Entered CNET Catalog: 06/08/2007
SKU: Ubuntu
Manufacturer: Canonical Ltd.
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 07/12/2007
Long gone are the days of having to compile your own kernel in order to run the open-source operating system. Ubuntu, a free Linux distro from Canonical, provides a near Microsoft Windows-like experience for those new to Linux. We're reviewing this particular Linux distro because PC manufacturer Dell now ships some new models with Ubuntu already installed. But before we extol its many virtues, we should note there are also steep trade-offs when using Ubuntu. Linux is not Windows, nor is it Mac. Programs written for those other operating systems will not run under Ubuntu. Instead, be prepared to abandon your Microsoft applications in favor of equally fine although less well-known open-source products such as OpenOffice (included within Ubuntu), Evolution (e-mail), and Ekiga (VoIP). That said, some popular software, like Firefox and Opera, are written for Linux as well. If you only use your computer to check e-mail, surf the Web, and maybe view the occasional YouTube video, and are program agnostic, Ubuntu might be just right for you. And if you're an advanced computer user, by all means, try Ubuntu; Linux is designed for you. But if you're an average computer user who is partial to a specific applications, say, Apple iTunes, GarageBand, or Adobe Photoshop, then you'll need to pass for now. In general, we came away impressed with the Ubuntu package. For a free operating system, Ubuntu 7.04 is solid and extensible, although not without fault.
Setup
When installing a new operating system, especially on an existing Windows machine, we recommend first running a disk partition program such as Norton PartitionMagic. On a Mac OS X system, we recommend using a virtual system such as Parallels. This way you keep your current operating system and can boot into the new operating system while testing it out. Once you have decided where you want to install Ubuntu, you have two choices. One is to download the Ubuntu.iso file (it could take a while) and then burn this file to a CD. With the CD inserted, boot your PC and you can run the Wubi. Wubi is a free Linux installer, and on our machine it both downloaded and installed Ubuntu in about 20 minutes. One word of caution: remember the user name and password you enter into Wubi before installation--you'll need it once Ubuntu is installed; otherwise you'll be locked out.
Interface
The Ubuntu gnome interface accessed our existing Windows XP Dell MPX wallpaper automatically so our desktop immediately had a familiar look. Other Windows settings can be ported over easily. The feel under Ubuntu, however, is different. Applications are available via pull-down menus in the upper right corner, along with built-in search and system configuration settings. For Mac OS X users, this will be intuitive, but Windows users will need to adjust.
In the upper left we also found icons for Evolution (e-mail client), Help, and Firefox, which comes preinstalled on Ubuntu. Date and time appear in the upper right along with the shutdown icon. The garbage can is in the lower right, adjacent to the workspace spaces icon. In the lower left is an icon to bring the desktop to the forefront immediately; helpful when wanting to launch a new application in the middle of a work session.
Features
With this free operating system, you get the basics--utilities, graphics, built-in search, a calculator--and a lot of extras, such as VoIP, an entire office suite, a variety of multimedia applications, and a ton of free games. This alone is enough for most people to thoroughly enjoy Ubuntu without ever having to install another application. Should you want more, the Add/Remove Applications feature compiles downloads, including those from third parties, sparing you the effort of searching online. Ubuntu makes adding software convenient.
One of the first applications you should install from Add/Remove Applications is Firestarter, a firewall supported by the Ubuntu community. It's unclear why this interface to the firewall compiled within the kernel isn't included within the basic Ubuntu install. Once installed, we found we didn't need to tweak Firestarter much. For protection against malicious software, the Ubuntu community recommends Grisoft AVG, a free antivirus application. While threats against Linux are rare, they're not unheard of, so you should exercise the same caution as you would on Windows or Mac OS X.
In general, a safe operating system is one that runs in a nonadministrator mode. Like Windows Vista's controversial User Account Control, a security feature that freezes the desktop screen and asks for a password in order to access administrator-protected features, Ubuntu also darkens the screen during its security prompts, calling your attention to the admin password request prompt. Unlike Windows Vista UAC, Ubuntu asks for an administrator password only once, allowing you to tweak several administration features without additional prompts. Mac OS X also prompts for administrator access.
Like the upcoming Leopard version of Mac OS X, Ubuntu lets you create different desktops and switch them for different work environments. Windows Vista does not offer this feature. Say you have a work environment with productivity applications, a home environment with entertainment, and a gaming environment. Ubuntu Spaces lets you switch among these.
Running other operating systems in virtual environments is gaining popularity, and included within this release of Ubuntu is paravirt-ops. This is a layer that allows Linux to run better under VMWare on other operating systems (such as under Parallels on Mac OS X). Paravirt-ops is designed for the more technical users. If you're already running Ubuntu, paravirt-ops won't do you much good. Instead, KVM allows you to run Windows and other operating systems as guests under Ubuntu. As with any virtualization, you need to have licenses for the additional operating systems that you run.
Another new feature in Ubuntu 7.04 is a better graphical environment for the desktop. It is optional, depending on which graphics card you have installed. Microsoft spent years developing the Windows Presentation Foundation so they could roll out translucent windows within Windows Vista and 3D stacking. Ubuntu has this, along with a way to make windows "wiggle" when moving. We disabled the wiggle effect after a short time.
What's missing? While Ubuntu ships with more hardware drivers than Windows Vista, it lacks some for wireless chipsets and Webcams. And while you can sync your iPod via other music applications, you can't make purchases through the iTunes Store (nor can you access any of the purchases you may have made while using Windows or Mac OSs). You can use WINE to try and install Windows applications, but the results may not always be satisfactory. Your best choice is to work with open-source applications written for Linux.
Performance
In general, our Ubuntu operating system was stable and performed as expected. On the same dual-boot system, our boot times compared with Windows XP. Occasionally, however, we noticed the time and date within Ubuntu skipping ahead or falling behind. we experienced no time and date problems within Windows XP. Also Ubuntu did not always wake up from sleep and sometimes needed to be rebooted the next morning.
Support
We found ample documentation for Ubuntu and have no complaint here. Ubuntu also enjoys a rich and active forum where most any question can be answered by a worldwide community of users. Also, the open-source community in general is helpful and transparent about security issues affecting its products. In short, we found help to be plentiful for this free operating system and its related applications.
Conclusion
Should you switch from Windows XP? It depends. If you are product-agnostic with your software choices, and mostly use the Internet or Internet-based services, then you might prefer Ubuntu's overall stability and simplicity. If you need to use Adobe Photoshop, iTunes or some other specific application, then you should stick with either Windows or Mac OS X, since those products won't necessarily work under Ubuntu.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
User Rating: 
10/10
never change back to windows now!!!
Pros: apps similar to windows are avaliable through the software explorer known as sudo..no viruses spyware malaware (an annoyance with windows) its great no system crashes,its free too!!
Cons: some systems are only designed for windows so ubuntu dont work on all systems does on mine tough!!other than that no cons at all
User Rating: 
4/10
Good For IT's, Not Suggested For Average User
Pros: I like how drivers are automatically found; action games are fun; customizable ad infinitum.
Cons: I spent a minimum 30 minutes trying to get a Powerpoint slideshow to print correctly. In the end, it did not do quite what I expected. Options were too complicated. Pros being said, customizable ad nauseum.
This makes for a HORRIFICLY cheap server solution.
Its good that people from less fortunate countries than the US to be able to have free OS. I think Ubuntu, Canonical, and Linux proprietors have done a good thing here!
Conversely, I would suggest this for UNIX/LINUX computer programmers but not for the average desktop user. As for the average desktop, one needs to be familiar with the Command Line Interface to properly utilize Ubuntu. The CLI is needed in order to (as of version 8.04) stop hard drives from spinning, to use crontab. The more you know, the better; unfortunetely, as a student not pursuing a degree in computers, I need something that works out of the box.
My computer is a semi-old Dell Inspiron e1705 (AKA 9400). Granted, it is at least three years old. This being said, after installing Ubuntu problems showed up. First I got dead, colored pixels. One may have a connection to the other, but I cannot know for sure.
In conclusion, as an OS for a 3rd world country, it is free and relatively stable (although Microsoft has released a version of XP for non-Western countries) and Ubuntu/Linux has done a good thing here. Yet, for the above reasons I would not suggest it for the average desktop user.
User Rating: 10/10
I can almost live without Windows and computer crashes
Pros: All my games work. Most of my apps work. Easiest why of finding a installing software.
Visual effects are far more advanced then windows. It's free. Hadn't crashed it yet.
Cons: Photoshop cs4 does not work under wine, Had issues with FL Studio.
Ubuntu, is far more efficient than windows. You have to over upgrade windows; while with linux you can put it on a used computer and have it out preform a new windows machine. It already has more than enough to get you started. Plus you can add more if you want instead; of waiting 3,4,or 5 years for windows to add more.
Most windows programs will work on Ubuntu if you use wine correctly. Installing can be a hassle at times. On dells the os should run normally. But on laptops and other machine you may have to tell the system to run the installer a little different. For my laptop I had to press F6 and type in this command: vga=771 noapic noalpic. The install ran properly. Over all I like the look, feel, and features. It took me a while to find the right version of linux and this is the one. This review was written on a Compaq Presario F700 laptop with Ubuntu.
Updated on Apr 10, 2009I've an issue with the audio, but that was because my sound device was obsolete. Some machine are only designed to work with windows. Your machine seems to be the issue. Not every pc maker or parts maker makes computers that support Linux and some don't bother to make drivers available to Linux. But hey, Linux isn't meant for every one, even some advanced users.
User Rating: 
7/10
Okay Operating system
Pros: Good Stability and Durability.
Cons: Not so Easy to use, not many revolutionary features, and the GUI isn't to pleasing to the eye.
Ease of Use 3
Speed 5
Features 3
looks 3
This Operating system is a good alternative to Windows, but kind of takes me back to Windows 98. Doesn't provide as many features as Leopard does, but is stable enough to hold it's own against Windows. If you are totally inexperienced with Linux I recommend going Mac or just staying with Windows if you can put up with it.
User Rating: 
6/10
Mixed experience, definately NOT for everyone
Pros: Free; Secure; Easy Installation; Comes without bloatware and with simple, necessary apps like Open Office
Cons: Finding software is impossible; unless you are a nerd like me or work with computers, no one you know uses or even knows what Linux is
Bottom line: If you don't have everyone in your neighborhood or dorm coming to you to fix their computers, you probably will not enjoy Ubuntu. For those happy few who know Red Hat is not a fashion fopah, Vista and OS X ain't all that bad. Vista is fairly simple to use and easy to do a great many things on, while nerds can still do quite a bit with it. OS X is even simpler to use, but in my opinion is too controlled for someone who enjoys Linux to get into its guts.
User Rating: 
9/10
The hassle free OS
Pros: Open Source, runs from disc, very secure & stable
Cons: Nothing in particular
User Rating: 7/10
Unable to codecs on older system.
Pros: Easy and fast ti install. Works great on newer systems. Faster then windows.
Cons: codecs do not work well on older systems. Dosen't include codecses and DVD play back by default.
User Rating: 
2/10
A fine promise undelivered on
Pros: Easy installation and setup, nice design
Cons: Buggy, inferior graphics rendering, support model inadequate
It seems that the effort spent on cool desktop effects would have been better spent on developing some utilities for installing and compiling drivers and such. Are priorities being set by needs or by developers' egos? All the desktop effects do is show the limitations of the graphics rendering, which looks downright primitive when compared to Windows or Mac OS.
I experienced some of the well-known power management bugs: failure to sleep/suspend, failure to wake, and inadequate processor power control. With Gutsy Gibbon I hoped for deliverance......NOT! Click response for window resizing/restoring and within applications became extremely erratic. Then shutdown failed, freezing on a text screen. Showstopper. Either there's a complete turnaround with Hardy Heron of Ubuntu will be gone from this machine.
User Rating: 9/10
Perfect-And can run windows programs!
Pros: Very Nice, Fast, VERY cool effects!
Cons: None to date!
User Rating: 
8/10
Pretty Cool alternative if you are willing to learn
Pros: If you get it going you can accomplish almost everything windows does
Cons: Can be picky with hardware, Lakcs drivers and certain printers and scanners.
For short time should I would not erase it. I can dual boot both OS's. It took a few months of learning how get things to work and where to find stuff. Over all it matches up pretty good to Vista. XP is still slightly better. But for a free OS it gets high marks. This OS is capable of being better than any window products if you can learn tweek this OS.
User Rating: 9/10
A Superior Product
Pros: Georgus and Secure
Cons: Dosn't run most Windows apps
Bottom line this OS is georgus and secure. Perfect for websurfing and online stuff.
User Rating: 10/10
I have ubuntu and windows vista home premium
Pros: easy to setup and user friendly
Cons: My wireless is hard to configure,but thats all
I am going to promote more users to make the switch.
User Rating: 7/10
One of the best Linux systems
Pros: It's made to be an everyday use system
Cons: It needs a lot of tweaks to work right :(
User Rating: 10/10
It's better than Windows and costs Nothing
Pros: It's better than WINDOWS and costs NOTHING!
Cons: It won't do some things that the couple of highest-end distro's will do.
User Rating: 8/10
Superb opsys
Pros: Simple and bomb proof
Cons: Some of the freeware is useless
User Rating: 9/10
Congratulations
Pros: Best to take the first steps. Installing simple. Hidden complexities. Very stable. Updates swift and transparent. Welcome to the twenty-first century technology
Cons: It is not the best flavours to migrate from windows. Already there are improved versions to date. Linux forgotten, but good start.
Congratulations
I read a review of linux on CNet in years!
This page is for advanced users, and all they have to seek reports linux on other sites!
This will be the tip of the iceberg?
User Rating: 9/10
Ubuntu is great, and does runs most Windows programs!
Pros: Ubuntu has a fully-featured office suite, which can read MS Office and Mac files. There's also a photo organiser in it (called F-Spot Phot Manager), you can read .PDF files out of the box, and more!
Cons: Sometimes, you need to install programs from the command line (terminal). It's not hard to do (just copy and paste and it's done) but it doesn't has a nice layout (since it is a text-based program!)
Downloading Wine: just go to www.winehq.com.
Ubuntu is very easy to use, because the file manager in Ubuntu is very clearly and very easy to use. No more typing path-names! Just browse through them in a kind of Mac-interface on the left. You know, buttons which are saying "Computer" or "Network" or "Pictures". It's very nice.
I'm using Ubuntu for everything; including business. I can just use the included Office suite called OpenOffice.org. It can open and make MS Office-documents including MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint. It can also open MS Office 2007 documents, since MS Office 2007 is using the same file type as OpenOffice.org.
Ubuntu is free to download and to use, and everyone can contribute to it. You can tell some things you might want to see in the next release of Ubuntu, on Ubuntu's forum (you'll find it on www.ubuntu.com at "Support").
If you want to install new programs for Ubuntu, just click Applications > Add/Remove and Ubuntu will search for software made on the Web, made for Ubuntu / KDE. Ubuntu can also run KDE programs, I forgot to mention that. So you can also install and run programs like DigiKam or KSnaphot. Oh, right, something else I forgot to mention: it can also run GNOME applications!
So actually: you can do the same thing you can do with an expensive OS, for free! No more monopoly position for Microsoft!
Well, if you like it, first make a backup of all your files you'll need on a CD or DVD! You know that with every OS, when something goes wrong, everything is gone! So also make sure you have a disk with your standard OS!
This was my review!
User Rating: 9/10
Love this OS right here
Pros: great for desk/laptops!
Cons: some drivers still missing
User Rating: 6/10
OK, but is still experimental
Pros: Very smooth and easy design
Cons: destroys windows boot system when you uninstall
Have fun
Matt
User Rating: 7/10
OK but not impressed
Pros: Stable but lacking
Cons: Multimedia support severly lacking
I visited the Ubuntu forums and tried to customized my system, but I couldn't get most of the things I wanted to work correctly, and if they did, they would fail shortly after. Ubuntu 7.10 (gusty) is a fresh start, but Linux will have to get some courage and start designing some programs for normal codec's (qtl/wma/mp3) that we use on our PC's, and figure out a browser which works as good on Linux as it does on XP.
BTW, I couldn't install Opera and a few other programs because I am running an AMD64 and it's not supported by some of the important software that is written for Linux. Again, you'll need to sacrifice to run this OS. CNET's review is right on the money. If you want to just surf the internet (slowly), then go ahead and use it. If you like multimedia, forget it and stick with XP Pro.
User Rating: 9/10
Outstanding Linux version
Pros: No viruses, Fast, Free, OSS
Cons: ATi drivers suck(but thats not their fault)
User Rating: 9/10
Excellent, but a few things...
Pros: W-O-W, so much faster, more reliable, cooler!
Cons: A few little things.
A few little ticks if you want bleeding edge beryl effects and stuff like that, but it's acceptable.
User Rating: 7/10
Ubuntu is improving, but still not ready for mainstream
Pros: Free; good selection of open-source software; runs well even on older machines
Cons: Difficult to use for slightly sophisticated tasks
Aside from the earlier mentioned issues of reviving the computer from sleep, iTunes compatibility, etc., the one thing I find most troubling is the need to enter command line mode in order to do the simplest of tasks in Windows. I like to use two monitors plugged in to the same video card, referred to variously as dual head or twinview. In Windows, it is a simple matter to right click the desktop, go to properties, settings, and voila, you can enable dual monitors. Ubuntu requires me to enter some arcane commands in the terminal window, then edit the Xorg.conf file and restart the computer, and even then it seems to only work half the time.
I had a similar issue trying to set up my Logitech mouse with forward and back buttons. Granted, the mouse didn't work properly in Windows until I installed the appropriate drivers from Logitech's web site. However Logitech does not currently offer drivers for Linux, and setting up the mouse in Ubuntu is still a painful process of editing Xorg.conf. Much as the Linux community may like to blame Logitech for this, until they have a sizable user base it is their responsibility to build more user-friendly tools.
In essence my complaints about Ubuntu and about Linux in general boil down to one simple principle of usability: Linux will be ready for the mass market and will be a viable alternative to Windows and Mac when the average-to-advanced user never has to use a command line or enter code for anything. In the last few years I can recall only one time I have had to resort to the command line or edit code in Windows. This, in my opinion, is why Linux has remained and will remain a niche OS for the near future.
User Rating: 
3/10
No installation documentation
Pros: Good Windows alterrnative
Cons: No installation documentation
Finally got it to install, no thanks to any support on the various web sites. Seems to work well so far. As of now, I won't use it regularly, but just to learn it.
System would randomly crash while using it. Got tired of messing with it so took it off. Of course that caused problems with the booting, which I'm still working on.
User Rating: 10/10
Simple, free OS
Pros: free, simple
Cons: you have to learn a little new things
User Rating: 9/10
If you're experienced with XP, you'll be comfortable in Ubuntu
Pros: Beautiful GUI, lots of free software, good learning curve
Cons: Manual installation of some programs
BEWARE...if you don't like looking through user forums to get installation tips on some apps, just wait it out...Ubuntu will likely accommodate you soon!
User Rating: 8/10
i use it evey day
Pros: works with many things like devices and freeeeee!!!
Cons: not much mybe some drivers dont work like microsoft prodacts
User Rating: 4/10
Good start.......but.............. .
Pros: Easy setup.
Cons: Extremelly difficult de-installation !
Folks, lets get this thing better field tested : we all need a better alternative to Windows !!!!
User Rating: 9/10
Give it a chance
Pros: So much better than Windows, as good as Mac, completely customizeable, Completely free of charge, Great Community support.
Cons: Will not play DVD's or other proprierity formats without adding plugins
User Rating: 9/10
Good grief, where has this been all my life!?
Pros: Faster than Windows, has Firefox, e-mail, an office suite, a bunch of games, IM, and so much more. Best of all, NO CRAPWARE!!!!
Cons: If you use the live cd (which I recommend first) Ubuntu runs from the speed of your disk drive, not the hard drive, which makes it a bit sluggish and slower than it could be.
User Rating: 10/10
If someone says UBUNTU, don't say kaazoonteit.
Pros: Fast, safe, custumizable, free, and fun.
Cons: I shutter at the thought !
I'm sure most of you have heard of UBUNTU by now. But for those of you that don't live on planet earth, and haven't heard of it yet. Or even if you HAVE heard about it, just haven't taken it past that, I am here to tell somebody, anybody, this is something very very special of an OS(albeit Linux). In these last 3 weeks since switching over from Win.XP I've been just about floored by some of it's everyday offerings.For starters it comes equipped with Firefox by default, incl. Thunderbird SMPT eMail, in fact all of it's system's default software choices read like an awards list. UBUNTU is a Linux based OS, Don't let that scare you, it's billed as the easiest transitional ticket for even the most diehard(close minded) Windows user. Who knows, even if EVENTUALLY they do get Vista right. For now there are many disappointed users whose heads could easily be swayed by an alternative like UBUNTU, especially with Firefox leading the way. I'm no expert,but I think thats what makes my opinion count maybe a little more.I say (w/ Beryl desktop Enhancement feature !)UBUNTU is an excellent advancement from XP, and what Vista shouldA-couldA been.With emphasis on security, including not having to protect your computer from itself(ActiveX). Whats that old saying, If you'll sell your friends out once...Some areas UBUNTU makes itself noticed are PDF files no longer drag, and now open like any other page. Large maps or images that would have made my computer choke in XP now glide right along. All the things I thought make me not like Linux turned out to be what I liked most ie Terminal apts. You can't beat the price tag either, it's FREE ! If downloading UBUNTU off the internet isn't to your liking, you can easily get the current Live "supported" CD version shipped right to your door. https://shipit.ubuntu.com/
In case you're still here for some reason you can even run it as a CD ,just to try it out first.Or you can run it along side Windows also. Surf the net and do your business with UBUNTU, and keep your Win. for home use. Or better yet put it in the attic with the other things that are out-dated, and you no longer need.
User Rating: 4/10
Might be free, but there is a catch
Pros: Free ,will not work out of the box
Cons: To much messing around to set up
User Rating: 7/10
I like it alot
Pros: its free, easy to install, on XP's with C directory, and lots of space or partion with free space not being used
Cons: for people that know how to use comand prompt(terminal in linux)
any way I like it.
User Rating: 2/10
not for laptops
Pros: nice looks, professional marketing
Cons: power management doesn't work, awful documentation
The CPU is kept in C2 state and never goes to C3, which means that the machine is running very hot and the fan is always spinning noisily. Also, suspend/hibernate doesn't work.
While investigating this problem for two days I was reminded of the negative sides of the open source development model. Inconsistent, fragmented, out-of-date and sometimes even condescending documentation.
A friend of mine tried to install Ubuntu 7.04 but didn't even get over the installation procedure because the screen resolution kept the dialog buttons out of the visible screen area. There was no way to move or resize the windows.
So my judgement is that maybe just maybe 2009 will be the year of desktop linux. Or it might never come. The whole experience has made it easier for me to just go and buy a copy of Vista, even though its retail price is excessive.
User Rating: 
5/10
Overhyped and underperforms
Pros: It is built on Linux
Cons: It is slow and ugly. It is also too windows like, limiting choice
Ubuntu has potential, but it isn't ready to compete with the top distros.
They need to ditch the ugly brown and gnome.
User Rating: 6/10
Ubuntu is good.
Pros: Sometimes it has errors when installing
Cons: I think it has bugs
User Rating: 9/10
The best OS that I have ever used
Pros: Free, open source,almost infinate potential
Cons: Not alot of interoperability to start with, looks a little dull in the begining
User Rating: 3/10
Not suitable for average users
Pros: recognizes trendy hardware right out of the box
Cons: installing new software often entails more than just running an installer
Unfortunately, that was where the ease of use ended. Setting the wireless card as the default networking device immediately brought my home network into view, but it took manual configuration to actually get it online. I was up to the task, while a novice would have thrown up their hands right there.
Installing my printer was a task I was not up to. I found the driver software quickly, but was overwhelmed by the changes that had to be made and the terminal commands that needed to be typed in. Most of this stuff was in Linux jargon, which could prove gibberish even to the most advanced Windows user.
Every Linux fanboy I've come in contact with says you have to get used to it, just like you have to get used to Windows. Well I'm sorry, but even my grandmother can double-click an install file, then click "next" and so on; she doesn't need a user's manual for that.
Another comment I've received from a particularly pushy Linux pusher was that anyone who wants to go far with computers ought to know terminal programming. Again I'm sorry, but one can go farther with Windows XP and a search engine to track down freeware than they'll ever get trying to start from scratch. And frankly, not everyone has as much technical "ambition" than a Linux veteran who earns a living setting up other people's machines.
Ubuntu calls itself "Linux for human beings." I'm afraid it's not even close. Sure, it might be more user-friendly than Red Hat, but whose standards are we to go by? A first-time PC user shouldn't have to go through a phonebook's worth of literature to become reasonably productive with a computer, at least not with Windows. In order to love Linux in any form currently available, you must either learn to write your own code, hire someone to do it for you, or condition yourself to do without. There is no way around this.
If the open source community actually intends to topple Big Red one day, they need to come up with a distro that is a feasible alternative for truly productive use. More and more people are starting to make a living off their computers, and the need for extra functionality could arise at any moment of any day. There's only one family of operating systems whose ease of use, and universe of available third-party software and hardware, can provide such functionality whenever it is needed.
No matter how many Linux advocates can swear, nor how loud, that Microsoft's advantage comes from making deals with OEMs, the plain truth is that everyone starts from scratch. M$ did not start at the top. They worked their way to the top, and they did it by creating a product that everyone can use. Whether they stole the GUI from Apple is irrelevant; the point is that they made a product that satisfies the customer.
You cannot enter the market with a bare-bones product (free or not), print "Some assembly required" on the box, and expect everyone to throw away what already works and spend all their time learning how to use yours. Even if your product is more secure, it doesn't mean a thing if you can't do anything with it. And don't try telling grandma that the use of a printer (or the Internet) is more luxury than necessity. She'll choose luxury every time; she earned it. "The customer is always right."
User Rating: 9/10
An excellent distro
Pros: Ease of installation, well organized, polished
Cons: Some driver issues
If you must use some of the apps Robert mentions, Photoshop, iTunes and so on, there's always CrossOver Office at a small price.
Kubuntu, based on KDE, might be easier for those transitioning from Windows though Ubuntu is an excellent choice.
User Rating: 7/10
best desktop linux distro for users
Pros: fast . easy . free!! , very friendly user interface
Cons: some hardware devices make the system can't start up or hang
some will work others will not...
i think Unumtu have to focus on this things instead of the desktop look!
this is alwayes microsoft mistakes they focus on the look more than the kernal and stability
i think thats it my Opinion what do u think ?
User Rating: 9/10
Very Good & Stable.
Pros: Great for UNIX programmers
Cons: Can't use Visual Basic !
Any business primarily using UNIX Systems can roll-over to Ubuntu favorably.
Enjoy.
User Rating: 8/10
Best linux distro for desktop use!
Pros: FREE, bundled with great free software, I've been able to completely rid my laptop of Windows, found all of my hardware without issue and wireless network setup was a breeze!
Cons: Honestly can't think of any. I've not had a single problem. Window users may complain about the lack of games or how Windows app won't run without special apps.
I've used Red Hat and SUSE linux in the past and both gave me more issues than I've ever had while using Ubuntu. Not trying to say that Red Hat or SUSE linux aren't great distros, just personal experience and opinion.
I just would like to recommend this to all Linux "noobs" and anyone looking to get out of the Window$ universe for a while.
User Rating: 8/10
Does what I want
Pros: Easy to install. Online support is great. Easy to use
Cons: Some apps not available
I do email, web, web design, word processing, spreadsheets and home video editing.
The built in Apps (Evolution, Firefox, gEdit(I hand code) and OpenOffice are perfect for the first bunch of things.
I installed Kino for Video Editing and it works but is quite basic. I also installed Cinelerra. It is better.
As my system was a self build I specified an Nvidia Chipset and made sure to buy a Wifi Card that was supported by Linux.
I have fast graphics and all the swishy stuff works. I have Wifi working perfectly as well. So, hardware support wasn't an issue. In fairness a PCI Wifi card is about £20 these days, so shouldn't be a show stopper for anybody.
On the support. Yes it is online, yes it is dependent on others helping you, but every time I need help I got it in a timeline that worked for me. Most questions were answered within the hour from the ubuntuforum.org website.
In summary.
It just works.
It is easy to install and use.
I am very happy with it.
If I had the 32bit version installed I?d probably be happier and would rate it a 9 out of 10
So, as of now
User Rating: 9/10
Excellent OS
Pros: Works seamlessly on low RAM, completely customizable, never crashes EVER! Great office tools right from the get go.
Cons: It'll be a while until you can do the amazing Ubuntu stuff you see on youtube. Plus if you're a MAC owner you'll feel spoiled from all the great stuff the MAC OS's come with.
Just watching videos of people using Ubuntu and all the cool potential for it (a dude was using a nintendo wii controller with it and split his screen over two separate monitors...ridiculous!) made me feel stupid though. I realize my OS can do all of this, and there's a great community out there willing to help, but since it's a free service, there isn't as much help as you'd get from, oh, let's say APPLE. Being a MAC user myself, I missed some of the cool programs and the purty interface of my apple OS, but realize Ubuntu is capable of much more amazingness.
But it isn't a must have. If you're only using your computer to browse the web, watch the occasional dvd, word processing, and sending e-mails, your MAC OS should suit you just fine, that's if you have a MAC.
However, if your stuck with a poor version of Windows (Vista Home basic, XP home, or a buggy XP professional) then install ubuntu on your PC right away. If your using your PC for basic functions, you probably just want access to your files and videos of people getting kicked in the face fairly quickly, and Ubuntu is undeniably faster than windows, it really kicks major butt in this respect.
The best part about it is that even upon opening several applications, various internet windows, and playing music and opening other programs, the slowdown wasn't unbearably frustrating, it took a lot to slow down Ubuntu significantly, and that was only on 512 MB of ram. If you're a computer nut, you've already tried this out probably. But if you're an average computer user who isn't spoiled by MAC (they give you everything, so expensive though!) and are stuck with windows, definitely pop Ubuntu in. You'll be glad you did after day one.
User Rating: 7/10
Prefer over Mac and Windows
Pros: Free, easy to install
Cons: Need to be technical to install needed drivers for multimedia and other hardware
I recently purchased an Apple MacBook thinking it would be a better interface to unix/linux than Ubuntu but I found it is just as buggy as Windows and as difficult to get media to play as Ubuntu. Plus the interface is so different than Windows or Ubuntu that it is irritating. For example, the file manager doesn't not sorting the folders to the top and there is no option to sort that way.
I also like to do recordings using my machines and Mac has GarageBand which is awesome. Ubuntu has RoseGarden and some other software, but nothing as easy as GarageBand. Windows has a lot of stuff, but again nothing close to the ease of use GarageBand.
Ubuntu is great even with the flaws mentioned. If I had to choose Windows, Mac or Ubuntu I would choose Ubuntu. I used VMWare to run Microsoft programs if I needed them. Definitely not worth the money to get a Mac.
User Rating: 10/10
This is very good OS
Pros: Ubuntu is very good with allmost all PCs
Cons: Good and easy to use
User Rating: 9/10
Ubuntu is the best
Pros: It's Free and speedy
Cons: none to mention
User Rating: 7/10
Software support article is week
Pros: UBUNTU has emulation software
Cons: Emulation not true windows
Emulation software like WINE. You can't tell the difference between Ubuntu or Windows; however, using any emulation software will use CPU and RAM utilization.
Ubuntu is a GREAT OS and I would use it over Windows any day.
User Rating: 9/10
It's Free! What else can you ask for??
Pros: Recognized peripherals easily
Cons: Not for faint of heart.
Without installing any drivers, ubuntu recognized the PCMCIA Airlink wireless adapter and I was able to get online wirelessly without any hassles. The office suite allowed me to view and edit powerpoint and word files. I havent tried the animations or other functions to see if open office can support that from MS powerpoint. Install new programs can be a challenge for beginners. Plays videos just fine with included software. There is alot of "supported" information out there on the web. Out of all the various linux I've tried (DSL, puppylinux, etc.) this one has got to be the best.
But if all you want to do is surf the web and do light word processing, this is the way to go if you don't want to pay for windows XP/Vista.
Haven't figured out yet how to get rid of the log in screen each time it boots up since I only have one account set up in ubuntu.
Granted both XP/Vista/OS X can all be buggy, but at least with each OS there is a unified code for each whereas with linux there are tons of different varieties to them and what works with one, might not work with another. DSL would recognize one peripher while puppylinux might not ( which had happened when I had a USB ethernet adapter). With windows, I just install the included driver for it and it worked just fine.
I give ALOT of CREDIT to all who have worked very hard on the various "flavors" of linux. You have all done a superb job.
User Rating: 7/10
Nice free operating system, but not as good as windows or mac
Pros: it is free, generally easy to use now, and doesn't take up much RAM so it can run on many machines
Cons: incompatable with most programs, some programming glitches still left to be fixed and just generally not as good as the other 2 big names out there
User Rating: 10/10
It buries all the misconceptions that the public has about Linux
Pros: Easy to use, stable, secure, flexible, the live CD boots into a fully functional OS, doesnt slow down over time like windows does, decent hardware support and this ones a biggie: ITS FREE!!
Cons: A lot of software vendors dont make linux versions, not so good internet video support, even with the right codecs (although youtube runs without a hitch.)
Edit: It turns out, totem plays all kinds of videos with the codecs installed. Apparently my 4 year old laptop doesnt have the muscle to play videos and run beryl at the same time. II switched it off and the videos played just fine.
User Rating: 10/10
Ubuntu is an all a great Operating System, with cutting edge community support.
Pros: Thousands of Free applications, great hardware detection, Includes Open Office Suite which is free and can be installed on windows.
Cons: It doesn't blue screen, my family and I really miss that..... :-(
The idea that "Ubunutu" has a problem with hardware or Proprietary applications, should not weigh against ubuntu. If a hardware company doesn't want to make the driver software available for everyone it isn't really ubuntus fault. And by the same token, when apple created iTunes and then made a client for Windows, it's not Ubuntu's fault they stopped there...
I can tell you one thing, They are losing out on a lot of business that would come there way if they were to make a linux version of their iTunes application.
User Rating: 9/10
The Best thing since Windows
Pros: Fast, Easy setup, LIve Boot, tones of features
Cons: software limits, no standard NTFS access, needs at least 400MHz CPU
The greatest thing was that I could run this inside my VMware virtual machine OR just boot from the Ubuntu CD.
The Only major thing that I saw that needs improvement is:
Better NTFS access and support for older systems. I have a Dell 233Mhz that I wanted to use it on but it wasn't able to load.
User Rating: 9/10
A beauty....the best OS out there
Pros: simple, fast, user friendly, alternative software for almost anythng, 99% of the software is free, and best of all the OS is free
Cons: not as user friendly as windows takes a week or so to get used to
User Rating: 9/10
Excellent Product
Pros: Fast, easy, reliable system that just works.
Cons: It's not Windows so don't expect it to be "exactly the same" as Windows.
Linux takes a little getting used to if you're a Windows user. Things are a little different because it's a completely different product so you'll have to get acquainted with it before you can truly enjoy the benefits. Once I got used to it I didn't want to use anything else. I find I'm more productive under Linux and I really enjoy the fact that it's very quick and responsive.
Things I liked in brief: fast, responsive, no need for anti-virus, secure, very easy, well integrated products, beautiful graphics and desktop, lots of software, and low use of system resources.
User Rating: 9/10
From day 1 it keeps getting better
Pros: 1000's of free software titles at the click of a button
Cons: Rare config issues, mainly for custom stuff I'm installing
User Rating: 9/10
Awesome, But Not Done Yet
Pros: Perfect Desktop Environment, Adequate Alternatives of Software, Great Performance and User Experience
Cons: Slightly Unstable Depending on Hardware, Lacks Drivers & Support from Vendors
The downside is mainly only with driver support. Because of vendor's poor Linux support and resistance to accommodate linux users, some people may find their hardware dead on install. They may find a 2 minute fix in the forums, or they may jump through hoops for weeks. In all honesty, I think Ubuntu 8 will be the version that takes a serious bite out of the market. Until then, Ubuntu 7 will still please nearly everyone willing to make the move early.
User Rating: 7/10
Decent. But not nearly the best
Pros: It is free and is way better then XP or Vista
Cons: Cludgy, slow, not as user friendly as other distros, it tells you what you want, not as secure because it has 1 password by default. Unpolished
openSuSE
It is everything Ubuntu promises to be but fails to deliver, and then some.
Perhaps in a few years Ubuntu will reach its potential, but it is nowhere near ready for general desktop use. It is lots of hype, little substance.
Novell has way better developers, and the work they put into open source apps far exceeds that of Cannonical, which seems to just package a bunch of apps together and throw an ugly brown wrapper around it.
The only OS in the world that can compete with openSuSE is OSX.
User Rating: 9/10
Ubuntu Rocks!
Pros: Open Office & Evolution are both easy to use and learn.Firefox & Gaim for instant messeging are iceing on the cake.
Cons: Multimedia works, but has a ways to go to equal Windows and Mac.DVD burning might not work with some brands of blank discs.
User Rating: 9/10
Awesome! My primary OS!
Pros: Ease of use, excellent support from other users, Not M$
Cons: Not everything (but almost everything) just works
User Rating: 9/10
Terrific OS for free...Windows done right!
Pros: Very stable and robust, secure
Cons: Might be tough for the beginner
But Ubuntu does have it's limitations, as described in the review. If you must really run certain Windows or Mac programs, such as iTunes, you can't. There are some good Windows emulators that will run most things, but for average users, I think they would be daunting. Nonetheless, except for a few things, virtually anything you want to do on a computer can be done well with Ubuntu, and all of the thousands of programs available for it are free!
If you are at all curious, you can load Ubuntu to play with using a program called Wubi. Just Google it...you'll find it. Wubi will run Ubuntu in a virtual disc on your hard drive without causing problems to your Windows installation at all. It sets up a dual boot. If you get tired of Ubuntu, you can simply go to add/remove programs in Windows, and remove Wubi. It will clean itself off without a trace. So this is a nice way to try Ubuntu with little risk. There is a very active forum community that can answer virtually any question you have, and help with configuration issues.
This is really the first linux "for the rest of us." As the years go on, I expect Ubuntu to continue to develop and get easier and easier. Best of all, it will always be free! Try it! It is really fun!
User Rating: 10/10
Perfect, best linux ever!
Pros: Works great on laptops
Cons: I can't think of any
User Rating: 10/10
perfect OS
Pros: running it on a intel macbook without a hitch for the past three months. clean, sleek, secure and easy to use
Cons: none that I can think of, there is abundance of free software to replace anything on your windows machine
