Ubuntu seems to be becoming ever more mainstream, with new users coming to the system every day. There are signs that Ubuntu is becoming “Linux” in and of itself. Now, technically speaking, Ubuntu is not Linux, it’s just based on Linux, and Debian, although the popularity of Ubuntu makes it almost seem like it’s “Linux,” and Linux is referring to Ubuntu.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, a blogger over at ZDNet has been noticing an interesting trend. He has been noticing that new users of Linux and Ubuntu, are confusing the two, calling Linux “Ubuntu” and vice-versa. You can read his post here.
Ubuntu is very popular these days, more popular than any distribution to date, as far as the number of users are concerned. I agree with Adrian; Ubuntu becoming the generic distribution, especially in the eyes of newcomers, will only help Linux succeed. Ubuntu provides more for the end user than most other distributions, as far as a quality user experience is concerned. Ease of use, application availability, a reliable release cycle, ability to be installed inside of Windows, all of which make a better experience for new users.
Of course, not everyone is happy with the success of Ubuntu, because there are many people who have fought for the acclaimed “Year of the Desktop” where Linux takes over the market, while trying to give users some obscure distribution in order to reach that goal. Finally, there is a singular fighting force that can introduce new users to Linux in a professional and easy way. Sometimes, you just have to support one distribution so that it can succeed, and avoid the in-fighting of multiple distributions, which only leads to confusion for someone looking through roughly 350 random distributions to try. For those people who are angry with Ubuntu’s success (read: jealous), people will try their distribution, it is only a matter of time.
I have placed my efforts for promoting Ubuntu, not just on the web via this blog, but through a LoCo team, where I help organize events, give out free CDs through a CD stand at a local bookstore, and help new users with working on their new system. It is these kinds of efforts that make Ubuntu popular, not just to those who read “Dig” or “Slashdot,” but those who are everyday, average folks. If you want to get involved, LoCo teams are a great way to go. I have written about them before over at All About Ubuntu. I believe that Ubuntu has the greatest potential for mainstream adoption. More users equals better support, better applications, and a better system with every release.
Ubuntu is becoming the system with what I call the “complete” experience. By that, I mean that Ubuntu has a system for desktops, servers, and mobile devices, just as Microsoft which has versions for desktops, servers, and mobile devices or even Apple for that matter. All of the versions of Ubuntu means that your average user’s needs are taken care of, either on the desktop, at work, or on the go. The various distribution variants of Ubuntu (Kubuntu, Edubuntu) all have their own special purpose and user base, and they give users the choice for what works best for them, while still keeping that ease of use classic to Ubuntu.
See this article (courtesy of eWeek) for a peek into what Mark Shuttleworth, Ubuntu’s founder and SABDFL (Self-Appointed Benevolent Dictator For Life) has to say about Ubuntu’s future. I especially like the part about an Ubuntu-powered PDA. An Ubuntu Mobile device is going to bring together that “complete” experience that I mentioned earlier.
Ubuntu has a bright future, and will most likely lead Linux into the mainstream, and I’m just fine with Ubuntu becoming the generic Linux desktop. For those who can’t stand that thought, new users will learn, it’s only a matter of time, but for now Ubuntu is the best chance that Linux has at ever becoming a viable alternative for mainstream users. The most exciting part for me is knowing that I will be there to watch and participate in Ubuntu’s rise to form the third viable operating system in the mainstream market next with Windows and Mac OS X.
Filed under: .exe installer, All About Ubuntu, Apple, Linux, Linux Elitists, LoCo Team, Mac, Marketing, Microsoft, Ubuntu, Windows
You know I like Ubuntu, and I really haven’t run into any hardcore Linux people that have given me smack for liking it. I have always wanted to try Linux, I remember back in 1999 loading Red Hat and hating how I was so great at windows and yet couldn’t do simple things with it. Then mandrake came along and was supposed to be so user friendly and it was the same story. Now Ubuntu is here and for the first time I can actually do everything on a Linux box I can do on my Win XP box. I hope Ubuntu succeeds and if people want to start saying Ubuntu instead of Linux, well Ubuntu has won that with a user friendly distro and a great community.
It’s a good point, it’s similar to the identification of a PC with Windows (Mac is a Mac and not PC). As someone who’s been through some good times and some bad times with both Linux (Red Hat 6) and Windows (Me, need I say more), one huge advantage Linux has over Windows is that is very modular. Ubuntu running on server and on a PDA still has the same code underneath. Windows Server, Windows XP or Vista and Windows Mobile or CE are all monolitic, with their own code and each of them has a separate set of applications, they might have the same name but the code is very different. I can see Windows 7 going the way of Linux and going modular.
Linux is all about choice and, as much as I like Ubuntu and admire Mark Shuttleworth, it would be a pity if newcomers to Linux think Linux *is* Ubuntu. I have PCs on my home network running Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS and Sabayon Linux, and I like all three distros. But, for ease of use, my vote goes to PCLinuxOS. Interestingly, all the newcomers to Linux who have used Ubuntu and PCLinuxOS on my PCs have preferred PCLinuxOS. I’m not criticising Ubuntu, just pointing out that there is a choice and that not everyone considers it the best Linux distribution. But, undoubtedly, had it not been for Canonical and Ubuntu, Linux would not be making the inroad on the home desktop that it is.
I have to say that I like PCLinuxOS as well. So far it’s the only distribution other than Ubuntu that has run well on my laptop with full compatibility.
My choice for Ubuntu is simply because of it’s ease of use. PCLinuxOS isn’t bad, although for new users it could use an “Add/Remove applications” application, but that’s all I can say about it that would be remotely negative.
I agree, thanks to Canonical and Mark Shuttleworth, Ubuntu has made inroads previously unseen. I could only imagine if it weren’t for the company/community mix that Ubuntu has, there currently would be no leader in desktop Linux. People would be saying “Year of the desktop” for another 15 years, with no progress without a solid leader. Most new users I talk to prefer Ubuntu, although I have met many that like PCLOS. Sometimes it breaks down the famed Gnome vs KDE preference. PCLOS is a great distribution, and while perhaps not my favorite by just a hair, it’s great, not just for a community distribution, but for any distribution.
Thanks for the comment!