My first attempt at Linux was back around 2000 when I tried installing Mandrake Linux on my Windows desktop as a dual boot. It turned out the be a disaster, and after weeks of support messages it turned out my hardware just was not compatible with Mandrake. Eventually I switched from Windows to Apple computers and I have been very happy with the Mac, but that itch to try Linux has never gone away.
Enter DazzlinDonna who made a wonderful post about her adventures in switching to Ubuntu Linux. This inspired me to try buying a laptop with Ubuntu already installed. Nearly everything I do on a laptop is online and web based so there is no great reason to use a Mac. Ultimately in my search I settled on a laptop from Zareason, and I have no problems with the quality of the hardware, although I do sorta wish I had bought a smaller model.
Anyway, I’m really impressed with Ubuntu. It connected to my wireless network flawlessly and has been a joy to work with. I think anyone who can find their way around Windows or OS X can figure out Ubuntu in about 5 minutes. I won’t say it is as polished as Mac OS X, but it certainly is functional and there is a load of free software with it, which is something you don’t find much in the Mac world.
I like being able to buy a laptop for a couple of hundred dollars less than a Mac. I like the fact that I’m not going to have to pay each time I want to upgrade my OS. Like a Mac, the OS is in the background and I’m not having to constantly baby it like I did in the past with Windows.
I’m not giving up Mac computers. I need at least one (my iMac) to tend my iPhone, iPods, AppleTV and for my web design software. But I can say that I will probably be replacing my Apple laptops when they die, with Ubuntu laptops.
Thanks Donna!
More to come …
