What is the appeal in Ubuntu Linux? Why do people seem to like it so much?

~~DudeBoyz~~ · Mar 20, 2007, 07:02 PM

What is the appeal in Ubuntu Linux? Why do people seem to like it so much?

To me, it's kind of limiting, as I'm used to more freedom. But some folks are nearly fanatical about it, so I'm curious as to why.

If you could share some insight here, I would appeciate it.

Thanks

DarkFoss · Mar 21, 2007, 03:27 AM

I think it's because it's just well done and easy to use also their forum participation is excellent.Having the backing of a multimillionaire driving developement can't hurt either. Ubuntu does seem have more freedom than say Linspire or Xandros.

Also with Ubuntu's pact with Linspire each consentrating on enhancing 1 desktop both Gnome(Ubuntu) and KDE should really shine on those distros.. plus I think they are going to share access to those desktops so that Kubuntu will use Linspire's KDEand Linspire users will be able to install Ubuntu's Gnome.

Either way it's good news for linux in general.. Dell is thinking about boosting their sales by offering Linux pre-installed on thier comps.. add to that more distro's joining or thinking about joining CNR.. If it becomes concidered a success look for more and more companies to offer a Linux version of their software through such a service. Linux really is on the verge of becoming a viable desktop solution for the masses.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Mar 26, 2007, 06:51 AM

1. Its like Firefox... its the trendy "un-mainstream" way to look rebellious and technically savvy to your mac friends/grandparents/clueless friends
2. Its really easy to get into, good support base
3. The cost is hard to beat

stratcat · Aug 28, 2008, 03:13 PM

I've used Linux since 1995 but only in TUI mode. I've mostly used Red Hat and Mandrake
for web, mail, dns, dhcp servers where it excels. Until recently, I used XP for my day-to-day desktop OS because some of my engineering, audio and video software only
runs in Windows. (No Vista!!!) Last year, I was having trouble with my CNC machine
which was controlled by a Windows program and thought I'd try EMC2, a CNC controller
that runs in Real-time Linux. A live CD was available with EMC pre-installed on Ubuntu
7.0.1. It worked so well and is so configurable, I installed Ubuntu/EMC. Now, I've upgraded
to Ubuntu 8.0.4 and the latest EMC. It just works. I had been doing my drawings in
Corel Draw, exporting to DXF format, then using a program called "Ace" that converts
the DXF files to GCode (the standard CNC programming language), putting the GCode files on a flash drive and taking that to the EMC machine thinking "It sure would be nice
to be able to do everything on the Linux EMC machine". Then I found that Inkscape
exports good DXF files and dxf2gcode to do the conversion. All the while, I'd been playing with various things that come with Ubuntu and added a few things and found
it to be a pretty good desktop OS. Now I dual boot XP and Linux on my home machine
and only have to boot XP when I need to run an electronic circuit simulator or do my
audio/video editing. I'm just used to SoundForge and Vegas. The Linux equivalents,
in my opinion are not quite there yet. Al;so, those two programs are commercial
and quite expensive so they've got the money to make them as good as possible.
I've never had an update go awry or even do anything unexpected. The included and added software - Gimp, Inkscape, Open Office are all superb. Also, before any printers
are installed, you get PDF export from anything that prints. In XP, you'd typically buy
Photoshop, Illustrator, MS Office and Acrobat to get all that functionality. Big Bucks!
And of course, net connectivity. Samba to use Windows shares and printers, NFS
for legacy UNIX file storage, LPR/CUPS for printing to almost anything.
Ubuntu is stable and reliable. I didn't like its brown color scheme but that's easily
changeable.

Sorry this was so long.
Thanks for letting me share my opinions,
Emory

RIV@NVX · Aug 28, 2008, 05:56 PM

My favourite is Ubuntu Studio. Has a great theme and a lot of great apps if you like to play with sound and such stuff.

Biskit64 · Nov 15, 2008, 01:26 PM

For me it was easy to get up and running, a Linux novice was able to get a few games up and running .
World of Warcraft on wine , and tools and apps for about anything you want to do are easily available .

khelben1979 · Sep 17, 2009, 12:06 PM

Because of their large internet forum and because they try to create a modern Linux distribution where as much as possible just works without fiddling too much with the system.

It's not my choice, but it has been considered very attractive to newbies.

GigaWatt · Sep 17, 2009, 04:13 PM

it's simple, easy to use, you can install programs with a click of a button (if you have an internet connection), you can update it with a click of a button, it takes up a lot less resources with the same graphic advancements as Windows... some of the many advantages...

Mar 20, 2007, 07:02 PM	#1
~~DudeBoyz~~ banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,677 Rep Power: 0	What is the appeal in Ubuntu Linux? Why do people seem to like it so much? What is the appeal in Ubuntu Linux? Why do people seem to like it so much? To me, it's kind of limiting, as I'm used to more freedom. But some folks are nearly fanatical about it, so I'm curious as to why. If you could share some insight here, I would appeciate it. Thanks

Mar 21, 2007, 03:27 AM	#2
DarkFoss HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Downers Grove IL Posts: 688 Rep Power: 0	I think it's because it's just well done and easy to use also their forum participation is excellent.Having the backing of a multimillionaire driving developement can't hurt either. Ubuntu does seem have more freedom than say Linspire or Xandros. Also with Ubuntu's pact with Linspire each consentrating on enhancing 1 desktop both Gnome(Ubuntu) and KDE should really shine on those distros.. plus I think they are going to share access to those desktops so that Kubuntu will use Linspire's KDEand Linspire users will be able to install Ubuntu's Gnome. Either way it's good news for linux in general.. Dell is thinking about boosting their sales by offering Linux pre-installed on thier comps.. add to that more distro's joining or thinking about joining CNR.. If it becomes concidered a success look for more and more companies to offer a Linux version of their software through such a service. Linux really is on the verge of becoming a viable desktop solution for the masses. __________________ Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety,deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. Ben Franklin, 1755

Aug 28, 2008, 05:56 PM	#5
RIV@NVX Freedom is a feature. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Croatia, Rijeka Posts: 4,476 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	My favourite is Ubuntu Studio. Has a great theme and a lot of great apps if you like to play with sound and such stuff. __________________ -- Vedran

Nov 15, 2008, 01:26 PM	#6
Biskit64 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Re: What is the appeal in Ubuntu Linux? Why do people seem to like it so much? For me it was easy to get up and running, a Linux novice was able to get a few games up and running . World of Warcraft on wine , and tools and apps for about anything you want to do are easily available .

Sep 17, 2009, 12:06 PM	#7
khelben1979 DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 72 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: What is the appeal in Ubuntu Linux? Why do people seem to like it so much? Because of their large internet forum and because they try to create a modern Linux distribution where as much as possible just works without fiddling too much with the system. It's not my choice, but it has been considered very attractive to newbies.

Mar 26, 2007, 06:51 AM	#3
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	1. Its like Firefox... its the trendy "un-mainstream" way to look rebellious and technically savvy to your mac friends/grandparents/clueless friends 2. Its really easy to get into, good support base 3. The cost is hard to beat

Aug 28, 2008, 03:13 PM	#4
stratcat DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 0	I've used Linux since 1995 but only in TUI mode. I've mostly used Red Hat and Mandrake for web, mail, dns, dhcp servers where it excels. Until recently, I used XP for my day-to-day desktop OS because some of my engineering, audio and video software only runs in Windows. (No Vista!!!) Last year, I was having trouble with my CNC machine which was controlled by a Windows program and thought I'd try EMC2, a CNC controller that runs in Real-time Linux. A live CD was available with EMC pre-installed on Ubuntu 7.0.1. It worked so well and is so configurable, I installed Ubuntu/EMC. Now, I've upgraded to Ubuntu 8.0.4 and the latest EMC. It just works. I had been doing my drawings in Corel Draw, exporting to DXF format, then using a program called "Ace" that converts the DXF files to GCode (the standard CNC programming language), putting the GCode files on a flash drive and taking that to the EMC machine thinking "It sure would be nice to be able to do everything on the Linux EMC machine". Then I found that Inkscape exports good DXF files and dxf2gcode to do the conversion. All the while, I'd been playing with various things that come with Ubuntu and added a few things and found it to be a pretty good desktop OS. Now I dual boot XP and Linux on my home machine and only have to boot XP when I need to run an electronic circuit simulator or do my audio/video editing. I'm just used to SoundForge and Vegas. The Linux equivalents, in my opinion are not quite there yet. Al;so, those two programs are commercial and quite expensive so they've got the money to make them as good as possible. I've never had an update go awry or even do anything unexpected. The included and added software - Gimp, Inkscape, Open Office are all superb. Also, before any printers are installed, you get PDF export from anything that prints. In XP, you'd typically buy Photoshop, Illustrator, MS Office and Acrobat to get all that functionality. Big Bucks! And of course, net connectivity. Samba to use Windows shares and printers, NFS for legacy UNIX file storage, LPR/CUPS for printing to almost anything. Ubuntu is stable and reliable. I didn't like its brown color scheme but that's easily changeable. Sorry this was so long. Thanks for letting me share my opinions, Emory

Sep 17, 2009, 04:13 PM	#8
GigaWatt Now In Color :D Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Macedonia, Skopje Posts: 2,116 Rep Power: 81 System Specs	Re: What is the appeal in Ubuntu Linux? Why do people seem to like it so much? it's simple, easy to use, you can install programs with a click of a button (if you have an internet connection), you can update it with a click of a button, it takes up a lot less resources with the same graphic advancements as Windows... some of the many advantages... __________________ It's not schisophrenia... it's just a voice in my head...