Rusted-on Windows® user and wouldn’t ever consider other desktop or server options? Stop reading! This is not for you. Don’t be defensive – the majority of home and business desktop users struggle enough with Windows not to want any sort of change. Still on Windows XP? Forget that it’s no longer supported – it hasn’t truly been supported since the release of Service Pack 3 in early-2008. Don’t tell me you’re still reading….
Even though you have frustrations with Windows and:
- the Blue-screen-of-death;
- having to restart for each single minor change to software;
- having to upgrade your machine with each new major release of Windows;
- having to learn a new user interface (in desktop jargon, the “UX” or “User eXperience”;
- trying to convince an unhelpful call-centre operator that you’re not a software pirate trying to steal the intellectual property rights of Microsoft so that you can activate or re-activate software you purchased legitimately;
so you still don’t want to consider a change, because:
- the only alternative is to buy a Mac;
- Macs are too expensive;
- it’s hard enough to work out the latest Windows without struggling with a completely new and different operating system’s User eXperience;
- Mac users are all fanatics and you don’t want to be in that camp.
All of those points are fallacious, and before I tackle this I want to stress that the purpose of this article is not to make a sales pitch for Apple® devices, although there is a solid base of professional users who rely on their technology to do their jobs. Disclaimer: I am one of those professionals who rely on the Apple eco-system and consider the return-on-investment to be sound. I’m often asked why by people who think the only difference is the way it looks. So very wrong – the intuitive UX is a fringe benefit and I’ve written separately a short piece on why I use Apple products on the desktop, as well as using a notebook, tablet and smartphone from that same vendor.
This is not about Apple, but about Ubuntu.
What is Ubuntu? Very simply, Ubuntu is a ubiquitous, free, open-source operating system for enterprise & web servers, personal computers, tablets, smartphones and smart television receivers. Ubuntu is one of many customised distributions (“distros”) of the Linux operating system, itself the most ubiquitous of a family of POSIX-compliant, free open source operating systems. For more than 20 years YOU have been using Linux. You’re using it now – officeFocus® and WordPress.com both deliver web content to your browser from Linux servers. If you have an Android smartphone or tablet, you’re using Linux. If you have a smart toaster, microwave oven, refrigerator, washing machine, dryer or just about any appliance with electronics you’re probably using Linux.
