If it weren’t for Ubuntu, I’d wager half or more Linux users wouldn’t be Linux users. I have no hard data to back this up and I’m willing to be told I’m wrong. But most of the stories I hear are “started on Ubuntu back when they were mailing out free CDs” and “tried a few other things, gave up until I found Ubuntu”
It’s barrier to entry was so long for Windows users, and it allowed people the time and space to get comfortable with being on something not-windows, and sure, eventually a big chunk moved on, but it got them to this side of the fence, and that’s admirable. Wubi (a dual boot installer you could run from within windows without a CD a thumb drive) is what really got me on Linux, and eventually I stopped dualbooting altogether.
Couple reasons people dislike Ubuntu/Canonical. 1) they’re just popular, but also they went their own way with the Unity UI hoping to score a BMW touchscreen contract, they went their own way with snaps which are much worse than flatpak, they added ads for “Ubuntu Pro” in the distro (notably in the terminal).
I think they have a reputation for going off and doing their own thing rather than working with existing solutions.
I’m having a hard time understanding the criticism on them working with companies, or developing tech towards it, though. I thought it would be a good thing if a Linux company introduced systems for general use, same with Edubuntu. Having Ubuntu on school PCs is definitely better than Windows for example.
This was my experience with Ubuntu, my beloved. :)
Ubuntu catches some well earned flak, but afaik it was the first distro to have an effortless Gui setup wizard that “just worked.”
I remember using one of their ubiquitous install CD back in the mid 00s to bring an old laptop back to life, and literally changing my life.
If it weren’t for Ubuntu, I’d wager half or more Linux users wouldn’t be Linux users. I have no hard data to back this up and I’m willing to be told I’m wrong. But most of the stories I hear are “started on Ubuntu back when they were mailing out free CDs” and “tried a few other things, gave up until I found Ubuntu”
It’s barrier to entry was so long for Windows users, and it allowed people the time and space to get comfortable with being on something not-windows, and sure, eventually a big chunk moved on, but it got them to this side of the fence, and that’s admirable. Wubi (a dual boot installer you could run from within windows without a CD a thumb drive) is what really got me on Linux, and eventually I stopped dualbooting altogether.
I keep reading this, but why?
Edit: The flak
Couple reasons people dislike Ubuntu/Canonical. 1) they’re just popular, but also they went their own way with the Unity UI hoping to score a BMW touchscreen contract, they went their own way with snaps which are much worse than flatpak, they added ads for “Ubuntu Pro” in the distro (notably in the terminal).
I think they have a reputation for going off and doing their own thing rather than working with existing solutions.
I’m having a hard time understanding the criticism on them working with companies, or developing tech towards it, though. I thought it would be a good thing if a Linux company introduced systems for general use, same with Edubuntu. Having Ubuntu on school PCs is definitely better than Windows for example.
Edit: The rest makes sense!