Ubuntu versus Vista comparison
There are those who believe, really believe in completely open source software, nothing proprietary and it’s a dream, it’s here but for most users it’s just a dream or not a concern at all. It’s Ubuntu versus Vista in everything from installing the operating system to configuring devices and installing drivers and which one comes out on top.
I don’t really color myself a believer in open source, so long as the software package is “free†to use, what do I care if the code is open source or not, I just want good free software, that’s all but I also want it to work with little fuss. One open source application I like is OpenOffice, it’s a good package and a nice option for those who don’t want to spend $400 for Microsoft Office and can’t get the student and/or government discounts on it. I’ll admit, I use both Office 2003 and 2007 and both are far more polished than OpenOffice but for free… OpenOffice is okay.
It just so happens that Ubuntu includes OpenOffice as part of its package; all you get with Vista is WordPad which is the same useless application it has been for years and years. Score one for Ubuntu but the rest of the story isn’t so great. Ubuntu is an okay operating system for being free and not including any proprietary drivers or codecs, there is no default support for most graphic cards by default and to play MP3 files a codec pack is required.
Thanks, but didn’t it occur to the Ubuntu team that maybe, just maybe I want my graphics card to have all its modes supported out of the installation without my having to do anything about it, that’s the way it’s done with Vista, that’s the way Ubuntu should do it.
Information Week has a full comparison of Vista and Ubuntu though they don’t really declare a winner; I’ll do it for them, Vista. Why? Oh let’s see, all my hardware “just worksâ€, I don’t have to edit the configuration file to get devices working that may not work after installing drivers (Vista works voodoo magic and “repairs†the device), I never have to resort to the command line in Vista, editing the registry and msconfig for performance is optional but by no means required.
In fact the average Windows user could get by their entire life without ever having to resort to a command line, msconfig or regedit. As Linux has no registry let’s toss that part out but resorting to the command line and editing config files is almost a prerequisite when you run into problems on Linux and you know what, I’m not going to do that or spend hours trying to figure out why something doesn’t work.
When I can’t figure out why something doesn’t work in Windows, a quick search is usually all it takes to correct or find a solution to the problem. Searching or sorting through tons of posts on Linux forums is also something I am not going to do. For almost all things Windows, someone has probably written a tutorial with pictures on how to do that, the same may or may not be true for issues encountered in Linux.
Most Ubuntu converts are either the Linux faithful or first time Linux users. For first time Linux users, do you really want them to have to delve into config files or the command line to get something done… the answer is you don’t and that is not an optimal solution. Make it work like Windows (except without the crashing) and people will be happy.
If you’re looking for an easy to use and fuss free operating system, buy a Mac and go with OSX unless editing Linux config files is your idea of fun.
In the interest of keeping things transparent, I do not use Ubuntu on a regular basis and will not do so until ALL of my hardware is supported EXACTLY the same way and functions EXACTLY the same way as it does under Windows. That is not a realistic expectation and besides, PhotoShop doesn’t run on Linux and no, WINE does not count… forget it.
If Microsoft decides to gouge all its users with its next OS or do some “webware†thing with it, forget it, I’ll go with a Mac. I am well aware that they gouged some users over Vista but if you know the right people, it’s not so expensive or troublesome.
I have also not experienced a crash on Vista (yet) and I hope I don’t and as far as my XP days, few if any trouble with it as well. Then again, I’m not an “average†Windows user so of course most people see it as being bad but maybe plugging all that old hardware with poorly written drivers on your Windows machine wasn’t such a good idea in the first place. Windows XP and especially Vista, don’t respond well at all to old(er) hardware so buy new stuff, problem solved. Okay, I’m not being completely serious but I had to make that point.
Kudos to you if you use Linux, you are an experience computer user, as for myself, I’m perfectly content being an experienced Windows XP and Vista user, yeah, I used 9x back in the day but honestly, if you’re still using 9x move over to at least Windows 2000 or buy a new computer with XP or Vista because 9x is just, well, they’re all bad.
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April 29th, 2007
People are going to bitch at you so hard for that post, which is a shame, because you made some really good points.
In fact, it’s the argument I’ve been using against Linux for the last 8 years
April 29th, 2007
[...] Full article here: Source [...]
April 29th, 2007
You obviously don’t have a knack for seeing any perspectives other than your own. I highly disrespect your opinions. My business saves $3789 per workstation by replacing Windows, Office, Maya, Photoshop, and Visual Studio with open source alternatives.
April 29th, 2007
Although I respect your opinion, I feel obligated to point out a few flaws. I just installed Ubuntu, and although I have some experience with linux, I have yet to use the command line, or edit a config file. Everything is accessible from a gui. You mention that it is difficult to install the mp3 codec. I tried to open an mp3 file, a popup appeared saying I did not have the required software, and asked me if I’d like to install it. After I clicked yes, it was done. No command line there. Graphics card drivers…. Same thing. I clicked install driver, and it was done. All the same options as windows, and I find it more stable.
Again, I respect your opinion, but have you actually tried the new 7.04 Ubuntu?
April 29th, 2007
I have tried it, in passing but still had issues with my wireless card, which is… well… bad and the only suggestiong I have come across so far is to use ndiswrapper (no thanks…).
A codec pack is required but I never said it was hard to install, licensing issues aside (frankly I don’t know what the issue is…), it’s something the operating system SHOULD have, I shouldn’t have to do anything to enable MP3 support even if it is as simple as clicking install.
ATi drivers are a non-issue, I’ll give you that, nvidia drivers on the other hand are a pain… at least they have been for me.
As for the command line and other driver issues, those were experienced by the folks at Information Week who had consistent trouble getting various printers and scanners to function correctly and if the average user has those problems they are going to be saying “well, it didn’t work, what now?”
They were able to get them working via config files and compiling a driver which shouldn’t be required for anything.
April 29th, 2007
I think you’r really really wrong.
You don’t even undrestand WHY some of your hardware is not immediately supported in Ubuntu. And you don’t care.
That’s clever.
Stick to windows. Pay for it. Let people in Redmond laugh loud all the way to the bank to have one more sucker on board.
Enjoy having them sniffing on your private data, delight yourself in catching viruses and rootkits despite having to use a firewall and a antivirus all the time. Be happy.
I have installed ubuntu on all my boxes, my friends’ boxes and even my mother (she’s 50 years old) box. I am happy with it, they are. I still have a dual boot on my main laptop, but I have used windows maybe 15 minutes during the last month.
Your mileage might vary, of course. Stick with windows. Pay for software. Enjoy.
Efraim
April 29th, 2007
Make Windows work exactly like Lnux and then I’ll be happy. You know, secure, non-invasive, stable, standards compliant, and capable of delivering a fast 3D desktop on hardware that’s a few years old.
April 29th, 2007
Vista has more demanding hardware requirements, comes with all that DRM crap…..and leaves the user at the mercy of Ballmer and Microsoft. Plus the cost and hassles of the EULA, Windows Genuine Advantage (there’s an oxymoron) and upgrade/reinstall woes……
I’m voting with my feet. I much prefer supporting open source- and freedom rather than helping extend the hegemony of a monopolistic behemoth that is Microsoft. The younger generation will adapt just fine to Ubuntu and Linux in general…although older digital “immigrant” types will stick with Windows….because it can be hard to kick bad habits and teach old dogs new tricks.
Linux will continue to improve exponentially because it is the product of a community of users- not some corporate entity. Which version of Ubuntu did you install anyway? I’m running Feisty and have not run into any of the problems you mention.
April 29th, 2007
You hit the nail on the head Jonathon. I don’t care about how much hardware Ubuntu or anything else can theoritically support, if it doesn’t just work It makes no difference to me. Also, installing programs is way too hard most of the time in all the distrubutions I’ve tried. BTW, I know UBuntu has a deal where I can install free stuff from their website, but it doesn’t really matter because it can’t even see my 11 g card. Or my sound card, Or recognize my DVD burner, or even know how to play DVDs… and did I mention that I really hate case-sensitve BASH? Hell, even identifying the executables is hard because colors vary by the distro. I’m still keeping an eye on Linux, and may make the switch when I think it’s mature enough, but its not good enough for me at this point. It has got to become more user friendly. This is not optional if Linux is ever going to move beyond geeks and professionals.
April 29th, 2007
na, that is very true.
April 29th, 2007
Window just works??? Seems the masses are willing go buy VISTA compatible hardware… How about shopping for Linux compatible hardware? Then it will ‘just work’ !!!
April 29th, 2007
I,m a noob when it concerns computers,don,t know anything about editing config files etc. For me It Just Has To Work , as i,m living in a third world country it costs the same to get a VISTA or LINUX CD or DVD so might as well go for the vista premium ,but let me tell u in my case It Sucks pretty bad , its like win me2000 ver2 and i do hope Microsoft will come up with something decent as they did with winxp -apart from its lack of security.I haven’t tried ubuntu but i have tried PCLinuxOS Test 4 and i definitely love it everything JUST WORKS ,I am a windows guy but i,ve dual booted my system to run PCLinuxOS Test 4. Do give it a spin and let us know how it fared
April 29th, 2007
Yes, I like the idea of shopping for Linux compatible hardware, or even Ubuntu compatible hardware. However, the thing is, I do have Ubuntu compatible hardware and most of what I have is 5 years old. Vista does not work on my computer — too slow — Ubuntu works just fine and has excellent control over my local network.
April 29th, 2007
I take it you’ve never done a full install of Windows (any version) and I’m not talking about that OEM version that came with your PC. You’d be surprised to see that out of the box Windows doesn’t come with as many drivers as you’d like to think. Vista is a glaring example…Currently there are more drivers available for just about any linux distro than there is for Windows Vista. Don’t believe me just get a box copy of Vista and try to install it… you will be surprised at whats not yet supported including your graphics adapters and many many printers.
As for Photoshop… You should check out “The Gimp” it can give Photoshop a run for its money but at a much better cost, “FREE” Oh…and its available now for Windows users.
I don’t see why WINE wouldn’t count though, if you had found some excellent-can’t-be-found-in-Windows version software title(s) wouldn’t you run a Linux emulator to run it?
As for drivers… look again, Ubuntu comes with both open source nVidia drivers as well as proprietary ones supplied by who? Nvidia themselves! ATI is also supplying drivers and Intel has been supplying open source graphics drivers for years.
The only people I see that intentionally make up things ( lie) about Linux being hard to use are the feeble minded, the stubborn, and those making money off the Windows based systems.
My wife and I have been running Kubuntu 6.06 ( wifes PC ) and Kubuntu 7.4 & t( my PC ) OpenSUSE 10.2 (test machine) and haven’t had any problems with them. I’ve only been in Linux a year and my wife 6 months. For relative noobs I’d say we are doing well.
P.S.
The Linux distros don’t spy on their users like MS does with their wonderful WGA…. Or cripples their users systems with DRM.
April 29th, 2007
Everything work, like Windows….it isn’t Windows, Johnathan. If more people would stop trying to use Linux of any flavor the Windows way, then they may understand it more.
I’m no computer guru, and we use Linux in our home exclusively, Ubuntu and PC Linux OS, as a matter of fact. It wasn’t hard and when we started using Linux, we realized that there was a Linux way and a Windows way of doing things, and we learned the Linux way and didn’t bitch like a 12 year old girl when someone told me to edit the xorg.conf file to get a video card running correctly. My goodnedd, it really is elementary, Johnathan.
If you are going to write a column about Linux in any way, please USE THE OPERATING SYSTEM! You must make yourself use the software the way it was meant to be used. Whining and crying will get you nowhere.
I run hardware that ranges from 7 year old PC’s to state of the art Core 2 Duo laptops, and it runs better than anything Windows has, never crashes and there is nothing that I can do on Office at the office on Windows that I can’t do on Linux and Open Office at home.
Going to the Ubuntu forums and learning to search for an answer will get you farther than writing a cry baby paper on the internet about how much you think that Linux sucks. I’m better than you, and windows rulez the world.
In reality, Linux is more robust and reliable than anything Windows produces, and anyone who uses Windows in a business intensive environment will pay the price one day, if they aren’t already, of the problems inherent in the design of Windows software. It gets slower with age and never actually keeps up with the actual trends of computing, always wanting to copy everyone else.
So , please, get the facts correct and when you want to trash Linux again, please use the OS for a while and forget your “Windows ways” of doing things.
Ubuntu is a free operating system, so you can’t expect it all to be there for you. You want something for free, you have to work at it then. Why don’t you try out Fedora, or Red Hat, or Suse? These are professional grade OS’s according to the manufacturers, and should be closer to Vista out of the box than Ubuntu. Not to say that Ubuntu can’t be set up to be better than vista, which is can, and it is, but yes, it takes a little work and some self acquired knowledge that I guess, Johnathan, you are reluctant to get.
Write another article John when you actually have some experience in what you are writing about.
April 29th, 2007
LOL, like a site dedicated to Windows would do a fair and balanced comparison with the competition. Considering in the US Linux doesn’t advertise it must be humiliating for Microsoft to have so many people migrate to their platform.
Vista….the best thing to happen to Linux in years! LOL
April 29th, 2007
The more I read this article, the more I realize that Johnathan is just a whiny little girl. You silly thing. Pay me $1000.00 (the aprox price of Vista and the new Office) and I’ll set up your machine with Linux so you won’t cry anymore, Johnathan.
April 29th, 2007
You are missing your own point.
It is hard to know where to start. First, your system works with VISTA, well it has to be a new system to work since most people will need to buy RAM and in my case, a new video card, new Bios (not update) then it will just work too.
If you did use WinXP, try and remember how much time was spent loading all those codecs from everywhere and the drivers etc just to get sound.
It sounds like you should have compared two systems with teh stuff preloaded and compared that.
If it is features you want, then you should have picked another version of UBUNTU that magically includes the codecs (Linux Mint, Mepis, etc.).
Linux will not run specialty software but it offers quite a lot for most computer users especially those that can not just drop $1000 for a new computer.
So if you tried the comparison on an older machine(s) Vista wouldn’t work but Ubuntu can so would Ubuntu win.
I’ll help with the next post in-case anyone else is wondering, a BMW is better than a GM, just spend the extra money and you’ll have a great car.
G
April 29th, 2007
Free software and Windows are two different worlds, you can’t compare them. You pay for MS yet you get crap sometimes. On the other hand Linux and free software are from geeks who use open standards so that anyone can learn from it and make things better. Definitely MS doesn’t want anyone to be better than them. As of now Ubuntu strikes a balance between too difficult Linux distros and too commercial OSes like OSX or Windows. Its not easy I agree, but it is fun at the same time to understand your how your hardware and software work when you use Linux.
April 29th, 2007
FYI, Ubuntu includes all the codecs and hardware support. Not by default, but when you need them, the OS will gently tell you if you want to install those proprietary drivers and set them up for you. The fact that it’s not ON by default is a philosophical choice, that for sure you won’t appreciate. But for the people who don’t value freedom (as you do), again the OS set them up for you. I have the feeling you didn’t even try Ubuntu, otherwise you’d see that all your hardware would be most likely support. Stick with Vista, I am sure MS will appreciate you throwing big$$$ for an OS for which free alternatives exist.
April 29th, 2007
hello friends…
i am using ubuntu for around 1.5 yrs…. i didnt have to experience any sort of difficulties mentioned above…
from the day i told about linux to my windows friends, they used to tell that it does not support mp3 by default, does not support mpeg videos. etc.. they are all crying in these subject….
but i get flabbergasted to see that they are not crying for not to support pdf, ogg music and video by default. and of course not crying for installing a office pack which costs around double as that of os itself…and running heavy antivirus programs all the time… they are ready to install all these things them selves… but when it comes the issues of some codecs, that become more difficult than reaching the apex of everest…..
In my views, micro soft is not at all sincere to their customers… they force their believers for buying costly antivirus programs to compensate for the vulnerabilities of their os … ms do know the vulnerable part of their os than any body else…. then why r they not taking care of the security issues of their own os as they make others pay this much large …
that is, they them selves created some vulnerable parts in their high cost os and let customers to be exploited by anti virus program making companies…. some times i am even forced to believe that this viruses may be a creation of ms itself as a part of their unsaint partnership with anti virus programmers…
April 29th, 2007
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April 29th, 2007
Hi,
Are you sure Vista supports more hardware than Ubuntu? You probably have all your hardware drivers installed by your hardware vendor, so you don’t see how much trouble it is. Have you ever tried installing Vista on a new machine without all the extra cd’s you need for the drivers? Try it, you’ll be surprised.
But good news if you want Ubuntu without having the trouble to install it:
Dell is preparing some preinstalled linux pc’s, and good chances it will be Ubuntu, because that’s what Michael Dell uses on his portable at home …
(one very happy Ubuntu user, zero cost, zero crashes, zero pirated software, try that on windows)
April 30th, 2007
When I say I used Vista, I have installed it on a home made system designed for gaming. I only buy laptops from manufacturers but I build and configure my own desktop systems because no one can match my exacting requirements, plus… it’s cheaper.
April 30th, 2007
I had to build my own Windows disc in order to get network drivers installed on our machines when I rebuilt them.
I could only take the Windows Hardware Wizard asking to connect to the network to find drivers for an unknown network device so many times…
April 30th, 2007
I CAN’T BELIVE YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT YOU DON’T KNOW…..
You’re so wrong……. read a little before talking crap about ubuntu
dammm i’m still in shock…… what stupid words did you say…… please if you don’t know about something, read or shut up
May 1st, 2007
Are you getting paid by MS for this crap you are dishing out? Why should an OS have mp3 support by default? Its not even open source…
May 1st, 2007
Maybe because it’s a standard format… I don’t know why that should be important at all.
May 1st, 2007
And no, for the last time, no one here is getting paid by Microsoft…
May 3rd, 2007
You always know that when someone has guts to say the truth (Vista > OS X > Linux) people are going to get pissed and insult that someone, because truth hurts.
And let’s please once and for all stop with ignorant comments like “Kudos to you if you use Linux, you are an experience computer user”; people are not experienced users just because they use Linux; you do have to be an experienced user to use *solely* Linux, but not all Linux users are experienced; actually IMHO many of them just use Linux precisely because of comments like these; they feel smarter than the rest just because they use Linux; it’s much easier to just use Linux than to actually take a computer science course. So I’d change that sentence to: I’m sorry if you’re a Linux user, you’re probably a noobie who feels experienced just because you use Linux. Too bad just using Linux doesn’t make you smarter than the rest of us.
May 3rd, 2007
Well, as far as I’m concerned, it does take quite a bit of fiddling (on my systems) to get Linux working 100% and I still haven’t reached that point… so if someone has Linux installed and has everything working 100% that’s a step beyond me. Unless all the hardware is just supported by default.
May 5th, 2007
Hey Jonathon… Do you know what a license means…. MP3 is a proprietary codec. Their are a lot of companies out there fighting over it at the moment.. They don’t want to take on Microsoft.. cos well they can’t afford to.. But a smaller linux company that gives software away for free can’t risk being put in the firing line. Hence they don’t put it on the disk they just allow you to grab it afterwards.. This allows them to get around any legal issues that might arise… go read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3#Licensing_and_patent_issues
May 5th, 2007
Oh oopss look I didn’t really do my research properly.. It’s easy to do isn’t it Johnathan.. at the end of that wiki section it says.. Microsoft lost the MP3 battle against Alcatel etc. And had to pay up $1.52bn in damages… And guess who they will pass that cost onto…
May 5th, 2007
I know it’s a propietary codec but I simply don’t care… it should be included, let them sue the pants off each other… I just want it to work, like it does in Windows or OSX.
May 5th, 2007
Most of your comments about Linux would have been valid in 2003, but not really today. For example, when I installed Ubuntu on another one of my computers, all the hardware worked flawlessly, and I did not have to touch the terminal or “delve into configuration files”.
Also, I don’t really get why people are prejudiced towards the terminal. For example, I can click on “Add and Remove Programs”, do a search, check the app I want, and then click OK, and it downloads and installs, but I find it a lot quicker to type ’sudo apt-get install ‘ on the command line. But it doesn’t really matter anymore, because you can do everything with the GUI if you want to.
About mp3: in Ubuntu, when you try to play an mp3 for the first time, it asks you if you want to search for drivers. You click yes, check the first one, click OK, and it works. Same with flash – if you use Firefox, and you come to a page that requires it, click ‘Find missing plugins’, and then its three or four clicks.
It really has come a long way in just three or four years – I was amazed myself at the ease of use of Ubuntu (having used other distros before)
May 5th, 2007
I just noticed that someone else said almost exactly the same thing about installing drivers in Ubuntu – just goes to show that its true.
“In fact, it’s the argument I’ve been using against Linux for the last 8 years
”
Well, it might have been right then, but sorry, your just lying (or uninformed) now
May 7th, 2007
This is a pro-Windows site and you really think people are going to believe that your article is unbiased? Give me a break.
I have been using Ubuntu since Warty was released and I haven’t had to do much other than install it and reboot. Sure, there is some tweaking involved, but which OS alleviates tweaking?
I have a 7 year old niece who uses Ubuntu. She has installed Ubuntu 7.04 and maintains it all by herself. Can’t get much easier than that.
Ubuntu is free to download, free to install on millions of computers, free to distribute and almost all software which runs on a Linux system is similarly free. I have never had any problems with Ubuntu and viruses on a Linux system are pretty much a waste of time – probably why there aren’t any active Linux viruses right now.
You want mp2 file support out-of-the-box on Ubuntu?
sudo apt-get install xmms
I buy my hardware at Computer Stop and I have yet to have any hardware problems. Maybe you’re buying the wrong stuff?
Windows costs a lot of money, you can’t legally install it on more than one machine, you can’t legally distribute it and any worthwhile software which runs on Windows costs money. You forgot to mention the long list of active Windows viruses, trojans, worms, etc which too easily cripple a Windows system.
Have you seen this: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10/06/linux_vs_windows_viruses/
Next time, try actually USING an operating system before you go talking bad about it.
May 7th, 2007
Microsoft (Vista or XP ’cause it doesn’t matter) = land of fools
In other words… Year 2050 – the stupidity covers 110% of humanity, people don’t even know what text editor is…. ’cause they have a colorful button they must press in order to write something (I’m not even sure if they can write anymore… maybe they only push some colorful buttons all day long and that’s it)… ehh… no comment.
May 7th, 2007
If you’re serious about using Ubuntu, here are some links for you:
http://www.ubuntu.com/
http://ubuntuforums.org/
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UserDocumentation
https://help.ubuntu.com/7.04/
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupport
Probably would have helped to have all that useful info before writing the article, eh?
May 7th, 2007
Linux is NOT Windows. It was never made to be an EXACT Windows replacement. It’s a little different.. Get over it. I point you here:
http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm
May 7th, 2007
By the way. Ubuntu is easier to use than Vista at some places. For example, you want to install winamp in windows. You have to open you browser, find the website or introduce it; download winamp.exe; then double click and follow the instructions(mostly clicking next). In ubuntu you just open the Add/Remove programs and select the needed category and select the needed application in our case it is audacious; click install and vuala, it is right in the menu, you just have to click it to launch.
May 7th, 2007
# Dev Corvin
>People are going to bitch at you so hard for that post, which is a shame, >because you made some really good points.
>In fact, it’s the argument I’ve been using against Linux for the last 8 >years
1st: your arguments prove that you don’t know shit about what you are talking.
2nd: You use those arguments for the past 8 years because your skills are the same than when you started using windows.
3rd: your wireless doesn’t work… You know WHY?!?! Because hardware manufacturers think that Windows is the only platform they should support. Microsoft tries to obligate manufacturers from not supporting linux.
4rd: Your graphics card doesn’t work out of the box? Same as 3rd one.
5th: ACPI is not always what it should be on linux. You know what the reason is? Microsoft gives the manufacturer the possibility to write buggy code. Linux follows standards.
6st: can you install software just that easy in Windows? In ubuntu Just search in the list, install, done.
7nd: What does it costs you? ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOTHING!
And don’t come whining that you don’t have to pay because you use illegal software.
8th: I don’t need any fucking anti-virus on my linux to keep it running.
9th: Firewalls are also free and alot more powerfull then the shit you have to buy for Microsoft Windows.
10th: Linux IS NOT Windows.
11th: Linux comes with a huge list of server software.
12th: Search on youtube “Ubuntu Beryl vs Vista”… did you ever seen it? Windows can’t even come close to this.
13th: It’s not because you don’t know where you are talking about, you should go tell the world what your unfounded opinion is.
…
Btw: how long did it take before you could work well with Windows when you started using it? Spend the same amount of time in linux and you will see it is better than Windows.
May 7th, 2007
I don’t know which wireless card you are using, but there is a database for Ubuntu Compatible Wireless Card and what to do with them:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WirelessCardsSupported
And what is the problem with using Ndiswrapper or wine? I can’t understand it, do you think it taints your system? With this approach you also can’t install graphics acceleration, because they are also tainting the kernel.
For me Ubuntu _just_ works like vista. I had to install on _both_ systems the ATI graphics driver, because in both systems there were no graphics acceleration?
And what about compiling a driver? I never heard that someone who uses Ubuntu does the compilation on his computer (and when I read of something like this they broke their systems in some way). Yes the terminal is the fasted way to make any changes to the system and the safest. For example: I’m using a german localisation on my Ubuntu with the XFCE Desktop. Now if I’m reading in a france or english forum a help request on a gnome desktop system. I could help by simply pasting a command line, and not something like: “goto System -> Settings (oh I don’t know how it is called in your language must be something like)…” The Terminal is precise and international (multi-lingual).
And now vista. The localisation in my language is the worst thing I have ever seen. They mix the words, example there is a button which is called monitor so I click on it and then the dialogue is called admonisher. It seems there is no guideline for the translations in this system. So I switched back to the english language.
Next thing was my cdrom. I installed some software rebooted, and my cdrom wasn’t there any more. I couln’t help myself and reinstalled the system, installed different software then in the first run and after the reboot the cdrom was missing again. So I searched the web and found in the MSDN library that the problem I have was a problem which was common in windows 98! A simple regedit hack removed the problem…
All in all I’m glad my Ubuntu is working _not_ like windows! It is working better and at least I know why a error occurs. Or I can search the web and find a single command line or hint which could help.
To me it sounds like you tried linux just for hobby purpose or to write this article and had no intention to use this system. Now how long did you try it? 4 hours? A day? How long did you use windows till you know which button to push?
In my opinion it is easier for a complete computer beginner (like my mother) to switch to Linux than for (semi) windows expert. Because the expert tries to find his Control centre or searches the web for adequate software. This is the windows way and not the debian way! I know it from myself the first time was the hardest in Windows and in Linux. Till I learned that there are programs for searching software in the system included (apt-get, aptitude, synaptic,..)
My mother don’t know how to set any fonts in Windows nor in Linux. So she is calling me anyway even if the solution is obvious. Solitaire is working in both systems even with wine.
So I suggest you start reading (”man man” in the terminal is a good start and the links from the post before mine)
One more thing: the multimedia codecs. They are copyright protected and Linux is free. So I think you see where the problem is. They won’t deliver those codecs.
Greetings
May 7th, 2007
PS:
[quote]A codec pack is required but I never said it was hard to install, licensing issues aside (frankly I don’t know what the issue is…), it’s something the operating system SHOULD have, I shouldn’t have to do anything to enable MP3 support even if it is as simple as clicking install.
[/quote]
Do you think the linux developers are stupid?
There is a reason for this. I wanted to explain but this site already does it:
http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/why-linux-dont-support-mp3-and-selected-wifi-cards-out-of-the-box.html
May 7th, 2007
I forgot to tell something:)
Windows boasts with the number of sold copies. How many million are there?
Well, that’s not difficult if you force everyone to use Windows by preinstalling it. Do you like that someone else takes a decision for you? Slave of the big company:) great:D
And don’t come telling you can ask to not deliver windows with it. Because then you pay as much as with OS. This is just not fair.
(and sorry for my bad english)
May 7th, 2007
Well, I could say quite a lot and it would probably be the comment of just another Linux zealot. So let me pick up your own headlines in order to illustrate why I run Linux
- Windows Vista demo crashes at Best Buy
True, Linux is much, much more stable than Linux. It runs for months without reboot and for years without reinstall. When I look at the performance of some friends of mine who are using XP for a couple of years, the performance of their machines is abysmal. Clever, these “signed drivers”.. Now you can blame any BSOD to badly written drivers. Sorry, but I don’t buy that.
- Dell says Linux will be a cheaper option than Vista
Also true! I’ve always bought my distros, but even if I put all of them together I couldn’t buy a decent Vista. Which comes without any software of significance. Or you have to surf the web for Windows equivalents of Linux software (Firefox, OpenOffice, Gimp) and install them all yourselves.
- Vista SP1: Intel, Dell pre-requisite to Windows Vista internal rollout
Well, there is your wonderful Vista. Most serious players are waiting until you’ve ironed out the bugs. Yes, it’s so true: all BSOD are from “bad drivers”, Vista is more secure than Linux and Santaclaus lives on the North Pole.
- Windows Vista users warned about modified Trojan.Kardphisher version
Vista stands for “Virusses, Infections, Spyware, Trojans and Adware”. My Linux doesn’t even HAVE a virusscanner. Nuff said.
And the winner is: Linux!
May 7th, 2007
Ok, just to put an end to your Line of BS, I’m an IT Consultant and web developer, I was once sold on this windows vista/XP crap up until last week, my brother aked me to try Ubuntu 7.04 and to my surprise it is amazing so much funtionality, free software and trully plug and play, jesus why would anyone pay for OS upgrades and New OS versions. Yes you guess it I was one of them I upgraded to Vista and after trying Ubuntu I’m kicking myself in the ass for $159 bucks down the drain, and yes it was the upgra Home premium on my Dell XP professional box, and guess what my system started with the bare minimum, yes I had to get all the hardware Drivers from the manufactures and all the codecs too, how nice, with the old machine where I install Ubuntu everything works no searching for drivers and it runs faster on this old intel 850 motherboard with 512 Ram and 1GHZ processor and 30GB HD than my 3GHZ Duo Core and 3GB of Ram and 160GB HD with Vista hell I know I put them side by side, Ubuntu won’t by miles, Oh and guess what it detected my external Plextor DVD/RW writer and Wireless Lan adaptor without a problem, damn it I say if these companies would not be bent on making money this OS would trully shine because it would have software support just like Vista does. This thing is Running of a community can you just imagine the possibilities.
May 7th, 2007
Well, you have to hand it to the guy… he is brave posting such an uninformed and downright daft blog entry.
May 7th, 2007
You sir are not just uninformed but also a complete moron. This article smells like the homepaper of a 16 year-old that started his computer days playing Counter Strike and now thinks he is just the right person to talk about stuff he heard years ago. Bleah.
May 7th, 2007
I won’t comment on the validity of the “review.” Enough comments have been left already, and everyone is entitled to their opinion. I do want to point out, though, that it’s interesting that there are so many articles commenting on Ubuntu and comparing it to Windows. If Ubuntu wasn’t, somehoe, an emerging threat to Windows, why bother? Just ignore Ubuntu and it’ll go away. Why waste your energy on something that is no threat, is totally useless and no one will ever use? Mmmm… I gues, perhaps, there IS a threat.
May 7th, 2007
Ubuntu is clearly inferior to windows because it does not behave just like windows. Good point… who would want an os that doesn’t run like windows?
The author claims not to care about proprietary code vs open source code. Yet, then he complains about poor graphics card support. Well, let’s take ati for an example. They have a very poor proprietary driver for their graphics card, which does not work just like windows. If any work is going to get done, it will have to be done using open source development model. So, yes, the author does care about open source, because it is the only way to get good code. Sorry that development is slow, but programming for a complex device that you don’t have any information on is kinda tough.
Using windows, everyone either has to use regedit or they will have to deal with annoyances. When I was a windows user, my favourite site was http://www.annoyances.org
What is so bad about editing config files? I’m sorry that you don’t like using a text editor, but I don’t see how configuring things is any different using a text editor than using a graphical configuration tool (unless the config file is complicated, but most are not).
The author noted that when he has a problem using windows, he can find a picture book telling him how to solve the problem. He must have very easy problems (maybe he should go here: http://henrytheadequate.blogspot.com/). When I used windows, I would have a problem and the only thing I could do is to live with it. This author does not understand that its easier for people to help with problems using words and not pictures… thus commandline. Sorry that he needs to open up a terminal and copy and paste words into it.
Now I understand that most people aren’t interested in using linux, because its tough to get an os working on hardware that was not designed for it. But I don’t understand why he feels the need to advocate this. It would be like me saying about how bad vista is for not working on a powerpc architecture, so therefore don’t use vista. If you want to compare the two operating systems, perhaps you should buy a system76 computer (since you are not shy about making the point that you should be running hardware that fits the os) and then do a comparison.
People are always complaining about linux zealots, well it looks like there is at least one vista zealot and he is proud of not being interested in technology. Good going
May 7th, 2007
John, you and your ilk write about Windows vs. Linux as though there was a level playing field and Linux just has a poor team. There has been no level playing field. Microsoft (and a few others) have done all they can to block competition, especially from Linux, probably becaue of the GPL. They don’t seem to mind the BSD liscense so much. If you decide to be honest you will admit that Linux has done well considering the constant uphill battle it has had to face. Even when you objectively point out some area in which Linux is less advanced, you refuse to objectively point out the real factors that create this. You would be insane to demand a level playing field.
May 7th, 2007
Man, this post sucks. You are contradicting yourself here. First you say and I quote : “In the interest of keeping things transparent, I do not use Ubuntu on a regular basis and will not do so until ALL of my hardware is supported EXACTLY the same way and functions EXACTLY the same way as it does under Windows.”
and a few paragraphs later : “Windows XP and especially Vista, don’t respond well at all to old(er) hardware so buy new stuff, problem solved.”
Well, buy new hardware for Ubuntu too, and don’t complain yours doesn’t work with it. You do the same for the guys that can’t get there hardware to run on windows.
May 7th, 2007
If you have an OEM version of windows then yes it will have all the drivers for the hardware on your system. But for an off the shelf version. First you install it then you put half a dozen discs in to install the drivers.
As for codec support. It would make it illegal in the US to ship Ubuntu with reverse engineered drivers. Hardware support. Yup could be better, but with a lot of manufacturers refusing to give necessary data to write drivers, well we will answer with our wallets. Sorry Canon, you missed out on my last printer purchase! ATI your Linux drivers suck, for a cheap “On board video system, we will look at Intel chipped boards, Sorry AMD.
Of course once you install the drivers you have an OS. No software, unless you call note pad software. So you still have to put some software on the system. With Linux it is already installed!!! If you want more just a few clicks and download it.
May 7th, 2007
It’s not a contradiction. Ubuntu doesn’t like my brand new hardware purchased for Vista so therefore I don’t use it. My hardware is new, therefore I don’t need new hardware, it should run on the same. I would have to purchase seperate hardware to run Ubuntu to get everything running correctly or fumble around with my current hardware to get it working, I’m not that patient and I just spent quite a bit of money building a gaming system…
Ubuntu seems to respond better to older hardware than newer.
May 8th, 2007
Well, no… it’s not about older vs. newer… some old stuff won’t work with Ubuntu, some new stuff won’t. You just have to buy hardware based on how well it is supported, and it certainly does not mean having to get inferioir hardware.
I am also in the process of putting together a gaming system now… it will dual boot XP and Linux. I’ll choose NV over ATI because it’s well supported by both, for example… and will choose the rest of the hardware accordingly, and everything will ‘just work TM’.
But you seem like someone who does not like to think much about anything, so perhaps Windows is better suited to your personality. Have fun with it.
May 8th, 2007
You’re a moron. It’s not even worth wasting my time on writing a rebuttal.
May 9th, 2007
i have been using ubuntu alone on my system for a long time. now i just installed xp on my system due to my friend’s advise. and set up a duel boot system.. i tried to open a pdf document on windows, it told, unknown format. the same happened when tried to open .ogg. there was no good photo editing program.. only there was a small paint application which never met my requirments…the most sad thing was i couldn’t even open .xls and .ppt, which is considered as microsoft’s own formats. i could do all these things in my ubuntu system out of the box.
it my be possible to open pdf by installing adobe reader, .xls by instlling office, .ogg by installing some codecs.. but i simply dont care… these are some thing an operating system must have… it should be included..I just want it to work, like it does in ubuntu… so am giving up windows…. good bye windows…
May 10th, 2007
Well … many people have allready posted their answers … I agree with one part of the posts and disagree with the other … why? Well … I use both systems – Vista and Ubuntu. When I saw the Thema “Ubuntu vs Vista” I was very interested, and I though this could be real – IT’S NOT! It’s just one post what you like and what not – IT’S LAME! Installing software in Ubuntu is more then easy, configuring things … well just a few seconds typing 1 raw in Terminal – in Windows somethimes half on our finding what software or untility you need, and then installing and so on. So try Ubuntu and then write your comment against Ubuntu or any other distro.
And one more thing Windows Vista standart Installation = 15GB of your Harddrive Ubuntu – need for well working 6GB free space …
May 11th, 2007
You’re an Idiot.
May 11th, 2007
I’ve been using windows all my life.. it was fun, but now i’m using ubuntu out of curiosity… I like it. I realize I fell like a slave using windows. I even tried Vista. I’m really dissapointed.
May 12th, 2007
Irrespective of what OS you decide to “try out” you will have no idea how to use it straight away. Just because you have no idea how to use something after fiddling with it for 10 minutes does not mean it’s inferior to something that you know how to use effectively, and have been doing so for years.
I had been administering enterprise networks and servers running windows for years before I started using linux, and had an intimate knowledge of windows and associated software. When I first started using linux it was indeed frustrating, but that is only because I had a single view of how everything should work, and that view was indeed very narrow. After I learned how to use linux as effectively as I could use windows, I concluded that windows is an incredibly uncivil operating system.
Not long after that I bought a mac, not having even used OS X before. Once previously I used OS 9, in a befuddling attempt to get a fiber channel host bus adapter working. I failed as I had absolutely no idea how to use the OS. Learning OS X was frustrating, as the GUI follows a very different design philosophy to other desktop environments. The command line side was a godsend, as prior linux knowledge could be applied there. After being able to use the mac as effectively as I could use windows, I once again concluded that windows is a very uncivil operating system.
Vista, on the other hand I have had the displeasure of using and concluded that it is not only an uncivil operating system, it is also offensive, intrusive, and an utter waste of resources. There is no way that I could put up with an OS that has such a bad focus system (stuff pops up all over the show and steals focus), bad hardware support, such a god awful DRM implementation, poor vendor support, a retarded community, an INCREDIBLE amount of badware(adware,malware,viruses,trojans,etc) and the list could go on and on. It makes XP look like the pinnacle of operating systems. I have advised all of my clients that they should steer well clear for as long as possible. I could not imagine having to manage hundreds of vista machines, I would probably slit my throat. XP I have no such problem with, I happily administer those all day long.
These days I have linux on pretty much everything. I administer stacks of bare metal and virtualized servers, most running some flavour of unix. If I require windows, it goes in a virtual machine so that it may be managed more effectively and so that a complete machine isn’t wasted on it.
Once you understand the tools you are using you will be able to make saner choices about what to use where, and why. If you have absolutely no idea what you are doing with a tool, it will be useless and you will simply go back to what you already know. It’s as simple as that.
If you aren’t prepared to spend the time to understand the tool, don’t comment on it as though you have any kind of idea.
May 13th, 2007
Well, this made an interesting read, even if I didn’t completely agree with your comments. You do make some fair points about drivers issues with certain hardware within linux. If your not comfortable with the thought of maybe having to compile a driver on the command line, maybe Linux isn’t for you. Having said that distros like Ubuntu are now supporting more and more hardware ‘out of the box’ and I think things have definitely improved in the last few years, at least since I last tried Linux.
I’ve been a windows user since 3.1. I’ve lived and breathed windows. I program applications for windows. I’ve experienced Windows Vista through their beta testing program, right up to the released version. I’ve recently just installed Kubuntu on my machine in place of XP. The reason? Well quite frankly I just don’t like Vista and I’m not prepared to pay money for it. Rather than innovating I get the distinct impression that Microsoft is just playing ‘catch-up’. Tabs in IE? Opera had that years ago. Desktop search? Mac’s had that years ago. User Account Control? Linux has had people logging in under limited accounts for years. Vista doesn’t offer me anything new for the money. Hell, I don’t think I’d even steal it. Still that’s just my opinion. I’m sure Microsoft won’t do to badly out of it’s latest offering, but I do think an increasing amount of people are showing interest in alternative operating systems nowadays. I feel the competition can only be healthy.
May 17th, 2007
You got it the wrong way imo.
linux doesen’t want to be like windows. It’s a nonsense to do a copy of it. Not everyone enyojs the command line, I do, alot.
And I like it just the way it is, yes better open source drivers would be good, and there will be once some. Just leave them time or..
the beauty of linux, do it yourself
With regards
jinzo
May 22nd, 2007
Found all of the comments here very disappointing indeed.
I found it quite humourous that some people actually tried to bash ME because I said I agreed with some of your points lmao.
Not only do you people know nothing about me, or my experience, but in practice you actually know very little about the reality of using Linux in both production environments and for the average end-user.
I work in IT services, which means I have to deal with both the system administration side of UNIX servers (HP-UX and Solaris usually, as Linux is still too unstable to be used in a production environment), and both Windows and Linux issues on the client side.
This is for a company with about 280,000 employees/users. All of whom have both local domain logins and global active directory / LDAP records.
The most common problems we have, across the board, are forgotten passwords. Resolving the issue means trying to find out from the user which domain they log onto, and then work out if it’s a problem with their LDAP or a problem with their domain login, etc, all of which is VERY confusing to the end user.
Now, that’s on the WINDOWS side. (ie, it’s bad enough)
When there’s a problem with the Linux clients, or the UNIX servers that the dumb “Wyse” terminals connect to, the users’ understanding of the system is _so low_ that we’re generally forced to send an engineer/someone from local IT support out.
In a business environment, exposure of Linux/UNIX to the end user MUST be kept minimal, because for the majority of users, a screen filled with abstract error messages and kernel dumps is not merely confusing, it’s incomprehensible.
Windows problems, on the other hand, are generally MUCH easier to resolve.
May 23rd, 2007
You should demand a refund from Ubuntu!!!
May 23rd, 2007
You should demand a refund from Ubuntu!!! The reason that the mp3 codecs are not included by default in the installation is that mp3 is a *closed* audio format, and for those that have this “dream” of free software that you speak of, not a very attractive format.
May 24th, 2007
The first advice I received about Linux was to read the Hardware Compatibility List.The second was to try out a live CD so that I could see if Linux could actually run on my chosen hardware without risk. Windows did the HCL thing but not the live CD thing. I dual boot XP and Ubuntu 7.04. I like and use Ubuntu daily and have not experienced the problems you allegedly have had. I don’t find Linux as being full of annoyances that would make a new user shutter. I do have to say that if you insist on the MS Windows way of things it will be hard to accept Linux in any flavor. You have resigned yourself to Vista. Besides if Linux was exactly like Vista then Microsoft would sue for patent infringement, wouldn’t they. Choice and competition is a good thing for users. I think you like Microsoft have missed the boat on this one.
May 25th, 2007
I was introduced to Ubuntu about 2 years and I have used it on and off. Most guys that reply with “click to install” do not state that you have to be connected to the Internet. Internet access is not as common here as in other places.
I like Ubuntu, for one reason, I got the CD for free. Imagine trying to download 700mb on a 1.5kb/s connection. Even with a download manager.
My ubuntu installation can not install my Serial-USB device which means I can not connect at home.
My preference for Windows stems from a number of facts
- it is predominant here
- i can easily get software for it
- the primary applications i work with run best on windows (except for dreamweaver which also runs on Mac – but then I have only seen a MAC once and the person wanted to dispose of it)
- windows aero is ok (compared to the startling animations in ubuntu desktop effect – imagine vibrating tooltips. i got tired of it in about 5 minutes)
A bottom line is Windows and Linux work differently ad have differing cultural backgrounds. Comparing them does not make sense.
July 10th, 2007
Judging from your article, you must of tried Ubuntu for 2 days. Whilst some might say that the average user shouldnt need more than 2 days to learn the OS, you must remember that MS has been grooming you for the last 15 years. your brain is wrapped around windows so much that you cant expect to learn another OS in 2 days. Its liking trying to replace your home language with some other english and expecting to do it in a couple of days. i dont know about you, but i sure as hell cant learn french in 2 days. operating systems are the same, as it requires a complete new thought on how your system is run.
as for your complaining about not being able to play mp3 out of the box, its simple. you pay MS for windows. MS in turn pay the proprietors of the MP3 format so that they can use it (mp3 is patented). same as if you buy a sony mp3 player, so to does sony pay the proprietors. this is why ubuntu doesnt include mp3 (and other codecs), otherwise they would need to start charging to cover costs. also, mp3 technology is not open, and ubuntu does aim to be a completely open source system (with the option to add proprietory software).
i could go on and on, but i’m going to end off here. all i’m trying to say is that this article was done with absolutely no research, and to me there is nothing worse than an author who cant do research. if you feel the topic is pertanent enough to do an article, then it should pertanent enough to do research.
July 11th, 2007
Sorry for the double post, but I explain why I currently use ubuntu. previously, my main reason was just for educational and entertainment purposes (yes, learning can be fun).
but a couple of weeks ago, my reasons have changed. roughly two weeks ago i bought a brand-new laptop for R4500 (south african rands). it came with vista home basic edition. now for me to upgrade to home premium would cost an additional R2500, and R4900 for ultimate! thats right, the OS would be more expensive than the actual laptop just to enable a few features missing from home basic.
to me this is highway robbery. when i buy a can of coke from the shops, i dont expect it to come without the gas, and have to pay an extra fee to include fizziness. same with vista, i disagree with them selling heavily overpriced packages that are severly limited. R2500 is already WAY too much for even just ultimate, let alone home premium. when i buy an OS i expect it to have no limitations.
enter ubuntu. although some things might not be available from the word go, anything is possible in linux. if you want extra desktop effect, you have that choice. not like home basic that costs R2000 and comes with basically no effects at all (with a few other system features missin). sure i didnt directly pay for home basic, but the price of said laptop would of been cheaper without vista.
anyways, thats one of my main gripes with vista, too many editions at ridiculous prices. i find any OS that has limits like windows to be defeating the objective of an OS. the OS is supposed to make your computer more usable and more capable. but windows tends to tell you more about what you cant do than what you can do.
okay, thats it for my ranting, im done. the end. finished. complete. over and out.
July 17th, 2007
thts one of the most narrow minded articles ever
congrats, u managed to write it!!!!
PS: since ur a gamer u might also be familiar with the term n00b……….., hint hint…
PPS: downloading vista ultimate (yes i use pirated software, and im proud of it) was an utter waste of bandwidth
PPPS: Dev Corvin, dude u working in a fucking call center……get a life, before its too late
July 20th, 2007
Hi there,
I totally agree that (although I respect their philosophy on ‘pure opensource’) ubuntu is not really suitable for Windows to Linux switchers.
However, you should take at the following distro’s:
PCLinuxOS > http://www.pclinuxos.com
Linux Mint > http://www.linuxmint.com
SimplyMepis > http://www.mepis.com
They all include 3rd party drivers and codecs and will make your first time linux experience a succes.
A note on hardware support:
Buy well known but cheap hardware. Linux is community based and since more people will have cheap hardware rather than expensive, any problems with this hardware are already fixed.
Happy Linuxing!
July 26th, 2007
Linux is users friendly, it’s just selective who its friends are! okay?
August 4th, 2007
i agree with scott, but i want to ad some things. i’ve worked with windows vista and there are just 2 good points: 1- most functions in vista exist in linux (i use ubuntu) but they are worked out better, that is to say: some functions just don’t exist where they should. 2- vista has a lot of eyecandy but i think thats going to change with the release of both the stable version of kubuntu7.10 and KDE 4.0. and then of course you have the licenses to pay in vista (for the OS, photoshop, virusscanners- wich you really need in vista cause it suffers from an internet attack every half an hour-, office and much, much more), the thing i hear mostly from windows users as an argument against linux is that you have to work with a command-line: 1- it’s not true and 2- once you’re used to it, it’s really much faster than working in a gui on some matters. everyone who has decent arguments against linux (or ubuntu) -and note DECENT- can send me a mail at wout.erbo@gmail.com.
August 13th, 2007
“it’s much easier to just use Linux than to actually take a computer science course.”
Actually my networking course requires understanding of linux servers. Mainly because most major corporations use them!
“So I’d change that sentence to: I’m sorry if you’re a Linux user, you’re probably a noobie who feels experienced just because you use Linux. ”
I use linux because it does what I want and is stable. I hell of a lot more about computers than you do!
“Too bad just using Linux doesn’t make you smarter than the rest of us.”
I’m already smarter than you.
Try going to school!
August 21st, 2007
Customized Design Solutions
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
August 23rd, 2007
Types Of Computer Viruses
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
September 10th, 2007
Yeah, I have to throw my hat in the ring on this one.
In order for Ubuntu to come pre-installed with an mp3 codec, it would first have to pay a licensing fee to the Institut für Rundfunktechnik GmbH (a German company). In order to remain financially soluble and to offer the product it does, Ubuntu has to steer past financial and legal hurdles such as those.
To be honest, and as mentioned, overcoming the hurdles posed by downloading a codec aren’t difficult to overcome. Getting slapped with an expensive IP lawsuit would be for the Ubuntu Foundation. In short, they’re keeping their distro on the up and up.
With wireless, I’ve heard of never-ending issues. But, considering that a fresh install of XP required me to pay for time to download the wireless networking, LAN driver, video card driver, sound card driver and modem driver – I’d consider the wireless networking far more difficult. Ubuntu just asked if I wanted to use a proprietary driver with my video card, downloaded the driver from Nvidia (using my already-configured wireless card) and let me install a number of completely free applications in the mean time.
In short, and in my experience, Ubuntu has a far greater “just works” factor.
P.S.: I use Windows XP 99.9 percent of the time.
September 15th, 2007
I must say I have not had such luck with Vista. I have found it to be an incredibly slow, annoying and pointless upgrade, If you can even consider it an upgrade. Not to mention DRM and the 20+ services that call home to microsoft. Im sure many like to tout the security upgrades, which makes it comical that in a security test some of the same exploits for windows xp worked on windows vista.. Isn’t this problem supposed to be fixed?
The ubuntu mp3 codec is mentioned, but what about vista degrading the quality of your content if it believes its drivers may have been compromised, or if it believes that you may be trying to capture premium content?
Sorry all you vista lovers, I have to give vista a thumbs down, Vista has earned the name
Windows Millenium II : Broken edition
September 26th, 2007
Software Development Guide
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
October 16th, 2007
Latest Book Reviews
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
October 19th, 2007
Music Lyrics and Downloads
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
October 21st, 2007
Unbelievable how someone can be this retarded. I have been using linux on and off for years, and granted, a wee while ago, it was hard to work with, but ubuntu has grown immensily. I just bought a new system (no OS was on it), installed ubuntu, and everything, and I do mean everything, worked like a charm. My nvidia drivers were not activated, but all it took was for me to check one checkbox and it installed the driver and works great. As to licenses, read the above links, more then enough information for you to get started.
PS: ogg > mp3
October 23rd, 2007
Free Legal Music Downloads
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
October 24th, 2007
Buy Cheap Computer Components
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting
November 4th, 2007
Freeware and Shareware Software Downloads…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…
November 10th, 2007
articles like these are always entertaining, not usually the main post itself, but the replies from the “flamers”.
Everyone has an opinion, and everyone is entitled to it. Attacking another over an opinion (”retarded”, “narrow minded” etc…) is just uncalled for.
I do not agree with him 100% on the Linux angle, but I will agree with him on some of it.. like getting a scanner to run over a network. i respect his view and offer mine.
XP (2003) was my last ms venture. i felt insulted when my norton 7 didnt catch spy/adware and i had to install even MORE software to keep my computer safe from my browsing.
I was irritated when i plugged a new soundblaster card into my (then) new vpr and got the BSOD.
In typical newbie fashion, i bought SuSE 9.1 from best buy… Thats when i found out that simple ignorance was a sin in linux, i took many online beatings over that.
I’ve since moved on to OSX for my main and dual boot ubuntu/XP for my childrens gaming and education as i believe they should learn *nix as well.
As far as compatability, my ubuntu systems (dell i8600, vpr 180r, sony vgn-a290, toshiba a55-s106) all work with VERY minimal effort in 7.10. yes, there have been issues in the past distros, but i expect that since linux does not have the financial backing that other systems do. It does, however, have a powerful and growing following. With that, the linux systems (and other *nixes as well) are becoming more “user friendly” (for the gui inclined).
I urge anyone who is tired of worrying about virii and malware to take a chance and try (k)(x)(ed)ubuntu 7.10 or OSX. The support is wonderful. There are even people who are willing and graciously helpful in the forums.
For those of you who are more advanced in their experiences with Linux, please, show some patience and OFFER a mature debate or correction. not ONLY will you possibly convince someone into persuing a different point of view, but, it will help the linux community by giving it an air of maturity and professionalism.
November 17th, 2007
I just though I’d point out that I’m running Ubuntu 7.20 as I type this and the support in this version is AWESOME. I wasn’t a fan of this OS before since it didn’t have support for my RAID array (FastTrak 378/SATA 378) but that problem has been solved, add read and write NTFS support and I’m on board. Ubuntu had absolutely NO issues detecting or configuring my hardware and the compiz-fusion window manager does an awesome job with visual effects, MP3 support was non existent but fixed easily. (its not just Ubuntu that doesn’t provide support for this out of the box). I’ve only had to enter the terminal ONCE, and it was a simple copy and paste routine for enabling emerald. Many of the software alternatives I’ve used under Windows are supported here by DEFAULT, The Gimp, Firefox, you can download Skype and an MSN clone is pre-installed as well.
140,000 viruses? Not on Ubuntu!
Many of Vista’s most touted features particularly in the GUI are available in Ubuntu as well such as the 3D task switcher, and other misc. visual effects. checkout YouTube to see some videos of this awesome GUI in action.
A few areas are lacking including .NET support for those of us on that platform (I haven’t tried Mono), and games. (the Mac doesn’t fair so well here either unless you’re dual booting on Intel).
What do you have to lose? Its 100% FREE, and improving by leaps and bounds with each new release! No Digital Rights Management, Genuine Advantage (read Genuine headache) crap to deal with. I shouldn’t have to get the OK from Micro$oft to reinstall my OS anyways.
If you must dual boot Windows Ubuntu automatically configures GRUB (the Linux boot loader) to give you that option provided you’ve installed Windows first.
Now everyones hardware is different, but this has by far been the best distro I’ve used yet and I’ve tried quite a few (Fedora Core, Peanut-Linux, and Arch Linux just to name a few)
-Dan
November 18th, 2007
A codec pack is required but I never said it was hard to install, licensing issues aside (frankly I don’t know what the issue is…), it’s something the operating system SHOULD have, I shouldn’t have to do anything to enable MP3 support even if it is as simple as clicking install.
Well, they can’t put it on the disk so what is your point? That your too much of a lazy moron to click “yes” when asked if you want to enable mp3 support?
December 8th, 2007
just so u know johnathan u really are messed up they have ubuntu 7.10 now and why would poor people want sued? u really need to get your bank account robbed and stuck with a old beat down crap box running slackware then u can learn and stop bragging i mean what man would want a company to get sued for nothing…? get your SACK off that leather recliner go google ubuntu forums or whatever u are looking for make a account post not everything needs to work out of the box u noob i mean u need a life badly in my oppinion they dont put the codecs there put the prompt and get them your self u moron they wanted to give u a free os and let u own the os and source code it is NOT microsoft linux was made for people to customize learn and get a brain they own the os no viruses just a firewall and YOUR source code. Microsoft has it as this.. get every os release the next year after year u know why it cost so much cause bill gates and the guys at redmond are dirty rich they have DELL XPS hand built $5,000.00 machines that can run it when they say increased performance think for a minute of how much performance they pump into that overclocked 9 million $ workstation with the latest water cooling and telsa super computing componets THEY HAVE -EVERYTHING THAT THE CONSUMERS CANT GET- it means they have everything like gfx cards that cost 2 thousand.. so…. linux now u can tweak to run on anything if u actually had a brain ubuntu 7.10 runs out of the BOX!! so basically dont bash poor people who want a better more cheap consumer friendly world by praying they put mp3 in the box for out of the box use so they can get sued when they said would u like to download it in the first place meaning how is this and u wishing they can sue eachother to death even making sense!!??! take what they give u or get a mac mini or macbook
January 7th, 2008
the person who wrote this is A) an uneducated douche or B) a microsoft associated douche who’s article is severely lacking in integrity and research. I have a laptop that I bought for 400$ running ubuntu, and while Im typing this it is running windows XP in another window with vmware and all of this without lag. This ol’ laptop wouldnt run vista without the fancy graphics if satan’s testicals were freezing but it runs ubuntu with compiz visual effects without slowdown. With all of the extra bells and whistles ubuntu can run on cheaper hardware for free, why waste your money with microsuck? linux rules.
January 7th, 2008
the person who wrote this is A) an uneducated douche or B) a microsoft associated douche who’s article is severely lacking in integrity and research. I have a laptop that I bought for 400$ running ubuntu, and while Im typing this it is running windows XP in another window with vmware and all of this without lag. This ol’ laptop wouldnt run vista without the fancy graphics if satan’s testicals were freezing but it runs ubuntu with compiz visual effects without slowdown. With all of the extra bells and whistles ubuntu can run on cheaper hardware for free, why waste your money with microsuck? linux rules!
February 11th, 2008
Ok… i haven’t used ‘visla’ that much because my laptop isn’t powerful enough in terms of CPU and RAM so i can’t judge it. But i can judge the other microsoft OS. I used all the the windows OS starting with 3.1, before i started using Ubuntu. That happend like 4-5 months ago. I admit i had some trouble with my video card, problem which i solved in like 20 min, and haven’t had any problem since. Unlike windows, after i installed ubuntu 7.04 i didn’t have to get my bag of cd’s to install drivers, acrobat reader, office, winamp, photoshop, a better notepad and all that shit because guess what?? ubuntu had it all: sound, wireless and network card all worked like a charm, document viewer (pdf, doc, ps, etc), open office( i use abi word), rythm (but i like amarok more), and how could i forget the wonderful program that is THE GIMP. on my 1.2ghz celeron with 512 ram and intel 915g graphic card i can run beryl and all the desktop effects, firefox, thunderbird, quanta pluss, amarok, apache web server, mysql, ftp server and ssh server all at the same time without feeling any lag. Could i do that with vista? i guess not. not even in xp. so…. you suck for not waking up and being enslaved by big corporates, and your article sucks because you didn’t right a correct comparision. But then , hey it’s your opinion so i take back the sucking part. Cheers.
Oh… and how can i forget the time when all the computers running windows on the local network at the university had to be either formated or “pimped” with all kind of gadgets like antiviruses and firewall, because someone catched a flooding virus. I was so happy then, me and my friends and telling everyone…. i sad so…
))
February 17th, 2008
Hi,
This is a very nice comparison. Another more detailed one that can cover many more aspects as well is available at http://itcomparison.com/OS/vistavsubuntu/vistavsubuntu.htm
I hope it will be of a use for every one,
VMguru007
May 25th, 2008
I am just now downloading Ubuntu for my HP laptop, so I can’t offer any experience as to the merits of this version of Linus. I used Unix extensively in college (20 yrs ago) and a little at work (9 years ago) but I’ve never used a Linux machine. I been an almost exclusive Windows user since about 1993. But now I’m downloading Ubuntu. Why?
Vista SUCKS. I have XP on my Dell D410 laptop from work and have gotten used to all the bizarre workarounds to keep it alive and running. It never works RIGHT, but it works OK. Vista, on the other hand, has crashed and blown up and been a major PAIN IN THE $%@*# on a vanilla HP laptop right out of the box. I have no special mods, nothing fancy at all, and it has been unstable and very unergonomic to use.
Perhaps it is something HP has done to their laptop offering, but I found configuring the wireless network to be a god-awful pain. Every time I move files from drive to drive I rediscover that my file browser no longer has an “UP” button, and that I can no longer easily select available drives (SD cards, thumb drives, etc) from the drop-down menu. And don’t get me started on the insanely stupid security “Allow/Deny” crap. Why does the security dialog pop up TWICE for every action? That looks like a glaring programming failure to me.
Like I said, perhaps it is just the bizarre stuff HP added to my machine, and not Vista itself. But I’m still downloading Ubuntu.
And, as an aside: MS Office 2007 appears to just be a bizarre experiment on how to rearrange industry-standard menus until no one can find typical, commonly used commands. I really haven’t found any new functionality that is useful, and many of the things I always felt needed fixing in Office are still broken. I agree that Open Office is kinda klunky, but at least it works. MS Office 2007 reminds me of that overly-complicated control panel BMW put on their high-end cars several years back. It did everything you’d every want, short of making coffee, but you had to keep hunting through the menus and digging out the instruction manual to do the simplest tasks.
’nuff said. rant off.
August 16th, 2008
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