MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Seriousness Should I switch to Ubuntu, or stay with Windows XP?

montsnmags · 05-06-2009, 10:35 PM

I work off two machines at home - one a lappy running Ubuntu, and the iMac upstairs.

I only recently moved to Ubuntu, and everything worked on install. It was a damned site easier than reinstalling XP, but that's mostly because of all the updates and reboots XP requires you to do to get it back up to speed if you're starting from an early release of it. From my perspective, this is really only a minor point seeing as I'd almost never have to otherwise do it, and I mention it only to highlight that my Ubuntu install was quick and trouble-free. My use of my lappy is pretty much restricted to web-browsing (I'm a Google user, so most everything I need is "online"). If anything, Ubuntu is overkill. The lappy is, effectively, just a netbook for me, and when/if it does fail, that's probably what I'll be looking for (unless Apple comes to the party with a new shiny-shiny

). One thing I immediately noticed on moving to Ubuntu is that I don't notice that I've moved to Ubuntu, seeing as I'm sitting in Firefox all the time. There is the Gimp and Open Office on here, though they're more backups or "just in case" than anything I'd likely use.

What do I miss from Windows XP (an OS I don't actually mind)? Mobipocket Reader would be one thing (for itself, and to sync with my Iliad) but only a minor thing (I can just dump books to the Iliad's CF card). I'll have to get it somewhere (probably on the iMac) to do our taxes, seeing as the Australian Taxation Office's software only likes Windows. I miss Irfanview. Basically, not a lot. I find gaps in my knowledge and the GUI, for doing things like disabling Bluetooth or the CD/DVD drive (i.e. things I don't need or use), though most things are easy to find in the community of support if I bother myself enough to look for them, and I'm happy copy-pasting the occasional "command line" instructions if required, and learning from them. I really like the "Panel" setup, with the bars top and bottom, auto-hidden, but only once I found out how to completely auto-hide them (or at least get them down to pixel-width).

I think, for a person willing to dabble and learn and program, such as yourself, you will find it as easy and simple as XP (assuming you have as easy and instant compatibility with your setup as I did), and those things that might be considered "gaps" or "negatives" by some (eg. command line) will actually be something to enjoy, because of the pleasure of the learning curve. For me, it worked straight away - anything else has just been gravy (though I wish the bloody touchpad on the lappy wasn't so sensitive under Ubuntu - it seems that the lightest brush can mess up my typing, while under XP I am guessing there must have been some automatic touchpad-lockout while typing). Things feel very user-friendly "polished" on Ubuntu, though for me, probably not quite as "polished" as MS or Apple can manage, though I don't rate it sufficiently deficient for me to notice much. I more notice how good it is, rather than how it compares (see previous comments regarding my limited use of it though)

Why did I buy an iMac? Well, the old workstation PC needed replacement, I had just retired, lots of things had changed in my life, I'd had a big move north/sea change, I'd tried Vista on my brother-out-law's new lappy and decided it was annoying ugly and confounding (personal, subjective opinion only), I liked the look of the iMac from a "furniture" perspective, but, ultimately, because I just felt like it because the OS looked and felt all shiny-shiny pleasurable to use and was a shiny-shiny pleasurable change. That workstation is mostly for photography, and the iMac gave me the choice between Lightroom and Aperture (I picked Aperture). I still have The Gimp on it, in case I want to get intensive in post-processing, though Aperture is sufficient for most images. Oh, I should mention that I also have an iPod Touch (I love my iPod Touch) and that, in my experience, the whole sync' process and iTunes works better on my iMac (and The Loved One's Macbook) than it did under XP on the lappy or the old PC (still in use downstairs, mostly for The Loved's One's telecommuting work). The iMac and the Macbook (and the iPod and the iPhone) seem to "network" better and easier too, though that's limited experience talking. The hardware wasn't perfect (my iMac has a condensation problem, and sensitive cable connections), though fit and finish otherwise seem solid. I find it harder to find system-related things on it (eg. log files) when things go wrong (eg. my scanner, once I installed Vuescan, must be on or the OS occasionally locks up, though it didn't do this pre-Vuescan), but, then, things don't usually go wrong (on any of the OS's for me). This is, of course, a knowledge thing, and perhaps it's my long-term experience with Windows XP that makes me feel those system-related error logs and monitors were more accessible there?

As mentioned, the Apple hardware is very shiny-shiny/nicely designed. If this floats your boat (and it does mine), then you'll fall in love with that bit. The OSX UI is very shiny-shiny too, and I mean that in a "user-friendly" way that feels practical, whereas Vista made me want to throw things. Note, I have not tried Windows 7, but it seems that it's getting a lot of good raps from folks from all quarters, so I've a passing interest in that, though likely insufficient to make me return to that fold on my lappy, seeing as my requirements there are so limited. My point here is, my aversion is not to MS, nor Windows, but merely a visceral feeling on use of Vista - more of an "anchovies" thing, than a reasoned critique.

All this is to say, I've found Ubuntu simple, quick, easy, "just works" (keyboard-touchpad problem aside

) and pleasant - a change that has been as good as a holiday. I also like the way it handles software packages/repositories. I found my iMac to be a complete pleasure to use (hardware problems aside) due to the all-over hardware-through-to-UI design (eg. the keyboard is a delight). I can see why one might become a "fanboy", though I do resist the temptation, not being one to concede "loyalty" to a corporation or its products.

I would think you would be happy with either, though, as others have indicated, there's no reason to make it an either/or situation (you can install them all, and decide what you like - even Hackintosh a "PC").

Cheers,
Marc

05-06-2009, 10:35 PM	#30
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	I work off two machines at home - one a lappy running Ubuntu, and the iMac upstairs. I only recently moved to Ubuntu, and everything worked on install. It was a damned site easier than reinstalling XP, but that's mostly because of all the updates and reboots XP requires you to do to get it back up to speed if you're starting from an early release of it. From my perspective, this is really only a minor point seeing as I'd almost never have to otherwise do it, and I mention it only to highlight that my Ubuntu install was quick and trouble-free. My use of my lappy is pretty much restricted to web-browsing (I'm a Google user, so most everything I need is "online"). If anything, Ubuntu is overkill. The lappy is, effectively, just a netbook for me, and when/if it does fail, that's probably what I'll be looking for (unless Apple comes to the party with a new shiny-shiny ). One thing I immediately noticed on moving to Ubuntu is that I don't notice that I've moved to Ubuntu, seeing as I'm sitting in Firefox all the time. There is the Gimp and Open Office on here, though they're more backups or "just in case" than anything I'd likely use. What do I miss from Windows XP (an OS I don't actually mind)? Mobipocket Reader would be one thing (for itself, and to sync with my Iliad) but only a minor thing (I can just dump books to the Iliad's CF card). I'll have to get it somewhere (probably on the iMac) to do our taxes, seeing as the Australian Taxation Office's software only likes Windows. I miss Irfanview. Basically, not a lot. I find gaps in my knowledge and the GUI, for doing things like disabling Bluetooth or the CD/DVD drive (i.e. things I don't need or use), though most things are easy to find in the community of support if I bother myself enough to look for them, and I'm happy copy-pasting the occasional "command line" instructions if required, and learning from them. I really like the "Panel" setup, with the bars top and bottom, auto-hidden, but only once I found out how to completely auto-hide them (or at least get them down to pixel-width). I think, for a person willing to dabble and learn and program, such as yourself, you will find it as easy and simple as XP (assuming you have as easy and instant compatibility with your setup as I did), and those things that might be considered "gaps" or "negatives" by some (eg. command line) will actually be something to enjoy, because of the pleasure of the learning curve. For me, it worked straight away - anything else has just been gravy (though I wish the bloody touchpad on the lappy wasn't so sensitive under Ubuntu - it seems that the lightest brush can mess up my typing, while under XP I am guessing there must have been some automatic touchpad-lockout while typing). Things feel very user-friendly "polished" on Ubuntu, though for me, probably not quite as "polished" as MS or Apple can manage, though I don't rate it sufficiently deficient for me to notice much. I more notice how good it is, rather than how it compares (see previous comments regarding my limited use of it though) Why did I buy an iMac? Well, the old workstation PC needed replacement, I had just retired, lots of things had changed in my life, I'd had a big move north/sea change, I'd tried Vista on my brother-out-law's new lappy and decided it was annoying ugly and confounding (personal, subjective opinion only), I liked the look of the iMac from a "furniture" perspective, but, ultimately, because I just felt like it because the OS looked and felt all shiny-shiny pleasurable to use and was a shiny-shiny pleasurable change. That workstation is mostly for photography, and the iMac gave me the choice between Lightroom and Aperture (I picked Aperture). I still have The Gimp on it, in case I want to get intensive in post-processing, though Aperture is sufficient for most images. Oh, I should mention that I also have an iPod Touch (I love my iPod Touch) and that, in my experience, the whole sync' process and iTunes works better on my iMac (and The Loved One's Macbook) than it did under XP on the lappy or the old PC (still in use downstairs, mostly for The Loved's One's telecommuting work). The iMac and the Macbook (and the iPod and the iPhone) seem to "network" better and easier too, though that's limited experience talking. The hardware wasn't perfect (my iMac has a condensation problem, and sensitive cable connections), though fit and finish otherwise seem solid. I find it harder to find system-related things on it (eg. log files) when things go wrong (eg. my scanner, once I installed Vuescan, must be on or the OS occasionally locks up, though it didn't do this pre-Vuescan), but, then, things don't usually go wrong (on any of the OS's for me). This is, of course, a knowledge thing, and perhaps it's my long-term experience with Windows XP that makes me feel those system-related error logs and monitors were more accessible there? As mentioned, the Apple hardware is very shiny-shiny/nicely designed. If this floats your boat (and it does mine), then you'll fall in love with that bit. The OSX UI is very shiny-shiny too, and I mean that in a "user-friendly" way that feels practical, whereas Vista made me want to throw things. Note, I have not tried Windows 7, but it seems that it's getting a lot of good raps from folks from all quarters, so I've a passing interest in that, though likely insufficient to make me return to that fold on my lappy, seeing as my requirements there are so limited. My point here is, my aversion is not to MS, nor Windows, but merely a visceral feeling on use of Vista - more of an "anchovies" thing, than a reasoned critique. All this is to say, I've found Ubuntu simple, quick, easy, "just works" (keyboard-touchpad problem aside ) and pleasant - a change that has been as good as a holiday. I also like the way it handles software packages/repositories. I found my iMac to be a complete pleasure to use (hardware problems aside) due to the all-over hardware-through-to-UI design (eg. the keyboard is a delight). I can see why one might become a "fanboy", though I do resist the temptation, not being one to concede "loyalty" to a corporation or its products. I would think you would be happy with either, though, as others have indicated, there's no reason to make it an either/or situation (you can install them all, and decide what you like - even Hackintosh a "PC"). Cheers, Marc Last edited by montsnmags; 05-07-2009 at 06:20 AM.