A former student of mine noticed that my laptop looked different. Well, maybe not the laptop itself, but the user interface. She immediately inquired how I “did that” while she pointed at the screen of my Thinkpad. “Did what?” I replied. After some back and forth and a seemingly adequate explanation, she asked me, “So why do you use that (Ubuntu)?” I had to think a while before I could answer. I had been using Ubuntu exclusively for almost two years at that point and really hadn’t thought about that for a long time. “Because it’s better,” I replied. She nodded her head and said okay. She turned to walk away, but stopped. “If I want to do that, can you help me?” she asked. I said okay. She thanked me and walked away.
I started to think about my totally inadequate answer to her question, “Because it’s better.” Had she given me an answer like that in class, I would have asked, “How is it better?” So after a few minutes of thinking, I came up with the following reasons why I use Ubuntu.
First and foremost, Ubuntu (and Linux in general) is customizable. Not customizable like in Windows terms: changing colors, themes, wallpapers, and screen savers (although you can do all of this in Ubuntu too), but in terms of interface, applications, and working environments. I like the fact that I can find apps to do my regular work and special projects. If I need a WSIWYG editor to work on a webpage, I can easily find and install one. I don’t need to go shopping, and more importantly, I don’t need to shell out cash.
I also like virtual desktops. I have become accustomed to having certain apps running on certain desktops. I know where everything is and can easily navigate my workspaces.
I also like the fact that I can choose between eye candy and efficiency. I use Gnome predominantly and use the Compiz Fusion special effects, so I can dazzle people with spinning cubes and 3-D effects. I have enabled the 3-D effects in Open Office Impress, and believe me, people are impressed. One student thought I was running Apple software on my Thinkpad. I have used KDE a little but am not used to the interface. KDE 4 is beautiful though, and one day when I have time, I’ll play with it a little more.
The second reason, the command line. Yes, that’s right, I said it. The command line is very useful. I grew up with GUIs my entire computing life, so the idea of using the command line was something I would have never thought to be advantageous. But in actuality, it really is. Get to know some basic commands, and you can do a lot without leaving your keyboard. I have even fell in love with keyboard shortcuts in all my favorite apps too. Speed and efficiency is something beautiful when you need it.
The third reason, I believe in the philosophy of Linux and FOSS in general. It’s open source and free for anyone to use. You don’t have to have a lot of money to buy software and upgrades to ensure currency.
And the last reason, because it is simply better. I remember the first time I decided to give Linux a try. I was a little apprehensive and didn’t know what to expect. So when I installed Ubuntu on my first machine, I expected the worst. But what I found was that installing and running Linux was easy and painless. I even tried a couple of other distros (OpenSuse, SuseSLED, and Puppy) just to compare. My confidence quickly grew and in a months time, I had cut all of my machines over to Ubuntu. (Well, I kept one running Windows, just in case I had compatibility issues for about 6 months. It has run Ubuntu exclusively since.)
The experience hasn’t been perfect, and I have had my share of troubleshooting and tweaking. But quite frankly, nothing that has shaken my faith in Linux. I’m sold and will never go back to Windows (or Apple). Not because of Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, but because I like what I have. I’m familiar with it and don’t see a good reason to use anything else.
The other day I had to help my wife with her work laptop. It was really weird working in a Windows environment. It felt very foreign, and I had to think really hard to find the right menus. It felt clunky and slow. I guess intuitiveness is somewhat based on familiarity. If I can’t find a menu where I expect it to be, then it isn’t very intuitive.
So why do I use Ubuntu, because it’s better, and that’s that!
The Chronic Agnostic 
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Hi:
I would like your permission to use your article as the basis of a paper that I am preparing to give in February ,2010 at my Local Probus Club that I belong to.
My Paper is titled ” Open Source ,and why I use it.
I do not expect to use all of your comments, only the relevant ones that would apply to my Situation.
Thanking you, and may you and your Family have a Merry Christmas ,and a Happy new Year.
J.Barr
J. Barr,
As long as you’re promoting FOSS and Linux, go ahead!
J.
I’m glad you found Linux and you’re happy with Ubuntu. However, let me outline why I DON’T use Ubuntu:
1.) Pathetic attempt at GUI administration tools. Command line is awesome, but gets old. I just want to _USE_ Linux, not keep typing commands in a terminal. Mandriva, on the other hand, has the awesome Mandriva Control Center that encapsulates all the wonderful Drake tools. GUI heaven for all your administrative needs.
2.) SUDO. Using your _user_ password to get root access is, to me, a security risk, plain and simple. I know I can dig in and change it to something normal, but why should I have to? Other distros have proper permissions using a real root password to get root access. This is more secure.
3.) Brown. Yuck! Yuck! Yuck! It’s something that can be changed, but simply put, brown is a turnoff.
4.) KDE. Kubuntu is a red headed stepchild, and everytime I try to put KDE on Ubuntu, something always seems to go wrong with my system. I don’t know why. I don’t have that much trouble out of other distros and KDE.
LinuxLover (great username!),
I don’t find the Ubuntu admin GUI pathetic at all. Granted, I have never tried Mandriva, so I can’t really compare the two.
I guess my overall point was that Ubuntu is better for me. And it sounds like Mandriva is better for you. The beauty of Linux (whatever your flavor) is that you have choices and can truly “make it your own.”
I try to stay away from debates about why one distro is better than others. Most developed distros are pretty awesome–I’ll readily admit that. I truly like Ubuntu and have discovered how to do many things using its tools and interface that I never did (or could do) with Windows.
One day when I have time, I’ll give Mandriva a try. Who knows? I may like it. I have Moblin running on a borrowed Dell Mini; it’s different, but very cool in its own way.
I do appreciate your reasons for choosing Mandriva over Ubuntu, and thank you for sharing your POV. I hope sharing our opinions about Linux will inspire more people to try it.
Linux isn’t for everyone. It does take a certain element of dedication and determination that some may not want to invest. Overall though, I think many would find Linux, whether it’s Ubuntu, Mandriva, OpenSUSE, Debian, Slackware, RedHat, or any other distro, very capable, efficient, and easy to use.
Thanks for your comment. Me ke aloha…
J.
I didn’t mean to come across as being all wound up… Yes, any Linux is better than NO Linux! Ubuntu is not a bad distro. I have used it, and it was actually my main distro a couple of years ago. However, I just grew tired of command line kung fu all the time, and never did believe in the security of sudo. Those are my two biggest gripes about it. Ubuntu has created some GUI administration tools since I was a regular user, and it has made some strides in some areas. I still install new versions either to my hard drive or to Virtualbox after they’ve been out and updates are available. As with just about every distro that’s not on a rolling release, new releases almost always come with bugs, so it’s best to wait just a bit so they get ironed out in the repositories.
Don’t worry…you came across as passionate…which is generally good. I was planning on using Virtual Box to experiment with some new distros this winter break. Maybe I’ll give Mandriva a try. By the way, did the original Asus EEEs come with Mandriva pre-installed? I had an opportunity to play with one for a little while…not long enough to form an opinion however.
Aloha…
J.
Please do yourself a favour, and *do* read up on sudo…
sudo’s safer and more configurable than just using old-style su – -c with the real root password all the time. Retaining authorization for a configurable amount of time is also reasonably safe (modify according to your environment: laptop 5min, desktop at home 30min, cat owner: 0min).
Furthermore, sudo doesn’t stop you at all from setting and using a root password.
cu
Peter
Peter,
Thanks for the information.
Aloha,
J.
Thank you very much.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Jo Barr
My first Linux distro was last year when we got our Dell Mini 9: I HATED it.
My wife thought Ubuntu looked like a ‘barfy’ version of Win95, my 8yr old went meh and my 12yr old niece said that our netbook depressed her.
I was expecting different (i use my inlaws Mac when im over and we edit some videos) but it was the look (very mac like…do it need text at the top all the time…. do I need two taskbars when I make mine disappear in WinXP) and feel (fonts) and just overall blandness that got us.
I was planning to maybe even down the road transform my trusty 10 yr old Thinkpad into a Linux machine as I had read that there were versions for older hardware.
But that first month with the netbook wasnt kind of underwhelming. We lived in the browser anyways and I could always use my XP fave VLC instead of the gadawful video and audio players but we didnt love our netbook.
Its ok, I knew there would be a chance that this would happen but I said we would give it 3months… before we even spoke of going back to WinXP. I wanted this to work. I had enough of the XP virus/malware song and dance, updating/scanning and all the rest. But honestly, it was like being in a Bergman movie.
Luckily, about 5 weeks after we bought the netbook, I was talking with a parent at my son’s judo class and when I mentioned Linux, the man’s elder son, who was 14, said he knows quite a bit, maybe he could offer a few hints.
He explained to me about Gnu, Linux kernel and desktops and the choice and freedom I had as a user.
He showed me distrowatch and how to install a USB based distro through Unetbootin and I started experimenting soon afterwards. He showed me that Kubuntu might be more familiar to a lifelong Windows user like myself and made me try out his Mandriva laptop with KDE and I was hooked.
THAT was more like it. I could see myself using this system eventually as my main OS.
I downloaded and tested quite a few distros and came to realize one big truth about distros from a Linux newbies point of view: there really is little difference between the top distros.
Your much more important choice is which desktop environment is suited to you.
I have Kubuntu, Arch and Mandriva running KDE4.3 in our house now and I cant tell them apart most of the time (I still like my taskbars to disappear out of sight) so i find the ‘this distro is better’ debate to be pretty funny when they are comparing the same desktops.
I even have Xubuntu running on my Thinkpad along with Puppy Linux (my wife loves the name so i dual boot the computer JUST for that reason! her choice.)
XP is still dual booting on my desktop because of a few games and Abobe products we use at work but I am hoping to be able to get some time during the vacations and try out Virtualbox.
I also discovered KDEnlive (video editing) which is the last missing apps I needed to make my transition to Linux complete.
Ubuntu wasnt the answer for me, Kubuntu was and those two will always be my first Linux distros but I soon discovered the vast Gnu-Linux world and my young mentor has shown me E17 and Gnu-Solaris that have piqued my interest.
Change is scary but I think changing operating systems is all about making the transition easy. A desktop that looks like the one youve used for years is a good start and when I moved my retired dad to Linux (Mandriva/KDE4.3) this summer moving from free software on Windows to Linux made things much easier.
Apart from still using his Opera and Skype Linux, dad also has kept using Firefox, Thunderbird, OpenOffice and VLC when he switched.
Changin from Winamp to Amarok took a little time but going from Irfanview to Gwenview was a breeze, his brother 1030 printer was recognized, his Canon digital camera works like a charm with Digikam, and Kopete chat for ICQ/Yahoo is pretty much standard.
If my long retired dad could switch to Linux, i think we can safely say that the Linux desktop is user friendly.
As for distros, I view them the way i do a buffet table while some fanbois view them more like supporting their favorite sports team.
What is good for one distro is good for all the distros (Linux kid explained to me Ubuntu’s owner’s support for this all for one mentality as opposed to Suse’s owner’s support of extortion), if something is good, eventually all the distros will have it.
I did notice a few people comment on Ubuntu fanboism taking a very Mac like attitude, copying some of the most annoying habits of this group as if a mark of success.
But i do understand the passion. After years of swearing at my computer, I actually enjoy it now.
The Linux desktop is finally ready and you want to shout it out as if you are the only one on the planet who is aware that such a thing exists.
Hi Hickson,
I agree with many things you say. I’m glad you found something you like and that makes you happy. My point of my original post is similar to your assessment of good/better. What is better is very subjective. For you, it seems that the desktop environment and interface (in your case, KDE) is what hooked you. I have to be honest. The very first thing I changed when I tried Ubuntu was the theme and background–because I didn’t like the default–‘barfy’ Win95 may be a little extreme; however, a subjective call nonetheless. The beauty of it, is that you can customize it to look the way you want (within in reason).
I do like playing around with different distros (I have tried Geubuntu, gOs, Elive, Moblin, OpenSUSE, Kubuntu, Edubuntu, Xubuntu, Puppy, Moblin, and DamnSmalLInux) and will always keep one of my machines for experimenting. I like your analogy of the buffet, and I hope I didn’t come off as a rah, rah Ubuntu fanboy. I really like Ubuntu and appreciate that the developers have done a great job creating such a stable OS. I use it every day and probably won’t be changing any time soon. One other advantage of Ubuntu, is that it is well recognized and has fairly good support (from third party sources) in Linux terms. Since my job allows me the freedom to use Linux, I do need to be cognizant that many of my students and colleagues are Win or Mac users, which can be problematic. Heck, MS Works has compatibility issues with MS Office, and they are both MS products. So far I haven’t come across anything that has caused me any major headaches and have set myself up pretty well.
As for which distro to use…sample and find one you like is my advice. I’ll always suggest Ubuntu because it has worked so well for me, but I would never tell someone they shouldn’t use something different (unless it’s Windows or Mac…just kidding…sort of). Try the live versions of the different distros and see which one you like. I like Ubuntu because it’s better (for me).
By the way, I’m glad you found a 14 year old guru. They can be very helpful. I’m putting the finishing touches on a new post. You may want to check it out. Although, the example of your father may blow my theory out of the water ;>).
Me ke aloha…
J.
Hi, nice article and I noticed that someone asked you for permission for re-use. So maybe you would like to attach a free license to your blog, like a Creative Commons or GPL license?
Hi Catharina,
Thank you. A Creative Commons license isn’t a bad idea. I’ve never had to do one, so I’ll have to figure out how. I originally didn’t have a copyright on my blog, but was told by someone that I should to insure Intellectual Property.
Mahalo nui…
J.
Hi J, welcome; ik don’t know how it is over there, but here in The Netherlands if you do not choose a license, there is an automatic legal copyright on all your publications.
Thanks, then it’s definitely something I should look in to. I’m not sure what the law is here.
The Netherlands, huh? How’s the weather? I’m guessing it’s getting pretty cold. It’s funny, here in Hawaii, when the winter months roll around and the temp. drops below 65 degrees (F), everybody starts clamoring how cold it is. Even transplants from places like Wisconsin. I guess we acclimate to our current environments.
Thanks again for the advice. Me ke aloha…
J.
We’re just starting complaining and ice-skating here 🙂 Have a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxAtUv9Kqy8
Although I like clear, cool, sunny days, there is something amazingly beautiful about windmills, snow, and smoke billowing from chimneys. Not much of an ice-skater, but it must be fun when the weather is like that.
Thanks for sharing…
J.
hehe, I hate ice-skating but my mom made me ice skate whenever there was ice, because she thought I loved it, like she does; but I admit; the pictures are nice 🙂
[…] She immediately inquired how I “did that” while she pointed at the screen of my Thinkpad. More here I started to think about my totally inadequate answer to her question, “Because it’s better.” […]
I totally agree with your article. I’ve been using Linux since 1998, first Red Hat, then SuSE, and for the past 2 years Ubuntu. I’ve also used Windows (2000 and XP). I own a small IT company and we have a fine customer portfolio, so we must be very proficient with all major OS in the market. Some of my customers have already moved to Ubuntu and they’re not coming back to Windows. My family (brother, wife, 2 little daughters) also use Ubuntu. My wife swears she’s not coming back to Windows. My 2 daughters (6 and 4 years old) have never used Windows. I depend on Linux software to do my work.
My point is, no matter what you use, if you’re productive with your computer you’re all right. It just happens that with Linux you can be more productive than with Windows since Linux does not suffer of all the problems related to security and bloat Windows has.
Hi Ignacio,
Very true. My productivity has only grown since moving to Ubuntu/Linux. I know this will sound corny; however, I feel a great sense of liberation. My children only know Linux (well, a little bit of Mac and Win from their school). I’m sure they won’t feel the need to jump ship when they get older. As I said in the other post, the young ones are the future of Linux.
Me ke aloha…
J.
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