What makes ubuntu worth using? at all?

[Redrazor39]

what is the point of using ubuntu over vista or leopard besides the fact it's free and it's open source (I couldn't code a triangle if I tried- I don't know a line of code)?

[Crafty Kisses]

what is the point of using ubuntu over vista or leopard besides the fact it's free and it's open source (I couldn't code a triangle if I tried- I don't know a line of code)?

It's a choice, to some people Ubuntu is for them, again like I said, it's just a choice.

[rollinroll]

It has many cool desktop effects with compiz or beryl... And dosen't require as much resources as vista does. Start's up and shuts down much faster than my vista (dual-boot). Disk dosen't get fragmented. No viruses or spyware or malware and many many more reasons.

[pointone]

A better question is what's the point of using Vista or Leopard over Ubuntu? I still haven't found one.

[tirux]

I am not sure man. I have been using Ubuntu 7.10 for a week and all it brings are reading, lots of configurations, googling, etc.

I had problems with my internet, (had to replace ethernet card), had problems with GRUB, had problems installing a second hard drive, had problems with my video card and fonts configuration, and I am currently trying to get a decent MSN Clone with offline-message support and nice layout.

I decided to give Ubuntu a try because I really dislike Windows Vista, and Windows XP is kinda old.

But there are many times I am just thinking to finish all this and get back to Windows XP. Seriously, it has been years ago that I actually cursed my computer.

[y-lee]

My machine is much faster running ubuntu and it rarely crashes. Running windows it is slow eats memory and crashes many a times a day. That is my machine and my experience using ubuntu for a year. Ubuntu is also far more customizable and I love the multiple desktops :)

[cdtech]

Not just Ubuntu but rather all GNU/Linux distributions, its the stability and security that GNU/Linux is so sought after as a primary OS.

[Superkoop]

http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/
I think that website explains it fairly well.

[incogn(egro)ito]

For me I use it for everyday dealings since it is faster and as a learning experience since mastering Windows is a joke because everything is laid out for you. :X

[Redrazor39]

I'm just mad because my webcam and MS (memory stick) reader aren't recognized... This computer is less than a year old and it's a sony. Can I expect updates to fix this (at least this year?)

How long might that take? What can I do to speed it up?

[Redrazor39]

now I understand what I was thinking wrong. Ubuntu is fast and stuff, but I just don't know which programs are really good. This is what I need help with! THANKS EVERYONE!!!

But do you guys know which programs are pretty much essential? (or really, really cool)

or might increase production and make awesome stuff like macs advertise you can do?

[Tatty]

Nothing is really essential beyond the default install - it takes care of all the nessesities. Although there are some things you may want to set up beyond that such as proprietry graphics card drivers, and enabling multimedia playback on your machine. Start here https://help.ubuntu.com/

It all depends what you want to do with it as to what you want to install...

Most hardware will work fine under Ubuntu, but occasionally you do find some which you have to "massage" slightly to get working. If you are struggling, start a thread on these forums detailing your problems and perhaps someone could point you in the right direction.

[cdtech]

now I understand what I was thinking wrong. Ubuntu is fast and stuff, but I just don't know which programs are really good. This is what I need help with! THANKS EVERYONE!!!

But do you guys know which programs are pretty much essential? (or really, really cool)

or might increase production and make awesome stuff like macs advertise you can do?

As Tatty explained "It all depends what you want to do with it as to what you want to install". You may be a Graphics Designer or Music Composer or even a Programmer, it's all up to you. You could even set up a home LAMP Server such as I did. I use my laptop for Web Development and Programming, I use my Server to test my Web sites and use the server for file sharing as well.

With GNU/Linux, you are in control.

[ingvildr]

now I understand what I was thinking wrong. Ubuntu is fast and stuff, but I just don't know which programs are really good. This is what I need help with! THANKS EVERYONE!!!

But do you guys know which programs are pretty much essential? (or really, really cool)

or might increase production and make awesome stuff like macs advertise you can do?

I just use Ubuntu's default applications, they seem fine to me, the only things i add are Gnome Do, so i don't have to use the mouse as much and Deluge so i don't have to use the crappy Ubuntu default bittorrent client.