Goodbye Vista, Hello Ubuntu!
I have been running Microsoft’s newest OS, Windows Vista, on my main computer for months now. I was part of the beta program and was able to test it months before its final release and installed the final release the day it hit shelves. Last night I finally reached my stress limit for Microsoft products. I formatted my hard drive and said goodbye to Vista. I was sick of dealing with the resource hungry monster. I have an extremely capable PC (3.2 Ghz P4, ATI PCI Express Video Card, 1GB RAM, SATA hard drives) and Vista still ran like a snail. Vista’s built in rating system only gave my PC a score of 3.2 (out of 5.9) After weeks of frustration and time spent dealing with incompatible programs, UAC (User Account Control) and bad drivers, I decided it was time to ditch Windows forever.
I have used Linux in various configurations since I was in high school. I always stuck with MS Windows because of compability issues, driver issues, and my educational (college) needs. Linux has come into its prime and is now void of the problems that kept me from switching to it as my primary desktop OS. Enter Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a version of the Linux operating system that is free for anyone to download and install. I downloaded the files, burned them to a disk, and in less than an hour I had a system that worked right “out of the box”. Ubuntu focuses on usability - their motto is, “It should just work.” It does. Ubuntu comes loaded with everything you could ever need as well as the ability to add 1000’s of other free programs. Within minutes of my install I was listening to my music, syncing my iPod, surfing the Internet, instant messaging, and editing MS Office documents. If you can think of a feature you would ever want for your PC, Ubuntu Linux has it.
If you are interested in using Ubuntu visit www.ubuntu.com and read the FAQ or download it. I would not recommend Linux for the beginning PC user but anyone with even moderate PC skills should be able to successfully install and use Ubuntu Linux. One of the best features of using any form of Linux is the massive amount of free software and huge support-base available on-line. If you don’t know how to do something, just Google it. A user forum or detailed walk-through will be right there waiting.
Microsoft just lost a customer. Ubuntu rules.
