Is Ubuntu becoming the generic Linux distro?

CDsDontBurn · Apr 3, 2008, 06:58 PM

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 (a term which I use affectionately) 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. The reasons for their interest in Linux are many and varied, as is the level of commitment to making the switch from Windows or Mac. However, one thing stands out from all the conversations - the number of people who seem to confuse Ubuntu for Linux. I can tell because they will either use both terms interchangeably or be using the name Ubuntu in a generic sense. Moreover, it seems to be confined to Ubuntu. I’ve not seen the name of another distro used in the same way.

Source: ZDnet

|2A|N · Apr 3, 2008, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Over the past year or so I’ve noticed an increasing number of newbies

I prefer the term new user myself!

Well by today's standards when people think of Linux they tend to think of Ubuntu, why? because it's made quit a name for itself over the past couple of years in terms of usability. While I admit there are a ton of choices also for new users it can get very confusing over which Distro to chose but this to me isn't a bad thing because after all Linux is about choice. Oh and one other thing Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is a NewBIE himself...!

Zelig · Apr 3, 2008, 11:52 PM

The fact that lots of new users are using Ubuntu makes it easier for other new users to use it as well. Nearly any problem with ubuntu can be googled to turn up a forum topic with someone else having the same problem.

[hobo]eclipse · Apr 4, 2008, 01:55 AM

may just have to jump on the band wagon and give it a go. So ubuntu is a good distro to start with i take it? Would be refreshing to move away from microsoft.

Tipstaff · Apr 4, 2008, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [hobo]eclipse

may just have to jump on the band wagon and give it a go. So ubuntu is a good distro to start with i take it? Would be refreshing to move away from microsoft.

Dual boot. You can even install it on a system that already has Windows on it if you do the right preparations beforehand (and HERE too). Ubuntu even supports reading/writing to NTFS partitions now, so it's that much easier to dual boot. Going with the instructions in the links I just posted, if I ever want to get rid of Linux I just use delete the partitions, and Windows never skips a beat because it is handling the boot menu. I can even reinstall Linux, and not have to change a thing because I've already set Windows up the first time around.

[hobo]eclipse · Apr 4, 2008, 05:27 PM

got beta 8.04 up and going last night. all went well and was at the desktop in about 20 minutes. I need some help with some basics though, any good reads for new users would be great. I installed to seperate HDD for now(may dual boot later) I would like to be able mount my other HDDs (2 sata, NTFS) and have them stay after reboots, is that possible? Also i wanted to update ff4b4 which came with it to ff3b5 but realized i must compile it and place it somewhere myself. Total newuser alert!

gonna have to read up on how to do that.

Install went great and im pretty sure all my hardware was detected and installed. was promted to let the ati driver take over after boot, it was installed and all went fine. wonder if there is any solutions to run my logiteckh mx5000 bluetooth mouse and keyboard, could the USB wireless function(not bluetooth) work?

Apr 3, 2008, 06:58 PM	#1
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	Is Ubuntu becoming the generic Linux distro? 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 (a term which I use affectionately) 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. The reasons for their interest in Linux are many and varied, as is the level of commitment to making the switch from Windows or Mac. However, one thing stands out from all the conversations - the number of people who seem to confuse Ubuntu for Linux. I can tell because they will either use both terms interchangeably or be using the name Ubuntu in a generic sense. Moreover, it seems to be confined to Ubuntu. I’ve not seen the name of another distro used in the same way. Source: ZDnet __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Apr 3, 2008, 11:52 PM	#3
Zelig HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,187 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	The fact that lots of new users are using Ubuntu makes it easier for other new users to use it as well. Nearly any problem with ubuntu can be googled to turn up a forum topic with someone else having the same problem. __________________ --

Apr 4, 2008, 01:55 AM	#4
[hobo]eclipse ...just bummin 'round Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,907 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	may just have to jump on the band wagon and give it a go. So ubuntu is a good distro to start with i take it? Would be refreshing to move away from microsoft.

Apr 4, 2008, 05:27 PM	#6
[hobo]eclipse ...just bummin 'round Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,907 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	got beta 8.04 up and going last night. all went well and was at the desktop in about 20 minutes. I need some help with some basics though, any good reads for new users would be great. I installed to seperate HDD for now(may dual boot later) I would like to be able mount my other HDDs (2 sata, NTFS) and have them stay after reboots, is that possible? Also i wanted to update ff4b4 which came with it to ff3b5 but realized i must compile it and place it somewhere myself. Total newuser alert! gonna have to read up on how to do that. Install went great and im pretty sure all my hardware was detected and installed. was promted to let the ati driver take over after boot, it was installed and all went fine. wonder if there is any solutions to run my logiteckh mx5000 bluetooth mouse and keyboard, could the USB wireless function(not bluetooth) work?