Rev's Ranch-West

For many years I’ve considered the functionality of Linux, and whether it is an operating system readily available to the general public in terms of ease of use and functionality. When I hopped on the boat with Ubuntu 5, I said there was still a good amount of features that required opening up the terminal (command line) and that is wasn’t quite the operating system for the everyday person. When Ubuntu 7 really shaped up it’s install prompt and program installer, I said Ubuntu was ready to be considered side-by-side with Windows Vista and Operating System Ten.

But now Canonical has really done it. Ubuntu 9 has really pushed Linux over the edge and into a realm of functionality that I think exceeds the ease of use that Windows XP and Windows Vista have come to offer. Side-by-side with Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Seven, Ubuntu performed faster, had more visual effects, used less power (giving longer battery life to my laptop), was easier to use, and even had more support for my laptop’s built-in devices. This is the real deal: Ubuntu has now surpassed it’s closest rival in terms of functionality; a problem that has plagued Linux for a long time.

In addition to what’s new in Ubuntu’s latest offering, Linux in and of itself is becoming the wiser choice for the operating system. The ‘free’ philosophy has rubbed off on so many people. When Firefox busted on the scene a few years back, it was becoming preferred to Internet Explorer. Now I don’t know anyone who at least doesn’t have it installed on their computer. The intense pressure Opera felt from Firefox’s success made them switch from charging $30 for their software for making it free.

I can’t really imaging the cost of savings I’m getting with everything on Linux being free software. When large communities gather to collaborate to build these free softwares, they are finding bugs, errors, new improvements… the power of this open community exceeds that of what most pay-for software companies can come up with. The intense pressure of such has made freeware the choice of Windows users today, and that’s all thanks to the versions they develop ahead of that on Linux.

In today’s world of music and movie downloading, I find Linux is a relief in the fact that every piece of software on it is free to use and own, modify and send feedback to. Support communities are everywhere and answer questions quick. If there isn’t an answer, someone goes out and builds a script. That’s so much more comforting than outsourced phone support.

Kubuntu is a massive improvement, too. KDE is extremely functional, and the graphics are a major update. The new effects and start menu give it great aesthetic, and the idea of widgets being the default desktop designer is clever, if not innovative. While KDE might not be the most logical choice for beginners, it’s programs lead the way and it’s operating system is now greater than ever.

All-in-all, Ubuntu is it. It’s over. Windows latest offering couldn’t stack up to it’s Linux rival, and the pressure of going free haunts Microsoft’s every move. Linux is slowly taking over the pre-built computer market, is becoming more and more preferred by computing enthusiasts, and it’s functionality that was limited before, seems to outpace and exceed that Windows has been known to be good for. Ubuntu is a must-have. Free, and you don’t even have to uninstall Windows if you’re that wary.