Ubuntu: Desktop Linux's Success Story

Johhny writes "What is it about Ubuntu that has enabled it to grow so much? This distribution has clearly built on Debian's success but it has more than a few other things going for it. Ubuntu has become one of the most popular versions of desktop Linux despite its many differences from some of the other popular versions out there, including its scheduled releases and its counterpart, Kubuntu. The article takes a look at this distribution and tries to find out how Ubuntu defied the odds. This article generated a really informative comments page at OSnews."

Ease Of Use

[zaguar]

You want to know why Ubuntu succeeded. It's been said before, but I will say it again: ease of use.

The major barriers affecting linux adoption on the desktop is hardware compatibility. Ubuntu is constantly pushing these barriers. Consider the example of wireless cards - often a problem are for linux. For both of these cards (DWL-G650 PCMCIA and DL-520 PCI) (both Atheros chipsets) were automatically detected in installation. And to configure them, it was a simple application (network-admin). While there are still areas for improvement (WPA with wpa_supplicant) Ubuntu is still a great desktop OS.

And this is all without mentioning apt-get, the Ubuntu package tool. While using windows I constantly wish for the ease of use of apt-get. A simple apt-get update && apt-get upgrade is enough to update. I wish I could say the same for XP.

the one fault with ubuntu imho...

[smash]

It doesn't turn DMA on, on hard drives by default.

:)

Not that any other distro does either, but it's something the average user would miss, and it makes a heap of difference to media performance...

smash.

Re:Is it a success?

[gi-tux]

There is support. You can go to their website [ubuntulinux.com] and click on the "Support" tab and then "Support Options" and then "Paid Technical Support" and see that you can purchase "commercial support" for ubuntu linux for Desktop or Server and two levels each. No this does not include on-site support but you really should have someone available to lay hands on the machine before you use any computer/OS combination.

I can say that as a Linux user since 1993, that I like (K)Ubuntu. I find it a joy to use and I don't have to spend all my time supporting and tweaking the system. This is the first Debian based system that I have used and I am growing quite fond of it. I used RedHat for many years and then moved to SuSe, but it finally got too expensive (before OpenSuSE became available). I went looking and tried GenToo (took too long to get running on some of my older hardware). I then tried Fedora (given my RedHat background), but never seemed to really go for it (primarily a KDE user). I then stumbled across and article on Ubuntu and found Kubuntu (5.04 was just out). I downloaded an ISO and installed it. I have either Hoary or Breezy running on every machine in my house now except one that is scheduled for upgrade over Christmas vaction.

I don't believe that its support is strictly from newcomers, I believe that there are people like me using (K)Ubuntu. Folks that have given their time to managing, supporting, and maintaining computers with various distros for years and are looking for the easy to maintain system. I would not be afraid to put (K)Ubuntu on a client site. I actually use it at one non-profit that I do volunteer work for also. It is used as a server, but runs flawlessly.

Re:the one fault with ubuntu imho...

[poofyhairguy82]

Interesting.... I'm running the stock kernel... or whatever is required to enable my nvidia card (forget if it installs a new kernel or just modules).

There is a way to update kernel AND keep your Nvidia drivers working. [ubuntuforums.org]