7 Reasons Why You Should Seriously Consider Ubuntu
One thing that never fails to amuse me (for many years now) is how a large number of people (especially here in Malaysia) are still in the dark about the existence of operating systems that are free of charge to install, use and distribute. Some have a general understanding of Linux, that it is generally an OS that is not Windows (a simple way to put it to a person who thinks that all computers are built by Microsoft & Bill Gates).
However, most of the time their knowledge stops short at that, as if it is taboo to know more about Linux. Suprisingly, most still find it hard to believe that most Linux distributions are free, that there are communities out there that support free and open-source operating systems. The OS market really opening up, and you can actually see vendors selling notebooks pre-loaded with Linux nowadays (something uncommon just a few years ago here in Malaysia). This should be a good sign and if you are thinking of giving Linux a try, I suggest you try out Ubuntu.
If you haven’t heard of Ubuntu, check out Ubuntu.com to find out what’s it all about. In short, Ubuntu is a Linux distribution (Linux comes is many versions or better known as Linux Distros) with a user base of more than 8 million people, and comes in both desktop and server editions.
With that in mind, I decided (probably out of boredom) that I need to write a list of 7 reasons why you should seriously consider Ubuntu. Here goes:
1. It’s free! - Need I say more?
2. It’s has great support - Like most Linux communities, support is widespread on the web through community forums and discussion boards. For enterprises, you probably would prefer profesional support, which is provided by Canonical Ltd. at minimal costs.
3. Simplistic installation - Installation instructions are very clear, short, easy to follow and straightforward. Alternately, you can run Ubuntu as a Live CD, which runs the OS from the CD itself without installing it on your PC.
4. ShipIt - If you’re on a slow connection and downloading is hassle, then you can request a CDs to be delivered to your doorstep, absolutely 100% free of charge wherever you are in the world.
5. It’s safe - Ubuntu is very safe, and a lot of users would agree that it is virtually free from viruses, trojans, malware and whatnot. This is a common value shared by all Linux distros.
6. It’s easy to use - Ubuntu is very easy to use, and was designed to be an easy to use Linux for everyone. This is very important especially to non-technical users who will find that using Ubuntu is very trivial.
7. Tons of Applications - Word processing, spreadsheet applications, internet access applications, web server software, email software and some games are pre-loaded in the OS installation. There are also a huge number of popular applications that can be installed on Ubuntu such as Open Office, Firefox, VLC Player, Beryl, AmaroK, Automix and tons of others to help you get the most out of Ubuntu.
You can get further information on Ubuntu at the official site.
