I can’t believe it has been two weeks already that I’ve used Ubuntu Linux exclusively. If I had to sum up the experience in one word, that word would be “satisfying.” And my regular readers/listeners know that I can’t sum anything up in one word, so I will use this format to provide a complete synopsis of my Ubuntu thoughts.
Minimum Requirements
Ubuntu and its derivatives can run on extremely modest computers. Ubuntu works best on a system with at least a 500mhz processor and 192 mb of RAM…specs that even the six year old Windows XP would choke on and Vista needs triple those specifications to even get close to running at any appreciable speed. Xubuntu is a very basic operating system capable of doing all the major computer functions, but only requires a 166mhz processor and 48mb of RAM! That’s a computer that was sold in the early 90’s!!
These modest system requirements are what first drew me to Ubuntu. Compared with the monster hardware required to run Vista, Ubuntu gives new life to computers previously thought ready for the scrap pile. The fact that Ubuntu is FREE on top of all this is just a bonus.
Available Applications
A fresh install of Ubuntu (typically less than 30 minutes) gives any computer user the ability to:
- Browse the Internet
- Send and receive email
- Download digital photos from a camera
- Edit digital photos
- Create word processing documents
- Create spreadsheets
- Create slide presentations
- Play games like Sudoku, solitaire, blackjack, Mahjongg and more
All of the above are full version programs…not time limited or crippled versions and they are all free.
Who can use Ubuntu?
Literally anyone that can click a mouse or type on a keyboard can you use Ubuntu. The real question is; Who is right for Ubuntu? Here are my thoughts:
- Any aged computer user who only needs a computer for Internet, email, and occasional word processing. This is probably my idea of the number one demographic for Ubuntu.
- Any aged computer user who wants to do the activities I listed above plus download and do light editing of photos and play basic games.
- Families who want a solid, inexpensive, worry free computer system that the kids can do homework on and play Internet games on as well.
About the only group of people who I think should not use Ubuntu are those who require specialized industry software or software only available for Windows.
Ubuntu Support
Dell started selling Ubuntu desktops earlier this year and if you buy a computer with Ubuntu pre-installed at Dell or other vendors you might find, you will have the option for phone support. However, the power of Ubuntu is its community. The Ubuntu forums are second to none in being able to find answers to many existing questions and the ability to ask questions that come up as you use the system. I have found the forums to be extremely well organized and frequented by cordial, knowledgeable individuals. Also, many states offer Ubuntu users groups called LoCo groups for even more localized support.
Ubuntu Weaknesses
As much enthusiasm as I have for Ubuntu, I am not so blinded by love that I don’t see the chinks in the armor. And like ANY software or operating system, Ubuntu has a few chinks. The most glaring, in my opinion, are:
Hardware support. The Ubuntu community continues to work hard at providing drivers and programs that will work with every printer on the market and off the market as well as scanners, digital cameras (use a card reader for no problems at all), web cams and other devices. However, the number of hardware devices that have been available over the past ten years is staggering and Ubuntu has a lot of catching up to to do.
Wireless Internet. Once I figured out wireless on this laptop, I have had few problems, but getting wireless up and running requires some patience, technical know-how, and willingness to research the web for answers. It is getting better, but not as easy as wireless with Windows…yet.
Database. I love working with desktop databases. My skills are unfortunately pretty weak with databases, but I recognize their power and possibility so I constantly dabble in them. I was sorely disappointed with OpenOffice’s database program. It was slow, couldn’t handle much data and hard to customize. This all surprised me since their word processing, spreadsheet and presentation manager program all work so well.
Summary
At the beginning of this article I summarized my Ubuntu two week trek as being satisfying. I was satisfied that Ubuntu handled almost everything I threw at it. I was satisfied that I think the interface is such that any computer user of any age or ability could quickly get up to speed with Ubuntu. I was satisfied to have found a robust operating system that doesn’t break the bank in terms of computer needs and actual costs. As a tech guy who helps other fix their computers, I was extremely satisfied to use an operating system that requires virtually no worries about computer Internet security.
Will I continue to use Ubuntu? Absolutely, as my primary laptop? Will I give up my Windows PC? Not until all the support that I give lies only in Linux, which unfortunately won’t be any time soon.
I was having issues with wireless laptop card so I bought a usb wifi adaper on ebay that claimed to work with Linux. I reloaded ubuntu and it worked “out of the box”
The last two versions of Ubuntu have worked with great with wireless almost across the board. Glad you got it up and running.
Good review i feel, and as a split user of MS and Ubuntu (MS for work and Ubuntu for Home) I can agree on most points.
As a moderate fiddler with technology I found Ubuntu a little frustrating at first but have found every challenge has provided an increasing level of satisfaction upon resolving. Challenges such as getting wireless to work, devices properly configured have only made me bond stronger with the system. that coupled with excellent performance and relatively trouble-free use for over 18mths now have satisfied me that Linux has a future and I’ll stick with it for the longer term (having given up on it on it several times over the past decade). Indeed I’m looking to fully utilise it at home with media server and networking so more challenges are definately ahead.
I do feel there’s something you didn’t fully get into I feel to appreciate the strength of and that’s the user community, they’ve never failed me and it’s something you become part of, passing on things you’ve learned to those traveling the Linux journey with you, some well ahead and some well behind and a myriad in between, it really is a community and I feel 99.9% of the truly participating members are helpful and productive, that’s higher than any other community forum I reckon!.
I like having the control and productivity Linux gives me and the perks of things such as speed and simplicity, even on the older laptops I have that other OS’s would run like a snail on.
Don’t bin that old Laptop, give Linux a whirl on it!
Best Regards, Steve.
Excellent comment and thanks. The Ubuntu/Linux community is second to none. Like any online forum, there are those who can be short, but overall it behooves the hobbyist like you and I to get involved with the online forums by searching out answers and sharing experiences. And I agree about the satisfaction of getting something to work that didn’t quite work well. Sleuthing out a solution and then successfully implementing it is a lot of fun. Thanks again for stopping by and don’t be a stranger around these parts.
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