general) over Windows because it is superior to Windows. I find it faster, more stable, more secure, and in some aspects, easier to use than Windows. Linux also frees me from Microsoft and it's anti-competetive practices. I also like how Ubuntu and other Linux distros don't cost anything to download and use, but Windows costs at least 200 dollars. Linux also tends to work out-of-the-box, but Windows sometimes requires you to install addditional drivers.

[Gatmasta]

Honestly I have more trouble using windows than using Ubuntu. I like how automated it is.

[Goofball Jungle]

Seriously I went all in at the first installation. Had some rough times but I never relived thos microsoft times. All I need now is a UxBOX :P.

[TheothersideoftheForce]

I stopped using windows after my buddy showed me how awesome ubuntu 9 was, i than bout a macbook for school work and not having to worry about performance. but i use ubuntu for freedom and fun as my home desktop. i have even set it up as a virtual machine on my mac, however i dont boot it that often. i love all the open source apps from design to music editors i find ubuntu a fresh reminder of how fun working with a computer can actually be

[BenB1]

Peace of mind in a secure, stable, configurable operating system that is free. This is why I use Linux, either Ubuntu, or Debian. Back in Lucid Lynx currently because it feels more cozy for me. I was running Squeeze and somehow updated kernel, which forced the computer to load Wheezy repositories. This sort of stuff happens to me frequently. It is not the distribution's error, rather a zany loose nut user. :) I overload. Hoping to curb self this time.

[boazjones]

Windows XP is nice; however, Vista and 7 appear to have difficulty operating the same way twice.

[klroberts755]

I just started using Ubuntu recently myself. I setup a dual boot on my laptop with Windows 7. Currently Im in school right now tring to get my degree in Networking and my computer teacher informed us that alot of companies are moving away from Windows OS to Linux and I thought I would benefit from getting hands-on with the Ubuntu and Linix OS before it is too late. So far, I am pleased with it. Im not a gamer so that isnt a problem for me. I do like the fact that I dont have to worry about viruses or anything like that. I do believe that once I get more familiar with Ubuntu, I do believe I will switch over completely.

[BobSongs]

The question put to us in this thread is:Basically I dont see any advantages to using linux over windows xp, Im dual booting windows and ubuntu. Ubuntu is nice and all but I dont see anything that would make me prefer it over windows.The only thing i have been using ubuntu for is web browsing playing music/movies (cant play games) which I can do better/hassle free in windows.

So what are the advantages of l using linux over xp?This is a valid question. I could answer it using analogies:


Why use a motorcycle when you have a car?
Why use a plane when you have a helicopter?
Why use X when you have Y?
Why use Windows when there are prettier Macs out there?

Notice how the question today is:


Why use Linux when there's Windows?

Instead of:


Why use Linux? It's broken, nothing works, there's no software, no one can understand it but a handful of computer geeks?

This question is essentially saying: "Linux has finally come of age. So, why you use it!?!" The answer to the question is found within the question itself. Linux is used because it's usable. We use motorcycles because they're usable. We use planes because they're usable.

I personally use GNU/Linux for the following reason:

In spite of all Microsoft has done to put Linux down: roadblocks, stalling its development, refusing to support open standards and so forth: Linux works.

But... but...


Do you ever use Windows? Yes, I still do use XP. Of the versions of Windows offered by Redmond this one's the most stable, best known, and after 10 years of tweaking -- the one that'll outshine all the others..
Is it your primary OS? No. I use it for games and for a Rosetta Stone language tutorial.
Don't you feel more "at home" in Windows than you do Linux? No. I've used Ubuntu since Breezy Badger, 2005. So Ubuntu is home now.
Don't you feel isolated since you're using such an infrequently used O/S? No. I meet people who use Ubuntu and we immediately have a common ground that opens discussion. The only "common ground" I get with Windows users are complaints.
Aren't you going to stop playing around and come back to Windows full time? If I had to lose an O/S on my PC, it would be Windows.
You can't be serious!? My neighbor let me put Ubuntu on her new HP powerhouse PC. After setting it up I gave her the mouse and said: "Have fun. Call me if you have questions." A year later I asked her: "Which do you use most now? Give me a percentage of time spent." She said: "Oh, easy. 99% of my time is in Linux, 1% to retrieve songs my brother-in-law buys on iTunes. Most of my time in Windows is spent waiting for updates to come and go."

In my mind the question is no longer "Why do you Linux?" but rather:


GNU/Linux has come of age, it's free and brings the fun back to computing. Why are you still paying Microsoft for yet another Windows license?

[meee]

there are a lot... really

a few practical ones:
no viruses, adware, spyware... whatever all that is called
you don't need to reinstall, just keep upgrading. at least debian based distros such as ubuntu
stability. it just _is_ more stable.

and once you know more about linux, you'll realise that you can tweak it as you want it, customize it to your needs.

plus you don't support an unethical monopolistic company.

my suggestions if you play games: dual boot with windows (games) and ubuntu (everything else)
go here: ubuntuguide.org

No viruses, adware, spyware on any windows machine I have owned. Everything works in windows, "plug and play", something linux has no clue on. Tweak it??? It would be easier to write code for a new OS than to get this baggage user friendly. Ya it's free. You get what you pay for.

[peyre]

No viruses, adware, spyware on any windows machine I have owned. Everything works in windows, "plug and play", something linux has no clue on. Tweak it??? It would be easier to write code for a new OS than to get this baggage user friendly. Ya it's free. You get what you pay for.

No malware at all on any Windows machine you've owned? That would seem to be a first. My Windows boxes pick up malware just from surfing the Web, like everybody else's. I think there may be something going on here you're not mentioning--or haven't considered.

You're right that the "it just works" experience is one of Linux's weak points. It's improving in that regard, though, and it's much better than it used to be. Also, drivers go both ways--they're either a royal pain, or they Just Work in Ubuntu, whereas in Windows you usually have to specifically download and install a driver.

You don't always get what you pay for. I have a full-featured operating system (once I got over the learning curve) for free.

[BobSongs]

No viruses, adware, spyware on any windows machine I have owned. Everything works in windows, "plug and play", something linux has no clue on. Tweak it??? It would be easier to write code for a new OS than to get this baggage user friendly. Ya it's free. You get what you pay for.No malware at all on any Windows machine you've owned? That would seem to be a first. My Windows boxes pick up malware just from surfing the Web, like everybody else's. I think there may be something going on here you're not mentioning--or haven't considered.

You're right that the "it just works" experience is one of Linux's weak points. It's improving in that regard, though, and it's much better than it used to be. Also, drivers go both ways--they're either a royal pain, or they Just Work in Ubuntu, whereas in Windows you usually have to specifically download and install a driver.

You don't always get what you pay for. I have a full-featured operating system (once I got over the learning curve) for free.It's amusing to see a pro-Windows troll here in these forums. When Linux was young and still getting its footing, many Linux users would have bitten this kind of flame bait. Today? It's just lame bait.

I bought my first copy of Red Hat Linux in a 6-CD format in 1995. I was duly impressed, far more than I was with my new copy of Windows 95. And now, 16 years later, Linux has proven itself to out-perform Windows for me. Setup is a breeze, updating a joy and adding new software a snap. It's nice to know there's a massive repository of software we can rely on.

Edit: I see why "meee" is frustrated. He posted a request for help after running into a snag and received nothing. It may have been put in an area of low traffic. I have since responded and I'm willing to help meee to get his Ubuntu up and running again.

[Ultra Cronic]

This is a no brainer.
Being a network technician/sysop, for a small school I have been watching Microsoft
operating systems circling the drain for the past three new OS's that they attempted to foist on the uninformed public. The big bomb Windows Millennium started the whirl wind of digital bile and a megar attempt to make good out comes Vista :P!!.
Now windows XP was pure genius and I thought they had it together, but being as it may the registration regime was week and hackable, so free windows for everyone:confused:.
Now window7 should be called "Windoze binary dump 500" folks and here's why.
______This win7 operating system can't get through one page of binary code with out phoning home and making sure you paid your bill. Checking once checking twice every second of the way. Their lack of aggression in writing machine code gave way to drag and drop WYSIWYG Visual DLL bloat-ware infested with software police to the point of making it imposable to perform any tasks with speed and efficiency. This OS is as slow as a constipated painted turtle with arthritis. Their fear of being hacked stolen and copied has finally done them in with this one and personally I am begging the board of trustees to allow me to switch to a Linux OS campus wide and send MS packing. :-#
______Windoze 7 64 bit crashes in half the time and still takes a gazillion minutes to get to the desktop and only waiting decades for that $#@!!8-[ Hour glass to turn into a cursor.
________I probed my network with BackTrack 5 and it was pathetic what I saw windows 7 work stations doing in the background. There is at least an hour of bench hacking and reg tweaks to get win7 to download files at half the speed a window xp machine can plugged into the same cat5 drop. Speakeasy speed test gave win7 1.8 MBPS
and the then gave windows xp test a download rate of 18.5 MBPS Thats a 10x improvement. RSS / IPV6 Chimney offload and much more busy body connections phoning home to MS are eating the missing 16 MBPS in the results.
______ The corporate paranoia greed and security has finally outdone Microsoft [in the head]. And I hope I can send them packing. Go ahead and try Your Linux machine on the same network with a windows 7 dual boot and compare. You will be a believer after that. Sure Linux has PMS sometimes but at least it isn't deliberately imposed on it's users due to Payment paranoia. I officially HATE Microsoft and it's Internet Exploder for the web, that can't stay together for two weeks without causing some sort of grief after a botched auto update. Heck apple blows them away and they are a commercial OS.
_____Anybody out here trying to get Crystal reports for CAMS running on a windows 7 machine with IExploder 9 on it?
What a joke. Been a fan of MS all my life but this windows 7 takes the cake. I am done with them. Cinelerra and HotShot can do anything that adobe premier can and for no money? Kudos to NIX!!!!:guitar:
Now of all thing the biggest credit goes to speed and performance. Hit the start button, time to desktop [no hour glass bologna, 35 seconds. A modest midrange computer 4 years old 1.8 GHZ Intel Dell Latitude , 1 gig of ram, and this computer smokes the 4 minutes to the hour glass blues on a windblows operating system.
Programs POP open, No phoning home, no bloaty registration checking routines [network activity busy body-ness], and I am needing LESS blood pressure medicine to surf.
I am sure some ex worker for Microsoft would love to charm in here and act like a plain Ole Joe and say differently.

[BobSongs]

This is a no brainer.
<snip>
I am sure some ex worker for Microsoft would love to charm in here and act like a plain Ole Joe and say differently.
Thanks for that personal experience, Ultra. Clearly your personal experience shows how Microsoft's terror of someone using their O/S without paying for the license has made this massive corporation chase its tail technologically.

It's interesting that Windows 3.1 had no such over-active built-in code to call home every few milliseconds for testing and confirming of legitimacy. Microsoft may think that no one has noticed their digital paranoia, but these routines affect their performance. And someone's gonna notice.

Thanks for your input. =D No one can slam Microsoft as hard and as accurately as a sys-op.

[VietCanada]

Ubuntu works. It doesn't hijack my PC or try to define and control my behaviour when I use my PC.

After installation I click on Firefox and I'm on line. I select a video or audio file to play and it does. I update and carry on. No security worries at this time so everything is faster and smoother. I download you tube files and play them.

With Windows I have to answer questionnaires to use IE and their media player. Updates hijack my system, especially on 7. It's completely ridiculous. So much security software slows my system down. Not mention the hours of work maintaining that stuff. Windows media can't play very much AV that is readily available.

I installed Vista and my new camera, printer and webcam software no longer functioned. I installed my favourite CD writer Neo and Windows disabled all my optical drives. This really burned me. It reminded me that the computer I built is mine. I don't need nanny bill telling me what I can do with my PC. That's like Ford telling me where I can and can't drive my car. Perhaps it just disables the steering if I get close to Tim Hortons.

I used to see Apple as an alternative but they are totally insane control freaks.

Why do I chose Linux? Because it's free? Somewhat. Because I still own my PC that I paid for after I install it? Absolutely. Assume that means I'm doing something illegal? Welcome to the MS marketing machine. What lengths companies go to today to get control of your paycheque. Used to be mortgages, then cars, now PCs, cellphones and TVs.

[rmcellig]

I have six computers. Two of them are Macs that I actually bought a few years ago. The other four were given to me by my frustrated PC friends. Two Dell desktops circa 2001plus two two HP laptops about three years old. I have various distros of Linux on the four PC's and have never looked back. I have choices and flexibility I never had with my Macs. Actually I use my Macs around 10% of the time. Imagine that! Me, a diehard Mac user since 1988.

Linux distros offer way more than Mac an Windows OS's never could.

[BigSilly]

You know, the reason I think I keep returning to Ubuntu over any OS is because I think I just feel closer to how it works than any other OS. I'm not a particularly technical user, and I don't especially use Ubuntu in a technical fashion (i.e via the command line all the time), but I do feel that a lot of what is voodoo magic on Windows is made clear and transparent here on Ubuntu. It's been made clearer thanks in no small part to the Ubuntu forums and vocal contributors on the internet who demystify the workings for us, but it's also due to the very nature of Ubuntu. It is, simply put, a very clear and easy to use operating system.

How sad that people are turning on it now, just as it's beginning to get interesting. Whatever, I'm still here. :)

[philinux]

You know, the reason I think I keep returning to Ubuntu over any OS is because I think I just feel closer to how it works than any other OS. I'm not a particularly technical user, and I don't especially use Ubuntu in a technical fashion (i.e via the command line all the time), but I do feel that a lot of what is voodoo magic on Windows is made clear and transparent here on Ubuntu. It's been made clearer thanks in no small part to the Ubuntu forums and vocal contributors on the internet who demystify the workings for us, but it's also due to the very nature of Ubuntu. It is, simply put, a very clear and easy to use operating system.

How sad that people are turning on it now, just as it's beginning to get interesting. Whatever, I'm still here. :)

As ever the complainers surface more than those who like ubuntu. Human nature I suppose. People who like ubuntu don't go running around forums praising it. They just like and use it.
This is very recent though.
http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/12/ubuntu-wins-best-distro-award-for-7th-year-in-linuxjournal-readers-poll/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+d0od+%28OMG%21+Ubuntu%21%29

[gleedadswell]

1. Doesn't crash.

2. Doesn't hijack my computer every time a program insists that it needs to do an upgrade.

3. Free.

4. Customizability.

5. I can "get my hands into the operating system" much more easily in Linux than in Windows. Since I do a fair bit of programming that is quite important to me.

6. The desktop environment in Ubuntu is *hugely* better than in Windows. When I'm forced to do anything in Windows it only takes me minutes to be frustrated with how clumsy it is to switch between applications in it.

7. Faster.

8. Great user community.

9. When something is wrong I can fix it myself. If I don't know how there will be a post on a forum that tells me how to do it.

[gleedadswell]

Oh, and a few more things that occurred to me:

10. I constantly need to produce PDF files. Most Windows programs either don't or do it clumsily. But almost every Linux program that produces text or graphics can export to PDF easily.

11. The Windows file manager *sucks*. Nautilus is pretty good.

12. All the scanning software I've seen in Windows is awful. In Ubuntu we've got Simple Scan which is great for everyday, easy scanning, and Sane, which can do everything you'd want, and while people complain about Sane's interface I don't mind it.

13. I often find LibreOffice better than MS office (e.g. it's better when I'm producing graphics rich documents). The one exception is the MS Office equation editor. But any time I'm producing an equation rich document I use Latex and I've found any of the Tex versions in Windows to be very inferior to what is available in Linux.

[djbon2112]

I'm back on Ubuntu after a year or two on Windows 7, and here are my reasons for going back:

1. I'm becoming more staunch in my support for free software, and I'd prefer to use it at this point. I get Win7 for free, but I'd rather be FREE.

2. I can do more on Ubuntu + Wine than I could on Win7 by itself.

3. The final push, MS supports SOPA in the US, which has me, as a NetEng, immediately boycotting them.

I'm a light gamer (literally just 2 games, Skyrim and Civ5), and both are Gold or better in Wine, which is enough for me to switch.

[CMXILies]

When I grew into the computer age it was much like all the other false dichotomies; Coke vs. Pepsi, Evolution vs. Creation etc.. Generally, living in a society of double-thinkers (Yes I am referencing Orwell). So when there came an alternative to the PC vs. MAC, the third choice already had my interest peaked. Thank Goodness for my dissatisfaction.

Though there were trials I revelled in the learning experience of it all. And I certainly don't miss non-free software. The Revolution won't be televised, but thanks to the net it's already here.

SAY NO TO SOPA - and say yes to internet freedom!

[guyver_dio]

For more of my reasons, see this thread: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1900277

[Johnny3]

I like Unity.
Thanks and God Bless Johnny3 65+++

[TeamRocket1233c]

The horrific green plastic Start-button is enough for me ;P

The did away with that in Vista and 7, and they'll do away with the orb in 8.

Anyways, there's just so much stuff that Linux in general, and UNIX as well, for that matter, is better at than Windows.

[TeamRocket1233c]

I used to see Apple as an alternative but they are totally insane control freaks.



Macs are expensive as heck too.

[Momof9Blessings]

When I restart (and shut down)my computer - it is almost instant.... especially compared to how slow that windows takes....

[techvish81]

you cannot get a ready to go system in 20 min if you go for windows.

you should have the driver cd/dvd along with the installation media to use windows, while with ubuntu u need almost nothing else, or even if you need to install any proprietary driver , it is just 2 clicks away.

if you are going to connect your pc to internet, which is , i think quite obvious in the year 2012.. ha ha, u need an antivirus software which are generally a kind of burden for the computer.

in linux you dont need it ...

windows has certainly improved much with window 7, which is much good looking, fast and reliable than previous versions, but you have to pay for it while linux is free and opensource..

[matza55]

I have dualboot (W7), but only for one program which don't work in Ubuntu.
Sadly....

[techvish81]

One more benefit of installing Ubuntu than windows . See the thread
http:// ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1910099

[magmon]

While I have windows of any generation installed, frankly, it's a miracle I don't set my computers on fire. Linux removes this OS based rage.

[peyre]

Macs are expensive as heck too.

And the OS is only supported (and legal) on Apple hardware!

When I restart (and shut down)my computer - it is almost instant.... especially compared to how slow that windows takes....

Yeah--my system starts up and shuts down a lot faster than my wife's, and she has an SSD.

[Altsi]

I totally love my Ubuntu =) I've been a user for three years and a bit now. Today Exaile did not read some mp3 tags properly and i had to fiddle with some Ex Falso plugin about five minutes to get this sorted. And when doing it I just kinda noted how effortless Ubuntu is. Fast, reliable and it just works so smooth, that you take it for granted. So, thank you all the developers and community, you're a m a z i n g !! =) Buena vibra everyone =j

[Chame_Wizard]

I can install newest distro version with preserving my home partition,don't need to screw up everything.

[philinux]

I have dualboot (W7), but only for one program which don't work in Ubuntu.
Sadly....

Ditto Skygo.

[Mlectroeagnetism]

I agree to the posts above, also I would like to mention that by using Ubuntu, you are promoting free knowledge.

Windows is nice, it may cover your needs. Especially when it comes to hard core reasearch and data analysis softwares.

However, promoting open source is a contribution to the whole World, and that is Ubuntu's advantage IMO.

[Ceratopsia]

I remember starting with a Commodore 64 and a 300 Baud Hayes modem and after a couple of years buying my first 386 PC with 2 megs of ram, man was those the days. You could crawl faster then chatting on a BBS back then. After using Dos 3.1 ( I think it was called) then to windows, then onto Win 95, onward to Win 98, Trying Win ME and then chunking it in the trash about an hour after I installed it. I went to Win 2000 Server and then in 2001 I went onto Win XP Pro and then used that until 2006

When I was introduced to Linux by way of a friend. I started with Red Hat, onto Ubuntu for a while until the itch touched me again and then I went onto Mepis 3.1. After installing the newest version of Mepis for a while. Why because I was tired of the virus's, and Trojans and other really messed up things. It doesn't matter if you do all the right things and go to the right sites there is always someone that wants to put a stain on your parade with those sites that some one posted a Trojan to or wrote a script that messed up your system. So I got that itch again I have always like Ubuntu from the first day I visited the site. Yes I know you say to your self if you like Ubuntu so much then how come you used Mepis so long. Well the truth is I couldn't boot up a Ubuntu CD no matter how I tried. Now I found that I had messed up my Master Boot.

So anyway after wasting a couple of disk and two months I finally found that the MBR was messed up and that was maybe the reason why I couldn't boot another CD and to fix the boot with the Windows recovery disk and that finally fix the problem. Yes I tried downloading other programs to fix the MBR but still that didn't fix the problem. I got it to boot and here I am. I used Windows all my life and Didn't try Linux before because I had always heard that Linux was for Hackers, Crackers and other demeaning names people have for each other. After I was introduced to Linux the first time I noticed that it wasn't like Windows NO NO NO it was not like windows at all and once I got onto some of the forums I found out that all the lies that a lot had spread about Linux versions were lies. Well I am not going to ramble any longer and if you made since of what I wrote here then you understand why I switched to Ubuntu.. I am sure that they are a lot of reason I switched but I will leave that to others.

Ceratopsia

[charli3]

I started with a Radio Shack color computer early 80's on bbs's and for work had to use Mac's (printing industry). Hated that I had to pay for windows3.0, 3.11, 95 and so on... I became disabled in 2003 and money got tight so i tried linux. It seemed so involved and the learning curve tough to handle at that time so I went to XP. I soon became disenchanted with Sir Gates and his crew and in 2007 started to dual boot linux and windowsxp.(mostly used xp tho) Along came Ubuntu! I was hooked mostly because of the the open source aspect, but it was not quite perfected and I began my quest to find drivers to tether my blackberry using barry etc... finally I found a way to get connected to the net via hotspot+ android and am now using ubuntu 10.10 and Xubuntu 11.04 dual boot and am able to do almost anything I could do in windows.
Now I am 64 YO and am using linux to help fend off alztimers. I still can't use my Lexmark 4350 all in one printer/scanner yet but I have another challenge to overcome. Thanks to linux and ubuntu forums for many hours of stimulating, brain teasing education!


Edit on 3/13/12- Im still trying to get VMbox to see my USB printer, i updated to xp sp3 no love yet... Did i mention im very patient

[slickvguy]

I still can't use my Lexmark 4350 all in one printer/scanner yet but I have another challenge to overcome.

I did a bit of searching for you, and it seems that you're SOL as far as having a linux driver.

However, you might be able to use your printer within a virtualbox VM. Have you tried that? I have a Canon MF4150 all-in-one (which, fortunately, does have a linux driver of sorts). It's a USB windows printer. I was told it wouldn't work in virtualbox - but it does. I run an XP virtual machine, installed the Canon windows drivers, and it works perfectly. Might be a good solution for your situation.

Otherwise, I'd look for a used, linux-compatible device. They're pretty cheap.

[peyre]

I did a bit of searching for you, and it seems that you're SOL as far as having a linux driver.

However, you might be able to use your printer within a virtualbox VM. Have you tried that? I have a Canon MF4150 all-in-one (which, fortunately, does have a linux driver of sorts). It's a USB windows printer. I was told it wouldn't work in virtualbox - but it does. I run an XP virtual machine, installed the Canon windows drivers, and it works perfectly. Might be a good solution for your situation.

Otherwise, I'd look for a used, linux-compatible device. They're pretty cheap.

Thanks for doing that for him, slickvguy! That's the spirit.

Charli3, you might also consider whether you need an all-in-one device. For printing, I went and bought an HP LaserJet P1006, which costs more up-front, but is much cheaper to operate than any inkjet printer (since that's where they make their money). There are good Ubuntu drivers for the HP printers.

For scanning, I have an old standalone flatbed Canon scanner that just worked when I plugged it in. For doing a lot of scanning, I also have an old Epson all-in-one that I don't use for printing--just scanning (it's much faster than the old Canon).

[rg4w]

Because it's fun.

[calgary27]

I`ve heard of Linux back when I was living in Europe,from the friend that was a geek trying to use suse with GPS and some other programs scanning the wireless networks while driving around in his car...it got me very curious and impressed at the same time so I asked how can I get involved...he said to me OH you don`t want to bother with that,that`s a whole lot of reading and learning...I thought to myself OK I will find out myself...I googled it and found the way to install (dual boot ( which wasn`t an easy task back then btw) and it did take a lot of reading...ever since, I had dual boot whenever I buy new comp I`d install newer version of linux. It`s been a trouble but every time I needed to make something work,install,plug,fix I managed to do so just by reading(I never opened a new thread to ask questions BTW). Right now I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about it so I installed Linux to two of my friends one completely switched the other dual boot...
I absolutely dont play any games other then G Brainy and don`t need windows at all,absolutely don`t have and/or support windows in any way and when I realized iPhone 4 won`t be supported in Linux anymore I bought iMac. There is no Windows in my house whatsoever and I hope to switch even more people here in Canada to use open source lovely Desktop environment, playful but with capability to be highly professional too <LINUX>
Cheers my friends

[Dragonbite]

One thing I found I prefer Linux over Windows is with managing my wife's website.

With Windows, I can connect to her site but I have to download the file(s) I want to edit, edit them locally and then upload them.

I can do that with Linux as well, but at option I can also open the file that is on the server, edit it, and click "Save" and it is saved on the server.

Doesn't mean this is the best method, but at least it is available and it is up to ME to decide if I really want to mess things up.

Also, it means adding graphics, etc. is just a drag-and-drop away.

[TeamRocket1233c]

Probably for the same reasons I'd choose any Linux distro over Windows, faster, more stable, more secure, you can do a lot of stuff in Linux that you can in Windows, and it's free.

[sulyi]

Greetings,

Nice thread, I'll read some of it another time. Meanwhile I share my story.

It gives me an old-school feeling. I've started to use computers after creation of the first gui's, but I've always had a great respect for those who build the foundation of computing science and computer society. Speaking of (http://scoutshonour.com/digital/).

But that's enough I've used ms-windows a long time (it is every where try not to). On the other hand I don't see to use on windows any more and I did see a lot to abuse while I was on windows even more right now. And I think I am getting somewhere with this. I am really tired living in a kind of fear and try to protect myself. A fear not just from something bad might happen. It's not the ms trade policy and version changes that, I'm writing of, but something deeply unknown bad thing in side the mythical box (i.d. if something bad might happen, it sure happens). Now I know this, so there's no change at all. But if it does, I'll know, what and how it did, if I care. Till then I'm finding out the whys to make odds on the when. I'd like to count this as one. Other thing, if that's even possible, more relative. I think it is important to know what others do, and they're using window in high numbers. But if I have a child, hopefully I won't die alone, I'd like him or her to learn to see and use those things that ms hides from users. I'm sure if there still be ms like it is today, it'll be taught how be used.

Summary for me It came quite naturally though slow to make my choice, but after I've setup my first distro, I've not booted windows ever. There were some bump (data loss) since then, mainly because I kept using ntfs partitions. Boy that's a headache. Windows does kind of selfish about file systems. Does not like someone else touching a file on the table. This is just linux talk for ntfs-3g problem, though I did have problems using the same fat floppy with both system. So maybe this can be a third reason.

Finally, I'm thinking about, what linux could offer me, if I have other interests. I can't imagine x without starting a terminal emulator, but my reasonable side tells me that it might be done. And I love eye candy too and there is plenty, though there is always some thing that I must change, so I rather give up the extrem stuff. This not that easy though, it is so easy to get a lot of nice theme. And by now there is few program that has no linux remake, alternative and those even more easier to get than themes. But again maybe that's just because my thing with themes. So all in all I think I could be hooked up even if I my not interested in comuting the way I am.

Cheers, Ákos.

[charli3]

I did a bit of searching for you, and it seems that you're SOL as far as having a linux driver.

However, you might be able to use your printer within a virtualbox VM. Have you tried that? I have a Canon MF4150 all-in-one (which, fortunately, does have a linux driver of sorts). It's a USB windows printer. I was told it wouldn't work in virtualbox - but it does. I run an XP virtual machine, installed the Canon windows drivers, and it works perfectly. Might be a good solution for your situation.

Otherwise, I'd look for a used, linux-compatible device. They're pretty cheap.

slickvguy, thank you... I'v spent the last few days installing VM and trying to get my printer to show up in usb devices. Trying to update to XP SP now. Ill let you all know how I make out.

[TeamRocket1233c]

I remember starting with a Commodore 64 and a 300 Baud Hayes modem and after a couple of years buying my first 386 PC with 2 megs of ram, man was those the days. You could crawl faster then chatting on a BBS back then. After using Dos 3.1 ( I think it was called) then to windows, then onto Win 95, onward to Win 98, Trying Win ME and then chunking it in the trash about an hour after I installed it. I went to Win 2000 Server and then in 2001 I went onto Win XP Pro and then used that until 2006

When I was introduced to Linux by way of a friend. I started with Red Hat, onto Ubuntu for a while until the itch touched me again and then I went onto Mepis 3.1. After installing the newest version of Mepis for a while. Why because I was tired of the virus's, and Trojans and other really messed up things. It doesn't matter if you do all the right things and go to the right sites there is always someone that wants to put a stain on your parade with those sites that some one posted a Trojan to or wrote a script that messed up your system. So I got that itch again I have always like Ubuntu from the first day I visited the site. Yes I know you say to your self if you like Ubuntu so much then how come you used Mepis so long. Well the truth is I couldn't boot up a Ubuntu CD no matter how I tried. Now I found that I had messed up my Master Boot.

So anyway after wasting a couple of disk and two months I finally found that the MBR was messed up and that was maybe the reason why I couldn't boot another CD and to fix the boot with the Windows recovery disk and that finally fix the problem. Yes I tried downloading other programs to fix the MBR but still that didn't fix the problem. I got it to boot and here I am. I used Windows all my life and Didn't try Linux before because I had always heard that Linux was for Hackers, Crackers and other demeaning names people have for each other. After I was introduced to Linux the first time I noticed that it wasn't like Windows NO NO NO it was not like windows at all and once I got onto some of the forums I found out that all the lies that a lot had spread about Linux versions were lies. Well I am not going to ramble any longer and if you made since of what I wrote here then you understand why I switched to Ubuntu.. I am sure that they are a lot of reason I switched but I will leave that to others.

Ceratopsia

Cool! I came across it both outta curiosity, and outta necessity because I SERIOUSLY needed to get rid of Windows 98, and XP and 2000 weren't viable choices, so I went with Linux. Currently running Crunchbang 10 on my ancient PC. Should I ever get some new desktop hardware, along with a laptop and one of those netbooks that turns into a tablet, I'll run Fedora GNOME on the desktop in Fallback Mode, Crunchbang on the laptop, and Fedora GNOME on the netbook in default GNOME Shell mode.

Ubuntu will be on either touchscreen desktops or servers.

Came across BSD outta curiosity alone, the first BSD I ever tried, and my fave so far being GhostBSD.

Fave distros so far are Crunchbang, Fedora, and Ubuntu. Fave desktops are Openbox, LXDE, GNOME 2, GNOME 3 Fallback Mode, and GNOME 3 Shell. Hadn't tried Unity, Xfce, KDE, or Fluxbox yet but would like to.

No opinion on JWM or FLWM as far as desktops go, and the same with Puppy and Tiny Core as far as distros go.

And I started off originally with Windows 95 when I was in kindergarten. Now, at 19, I've used every Windows release from Win95 up to Win7, Mac OS 9 and OSX, Linux in the form of Crunchbang, Fedora, and Ubuntu, and BSD in the form of GhostBSD. I'm also a tad curious to try OpenIndiana next.

[acimi66]

You had me at free...Free.....FREEEEE!

Free OS
Free updates
free software
and great forum support.

[Marzata]

(Xubuntu) Linux is the most environmentally friendly OS. Thank you, community!

[philinux]

Windows Millenium reached EOL.

[UnknownFearNG]

I've used Ubuntu on and off for years, but have never fully switched from Windows. I guess the biggest thing holding me back was gaming, but since I pretty much do all my gaming on consoles, I've finally made the full switch to Ubuntu 11.10, and eagerly waiting the 12.04 LTS release :D

The top reasons why I chose Ubuntu over Windows was because I love using the Terminal!! I don't know why, I just love using it :D I feel like it makes me look cool ;). I also love the free updates and the amazing support on the Ubuntu forums :) You guys are amazing, and I hope, one day I am the one that helps you with your problem :).

EDIT:

I also love Ubuntu because it's a great development environment. I love opening a terminal and, if I wanted to program in Python, just type "python" and I'm there! Same with Ruby, gcc for C/C++, java for, well, Java :P etc. It's so efficient and easy!

[TeamRocket1233c]

WinMe was at EOL when it was put out in the market! LMAO

[synaptix]

Windows Millenium reached EOL.

Please tell me you did not use that pile of garbage.... lol

[Marzata]

WinMe was at EOL when it was put out in the market! LMAO

As (by default) any other Windows.

[jasonrisenburg]

You had me at free...Free.....FREEEEE!

Free OS
Free updates
free software
and great forum support.

Not to mention the only way it gets virus's is if you allow it to happen. I have never had a virus on my Ubuntu Lappy. My wife and I have had several viruses on windows. I comes down to what do you want to pay for. games and virus, or stability and free safety.

[TeamRocket1233c]

Whatever you wanna use, it's your choice.

[capricornday]

ubuntu is for human beings, a lot of bug, but a lot of help from each other.
every 6 months have a surprise :D
windows is so borring. :)

[dave2001]

I remember starting with a Commodore 64 and a 300 Baud Hayes modem and after a couple of years buying my first 386 PC with 2 megs of ram, man was those the days. You could crawl faster then chatting on a BBS back then. After using Dos 3.1 ( I think it was called) then to windows, then onto Win 95

Ceratopsia

Heheh, those were the day indeed! Days of typing a command, and then waiting... and waiting some more.. and maybe getting a sandwich.. before the command finally completed. I remember getting my first 386 PC and thinking it was a big box of futuristic awesomeness. It even had the fancy new 3.5 inch floppy drive instead of the old huge kind!

Makes me wonder what we'll all be laughing about in another 25 years. Maybe Ubuntu will have completed its bid for world-domination by then, and we can chuckle over the demise of Microsoft and Apple. :-)

[yataketumbe]

The terminal

[Mingolinux]

I was running ubuntu on a live cd back in 2006 and like it. I decided to install it beside windows on my laptop. Ubuntu installed fine,but when I tried to boot into windows I got the blue screen of death. I took my new $1500 Sony laptop back to the dealer, with my extra special warranty and recovery disc that they made for me(paid extar for these) to get window reinstalled. they told me it would cost about $100 to do this. Since I was not in love with windows anyway I left with my ubuntu laptop. Years later I now run windows in my virualbox for netflixs about once a week. Microsoft should have fix my computer for free before I found out it wasn't broken. Just better

[PhoenixM]

1) Free software.

With the exception of Adobe InDesign (of which there is no direct substitute to my knowledge in open source), everything needed is free and updates are available for a lifetime. Bring a college student, that is certainly inviting.

2) Faster to reboot,

Took two minutes to boot up Windows 7. Probably took 30 seconds max to reach the Ubuntu login screen.

3) Easier incident recovery.

Something go wrong? Just need to plug in a flash drive under a decent wi-fi connection and I'm back where I started within 90 minutes without it costing me a dime for software. As long as file backups are kept on my external drive, I'm a-OK.

4) Viruses

What viruses?

5) Malware

See #4

P.S.: This is from a relatively green guy. I'll probably have a treatise answering this question in a couple years,

[alfu]

Here is the biggest reason for me: ever notice how Windoze keeps thrashing your hard drive? What the hell is it doing? For one thing, it is surfingf the web continuously whether you are or not.

An associate of mine had to replace his HDD twice at work, because he was leaving his computer on all the time, and the drives just wore out.

Ubuntu doesn't do that.

[na5h]

the terminal

+1

[zombifier25]

I'm really surprised how Ubuntu can bundle a lot of goodies like gcc, mplayer, compiz, etc. and still manages to be much lighter than Windows.

[Marzata]

Xubuntu is simpler and more stylish (than Windows).

[Ubun2to]

Lots of reasons.
Free, open source, generic drivers, auto updating, tons of free programs, the interface, no worries about viruses, and having a schedule for new releases.

[Sgt-Slyde]

The relative lack of built-in security flaws, the low-profile target it presents, not worrying so much about my non-computer savvy family members clicking random email attachments, the occasional challenge of "making it work," and the looks I get at work (at a rather high-level Air Force computer network center) when I talk about some of the things I can make my computer do running Linux, and its open-source concept appeals to my inner Anarchist.

[roelforg]

Here's a part of my list (the full one is a few hundred entries long):
* I can make it do anything i want it to do! (linux general)
* It can become unbootable and i'll still be able to fix it w/o reinstalling/losing my files.
* If i have a problem the responses aren't limited to stuff that i'm sure breaks a license or program or os or "Try running a virus scan and if that fails, reinstall."
* It's FREE (and the legal free, not the "crack with a 90% chance of virus or some protection disabling the os" free)
* It can be anything i want.
* It can act and look exactly like i want
* It almost never crashes (i said almost because one of my screensavers has the tendency to completely freeze the system to the point that even Alt+SysRQ+R+E+I+S+U+B doesn't work and the kernel can't blink the caps-lock-led)
* I know/can easily find out exactly how/why/if any given aspect does(n't) work.
* I'm in charge of my pc! (and no phoning home like windows)
* It's mine. (Unlike windows where you actually only license using the os but the bits on your hd are actually ms property)
* I can use very old hardware with the newest/heaviest apps w/o problems.
* If hw works, it won't stop working (unlike windows where hw gets dropped all the time).
* I can break it down and build it back up by hand if i want.
* Most apps are free (and very good).
* I love the fully featured shells
* For me, any action that needs a mouse is slow
* It's a programmers dream, loads of libs with good support.
* Choice of alternative programs

I could go on like this for a while, but i think you get the point.

[Dragonbite]

I could go on like this for a while, but i think you get the point.

No.. I don't :lolflag: keep going! :)

[bobzr]

Freedom !:P

[roelforg]

No.. I don't :lolflag: keep going! :)
Now, if i could remember on which of my 8 hdds and 4 usb-sticks did i put the list... Was is the maxtor or the western digital or maybe it was the sandisk...
Cause i'm not gonna rewrite it.

[MisterGaribaldi]

Well, I don't choose Ubuntu over Windows. I choose either Linux or Mac OS X over Windows.

Linux serves no practical benefit to me personally on the desktop, so I in no way choose it over Windows. But I do choose Mac OS X over Windows on the desktop.

Linux, OTOH, serves considerable practical benefit to me on the server and imbedded devices (such as routers and smart phones), so I choose Linux over Windows in those situations.

Until the whole Unity debacle (I'm not specifically trying to takes sides here and don't mean to start a flame war) Ubuntu was largely agreed upon as being one of the best all-around Debian-based distros to use, and therefore one of the best all-around Linux distros to use. However, the whole of the Linux community -- and not just the Ubuntu community -- is divided on the Unity / Gnome 3 issue, and so the choices are not quite as obvious nor as absolutely clear-cut as they may have previously been.

The jury is still out on whether Ubuntu/Unity/Gnome3 on the smartphone will prove to be popular and successful or not. I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt, and I'm also quite willing to check it out once such devices become commercially available.

But, getting back to the point of this thread, Ubuntu is just another Linux distro at this point, albeit a still very popular one, but it's not one I choose to use any longer.

[roelforg]

Well, I don't choose Ubuntu over Windows.
So why post in a thread about why one does choose linux over windows?

I choose either Linux or Mac OS X over Windows.

Good save...


Linux serves no practical benefit to me personally on the desktop, so I in no way choose it over Windows. But I do choose Mac OS X over Windows on the desktop.

Linux, OTOH, serves considerable practical benefit to me on the server and imbedded devices (such as routers and smart phones), so I choose Linux over Windows in those situations.

Until the whole Unity debacle (I'm not specifically trying to takes sides here and don't mean to start a flame war) Ubuntu was largely agreed upon as being one of the best all-around Debian-based distros to use, and therefore one of the best all-around Linux distros to use. However, the whole of the Linux community -- and not just the Ubuntu community -- is divided on the Unity / Gnome 3 issue, and so the choices are not quite as obvious nor as absolutely clear-cut as they may have previously been.

The jury is still out on whether Ubuntu/Unity/Gnome3 on the smartphone will prove to be popular and successful or not. I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt, and I'm also quite willing to check it out once such devices become commercially available.

<command errorcode 404: comment not found>

But, getting back to the point of this thread, Ubuntu is just another Linux distro at this point, albeit a still very popular one, but it's not one I choose to use any longer.

So don't use it, one of the reasons i've seen here a lot is that no one's forcing you to use it.

[MisterGaribaldi]

Hey roelforg!

I'm simply doing my duty and providing balance in this thread.

Not everyone chooses to use any particular distro of Linux at any particular point in time.

I used to have a PC that I very successfully was able to run Ubuntu (and numerous other distros) on. In fact, I had done some upgrades to it largely to accommodate the needs of Compiz Fusion. I started having issues with Ubuntu (and, to be fair, a smattering of other distros) in the releases ultimately leading up to (but having nothing really to do with) Gnome 3 and Unity, and so I had to jockey around what distro I could use. Ultimately, I needed to make use of certain apps (in particular, Office 2007 and some of the Adobe ones as well) and it just didn't make sense to me to go through this enormous kludge to make win32 apps work.

Then, my PC died, and so I no longer have a suitable set of hardware to run any distro of Linux on.

However, I am quite happy to still be rocking Linux here in my home in the ways I mentioned above.

Those who like Unity and Gnome 3 have ample reason to choose Ubuntu over Windows. Those who don't still have ample reason to choose Linux (at large) over Windows.

[roelforg]

Hey roelforg!

I'm simply doing my duty and providing balance in this thread.

Not everyone chooses to use any particular distro of Linux at any particular point in time.

I used to have a PC that I very successfully was able to run Ubuntu (and numerous other distros) on. In fact, I had done some upgrades to it largely to accommodate the needs of Compiz Fusion. I started having issues with Ubuntu (and, to be fair, a smattering of other distros) in the releases ultimately leading up to (but having nothing really to do with) Gnome 3 and Unity, and so I had to jockey around what distro I could use. Ultimately, I needed to make use of certain apps (in particular, Office 2007 and some of the Adobe ones as well) and it just didn't make sense to me to go through this enormous kludge to make win32 apps work.

Then, my PC died, and so I no longer have a suitable set of hardware to run any distro of Linux on.

However, I am quite happy to still be rocking Linux here in my home in the ways I mentioned above.

Those who like Unity and Gnome 3 have ample reason to choose Ubuntu over Windows. Those who don't still have ample reason to choose Linux (at large) over Windows.

Okay the "suitable hardware" line made me laugh (though i get your points with the other lines), i've ran linux with a good gui on systems with a p2 and 128 mb ram and selfbuild minimal ones on 16mb ram.

And yes, i choose linux above windows and mac but not because gnome (even mwm will do). But i choose it because it perfectly fits with what i want from an os, on linux i feel like the os is working with me and not the other way around.