why would anyone prefer Ubuntu over Windows?

Question

Using Ubuntu such a headf**k. I can't believe people complain about Bill Gates and Microsoft. At least his products are stable and user friendly.

synaptic package manager!!!
sudo???
wtf is this s**t

Answer 1

Why is summarized in your first sentence. Seriously. Ubuntu is one iteration of a Unix-derived operating system. Now there are three things you need to know about Unix: it has been continuously maintained and developed for about forty years now, it is a modular operating system, and it assumes you know what you are doing.



Sudo to start with isn't even a Linux program. The Linux kernel was written originally to run Unix programs on the i386 and sudo is one of the Unix programs it happens to run. It's from BSD Unix.



Unix has a sensible and long-standing security policy: root is the supervising user. It can do anything to any file anywhere on the system. Users have access to their own accounts and files period. They can't even look into each others directories unless the owner of that directory has explicitly permitted it. In terms of memory, applications such as this web browser I'm using, can only access my account. What sudo does is allow you to run ONE command as root. It is commonly called "a gift for paranoid administrators" because they can keep the exposure of the system to the outside to a minimum by running administrative processes as little as possible. Ubuntu has taken this a step further: it has disabled root so you have to run the system like a paranoid administrator.



Synaptic is actually nothing more than a front end to the Debian programs dpkg and apt. I'm not sure I can explain them without boring you to death -- and I wouldn't want you to come back and haunt me.



What you have done is install an industrial strength OS. I mean that. It has accommodations for consumers but to take full advantage of it you have to adjust your ideas of what an Operating System is. Some people choose not to. That is certainly their prerogative. Those of us who have have a right to be peeved, though when they suggest -- as some, I am not saying you are -- we have a problem because we happen to be fond of this.



By the way, this laptop was last rebooted early yesterday. I've been running processes on it continuously since then. It's running Gentoo Linux, not Ubuntu, but still, I have yet to encounter a machine running Windows that can go for so long without slowing down noticeably. So no, I don't consider Bill Gates's products stable. User friendly but not stable.

Answer 2

I've been using Ubuntu off and on for about four years now. I use it for many reasons such as:



* stability

* it's free

* any security issues found are rapidly with in hours not months

* I don't really need to worry about viruses

* The size of the OS. I have a copy of Ubuntu on a 16GB flash drive I take while I'm out.

* The friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable folks at Ubuntu Forums. Who answer questions with in minutes, and don't charge for there services.

* I don't have to use the synaptic package manager if I don't want to. I can download most anything I need from free from Applications> Ubuntu Software Center.

* Even after months of use the system does not slow down, and it only takes less then 16 seconds to boot up. My windows partition takes about 2 to 3 minutes.

* many more reasons to get into



Yes Ubuntu is different, and that's because it's not Windows. It's as different to Windows as the Mac OS is. Ubuntu is Freedom. Freedom to change anything you don't like. If you don't like how a peace of software works... Fine. You're free to download the source code, and make it your own. You're free to do as little or as much customization to any peace of the Ubuntu OS as you want. That is why you'll find a handful of Ubuntu distributions out there.



After many years of working with Ubuntu I've come to understand it more then windows. I've have far less issues with Ubuntu then windows, and the only reason I still have a Windows partition is due the the fact that not all Windows applications work well under WINE. Though, WINE gets better with every release.



Ubuntu/ Linux only looks intimidating, but that's just due to the unknown. Once you play around with the OS you'll see it's rather strait forward.



I hope this helps clear up your confusion why the Ubuntu/ Linux community is so large.



Cheer.



PS: The was written using Firefox via an Ubuntu Wubi installation.

Answer 3

Eh I'm very unbias but personally I like Windows, Windows is the only OS made for gaming since Mac/Linux use the X11 graphics system, which cannot possibly even nearly touch what DirectX on Windows can do. Anyway Ubuntu is great, very, but doesn't suit my needs, for most of my programs cannot reside on it. I use Ubuntu for WiFi cracking/development/deployment/personal server/things like that, so it serves me well in those departments, it's hell of a lot better then windows at the important server functions etc. Ubuntu can support WINE, a windows program emulator, so you can run a pile of windows programs ( exe's etc. ) natively. Did you know linux and Mac OSX are both built around the free Unix shell?

Answer 4

Ubuntu is at least easy to use as Windows, in some cases even easier. And I talk from actual experience.



Synaptic Package Manager is one of the best features in Ubuntu. In Windows, you can only update Windows OS and related software from your "Windows Update" thingie. Now imagine that besides the OS, you could update all your OTHER installed software as well, from the same application - games, music players, other web browsers etc. and you could also install new software to your computer from this place instead of having to search the web for hours and hours to find some specific software you need?



That's Synaptic. Install everything you need in a few clicks. Doesn't get simpler than that.



It is true that Windows experience does not count much when you use Linux. Linux does things differently and you just have to learn new ways to do stuff.



But some people do like to actually learn new things and use their brains. Those people use Linux. The peasants can stick to Windows IMHO.

Answer 5

Because Ubuntu is more stable and much easier to use. Yes, its a little different, but not difficult by any means.

I have been using Ubuntu for nearly a year now. I like it much better. I have used windows since it first came out.

Ubuntu is better. It is cheaper, all the apps come with it.

I have only used the package manager a couple times. NEVER needed sudo.

I have never had a problem with Ubuntu-

I constantly have trouble with windows.

If fact-thats why I switched.

Answer 6

I'm a computer science major and I like dealing with all the problems. I don't get enough practice with frustrating problems that drive you crazy at school, so I want it at home too. Also what I really like about ubuntu is how ******* awesome the themes you can have are.



Also, it is very easy to dual boot, and ubuntu has a very tiny size compared to windows.

Answer 7

Welll windows isnt that great either.

A windows PC is so much more likely 2 to get a virus than ubuntu and mac

and windows is jsut...ugh



i have windows vista home premium, its okay. but it definately CAN be better.



im upgrading 2 windows 7 premium, we'll see how it goes.

Answer 8

LOL yeah its difficult to learn LINUX..i guess its way more stable and less likely to get viruses

Answer 9

Most of the time there is no need to use 'sudo' and the 'synaptic package manager'



HowTo Install software on Ubuntu

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installingsoftware



Reasons to use Ubuntu instead of Windows

http://anuragbansal.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/25-reasons-to-use-ubuntu-instead-of-windows/



Reasons to use Ubuntu

http://midspot.wordpress.com/2006/07/21/top-ten-reasons-to-use-ubuntu/



Reasons not to Use Ubuntu (sarcasm at its best)

http://socializedsoftware.com/2007/10/30/top-10-reasons-not-to-use-ubuntu/



What is Ubuntu



Ubuntu is a community developed operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. Whether you use it at home, at school or at work Ubuntu contains all the applications you'll ever need, from word processing and email applications, to web server software and programming tools.



Ubuntu is and always will be free of charge. You do not pay any licensing fees. You can download, use and share Ubuntu with your friends, family, school or business for absolutely nothing.



We issue a new desktop and server release every six months. That means you'll always have the latest and greatest applications that the open source world has to offer.

Ubuntu is designed with security in mind. You get free security updates for at least 18 months on the desktop and server. With the Long Term Support (LTS) version you get three years support on the desktop, and five years on the server. There is no extra fee for the LTS version, we make our very best work available to everyone on the same free terms. Upgrades to new versions of Ubuntu are and always will be free of charge.

http://www.ubuntu.com/products/WhatIsUbuntu



Why Linux Is Better

http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/



Here are some options for installing or trying out Linux



Option One (Full installation)



I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 8 Main Edition which is built upon Ubuntu 9.10 Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled



Linux Mint 8 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=44



The Perfect Desktop - Linux Mint 8 (Helena) Installation

http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-linux-mint-8-helena



Linux Mint 8 Helena User Guide

http://www.scribd.com/doc/23787138/Linux-Mint-8-Helena-User-Guide



You download the ISO. image of Linux Mint 8 then you need to create a Bootable LiveCD for installation



Linux Mint 8 can also be run direct from the LiveCD from Booting up without touching your Hard Drive



Option Two (Install Ubuntu inside Windows XP and Vista)



Installing Ubuntu as a dual-boot with Windows without partitioning

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wubi



You keep Windows as it is, Wubi only adds an extra option to boot into Ubuntu. Wubi does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a different bootloader, and does not install special drivers. It works just like any other application.



Wubi keeps most of the files in one folder, and if you do not like it, you can simply uninstall it as any other application.



Boot in to windows insert the Ubuntu 9.10 LiveCD and you will offered the option of installing inside windows which is where the Wubi installer comes in, you will be asked how many gigabytes you wish to allocate to Ubuntu (I recommend 8gb) then you set a password for your installation then click install and thats it.



Once Ubuntu is fully installed upon starting your PC you will be given a choice of which operating system you want to use Windows or Ubuntu



Ubuntu 9.10 Download

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download



Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) User Guide

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Karmic



Linux Mint 7 has a similar feature called mint4win and the directions given above for Wubi can be followed (mint4win is not available for Linux Mint 8)

http://duncsweb.com/2009/09/27/mint4win-a-wubi-based-installer-of-linux-mint/



Linux Mint 7 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=38



Linux Mint 7 Gloria User Guide

http://www.scribd.com/doc/15884753/Linux-Mint-7-Gloria-User-Guide



Ubuntu 9.10 and Linux Mint 7 can also be run straight from the LiveCD without touching your Hard drive



Option Three (LiveCD)



Here the possibilities are endless as you can try out as many different Linux distros. until you find the one thats right for you DISTROWATCH.COM gives full listings (second lists the major distributions)

http://distrowatch.com/



Major Linux Distributions

http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major



HowTo create a Linux LiveCD

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto





LUg.

Answer 10

haha it seems you need everything made simple for you.



here is a lollypop.



1) hold it

2) unwrap it

3) put it in your mouth



you should stick to fisherprice toys lol