Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon" - Part 2

User Desktop Experience

Apart from the difference in look, Ubuntu Desktop is rather similar to the MS Windows Desktop. (In fact even the look isn't all that different) Of course there are subtle differences between the two but for anyone who works with MS Windows, it would not be much of a learning curve to use Ubuntu desktop. Actually it would be more accurate to say the Gnome Desktop, which is the default desktop for Ubuntu 7.10. The Gnome Desktop 2.20 has come a long way too, and matured a lot in enriching the user experience. For a MS Windows user, once you get accustomed to knowing where to look for what you need, you are pretty much set in using Ubuntu the way you use MS Windows. The learning curve isn't all that steep as it would be if you have switched to the Mac OS/10. Frankly I think the Mac OS/10, especially the latest Leopard is a league of its own. That's another story for another day

Pre-installed Software

One of the reason for holding back on migrating to Linux is the software issue. The truth is whatever software there is for MS Windows, the chances are there are equivalents or similar ones for Linux. So it isn't so much the software issue but rather the reluctance to learn new software to replace those that I have become so familiar working with. For me I think that is the biggest hurdle in migrating to Linux for good.

Here again I was quite happy to find those basic software that I use on MS Windows, the equivalent ones are pretty much pre-installed, or are readily available. For example, On Windows XP I use Pegasus email software for my pop mail accounts (mainly because it is simple, straight forward and meet my basic needs plus being able to handle multiple email accounts. Ubuntu has Evolution pre-installed which pretty much gives me the same functionality. There is also the Open Office suite, Multi Media software, Internet browser, Instant Messaging client, etc. And they all offer the same or very similar functionalities as the software I use on MS Windows software. And they are readily and freely available for download. A good guide to installing Ubuntu as well as the software that a regular user need, could be found here.

After playing around for a couple of weeks with Ubuntu, using it as I would generally use the Windows XP for what I do regularly., I have found equivalent software to what I have been using on Windows XP. Some of them appeal to me even more than the programs I have been using in Windows XP. And I am quite pleased with this easy transition. For example, someone sent me a Word document. And I have no problem reading it with the OpenOffice software (OpenOffice comes preinstalled, and cost nothing). In fact by default it was opened by OpenOffice, since I do not have Microsoft Word on my machine. For my unsophisticated usage of a word processor, OpenOffice meets my requirements, as it would be a normal word processor user, I would image.

In conclusion, I would say that, from a beginner's point of view, there is no noticeable difference in beginning with WIndows XP or with Ubuntu, other than cosmetics. The usage is pretty much the same. You use the mouse on the graphics interface, you have similar software on both operating systems. In fact cheaper or free on Ubuntu. So, for your mom or dad who wants to learn how to use the computer, teaching them Windows XP or Ubuntu simply isn't an issue for them. So go ahead and buy them that $200+ PC which come pre-installed with Ubuntu. I would recommend Ubuntu for any new beginners, intermediate or even experts. Of course experts do not need my recommendation, since they already know what I am talking about first-hand.