I run Ubuntu on a laptop at home. It’s what I’ve been using to teach myself some basic coding skills. I love it. While not quite perfect it’s far and away the best Linux platform for your “Linux Curious” n00b (like me).
I think that it could be better and in order for Linux to really take off someone is going to need to solve the proprietary/non-open source issues relating to media. Ubuntu doesn’t make viewing web video that easy. Probably some sort of licensed, pay for package.
“Has anyone else noticed an increasing number of Linux newbies who seem to think that Ubuntu is Linux and Linux is Ubuntu? Over the past year or so I’ve noticed an increasing number of newbies interested in taking Linux for a spin - for example, the number or emails I’m getting on the subject from zero a year ago to several dozen a week.”
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Hey Tac-
Ubuntu has a proprietary distribution channel built in, but it’s not on by default. You need to change the settings in the package management to download commercial drivers. Once you do, you’ll have access to the same plug-ins as the Mac/PC. (Like flash for web video.)
Eddie,
Yeah, I’ve found that, thanks to “Introducing Ubuntu: Desktop Linux” (see Amazon widget in sidebar). And technically Ubuntu doesn’t have a distro channel, but rather there is one available for Ubuntu users (wink wink). It’s still not perfect though.
There’s an obvious difference between these free (and in some cases legally questionable) options and the experience you get on a PC or Mac, which you pay for through there licensing agreements.
I think that an enterprising entrepreneur could bundle and sell a Linux/Ubuntu package that would fix this. In the end it would still be cheaper than paying Gates or Jobs and the experience would be arguably better.
I also think now would be the perfect time to offer such a package. There are many examples of companies that sell software for server based Linux, why not the desktop?
Hey Tac,
I think Ubuntu has become Linux to so many people because it is something tangible that can be plopped on a desktop machine versus a back end server.
Give yourself this test: What’s Microsoft’s desktop email client?
Since I know our employer forces you to use it, you know the answer is Outlook and you probably also very quickly had an image of what it looks like pop into your head.
What’s Microsoft back end email server?
A lot of people know the answer to that is Exchange, but its a lot fewer and I bet almost nobody has an image of what that looks like to them unless you’ve spent time as an Exchange admin.
People get to know what they can get their hands on and attach an image of an experience with. Hence to a lot of folks Ubuntu = Linux.
Pete Johnson
HP.com Chief Architect
Personal blog: http://nerdguru.net
That’s a very interesting point Pete. Visualization does play a big part in our memory and therefore our mental associations.
This might be getting waaaay too nerdy, but I found this pretty interesting:
http://itc.conversationsnetwork.org/shows/detail3523.html
It’s a podcast about the roadmap of Ubuntu