Should I upgrade to Ubuntu?

Question

I saw a video of Ubuntu 7.04 and it looked really cool. But I was wondering if it would be a good idea to which from Windows XP to Ubuntu 7.04? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Do popular games and software that work for Ubuntu?

Answer 1

1. It will definitely be somewhat challenging for someone used to Windows, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise. But it isn't too horribly difficult to learn, either.

2. Advantages:

A. It's free. Duh!
B. Free technical support. They have a great forum filled
with people ready to help you.
C. It's fun to learn new things (at least for me it is).

Disadvantages:

A. No, not all popular games work. But a decent
percentage of games can be run under a compatibility
layer called "Wine" that allows you to use Windows
programs in Linux. And some games, like Doom 3, have
native ports available.

B. As I said, it is somewhat difficult to learn how everything
works. Linux is one of the most challenging things I've
ever learned how to use, but also the most rewarding.

C. Sometimes, your hardware may simply not work. This
occurs most often with wireless cards. This can be
gotten around by using "ndiswrapper", a program which
uses Windows drivers to run devices in Linux.

Answer 2

Depending on your situation, it may be a *very* good idea to switch from Windows XP to Ubuntu.

The advantages are: Software Freedom, low cost of operation. Can co-exist with Windows. Great way to learn UNIX. Underlying philosophy is very aesthetic and liberating. Can be whatever you want it to be (router, TV recorder, web kiosk, multimedia production machine, etc.). You can run virtual machines to run the Windows OS if you need that software. Completely free, automated OS upgrade every 6 months if you want.

The disadvantages are: Cutting-edge hardware may not be recognized properly, Windows software may not work in WINE. Cannot buy off-the-shelf software and hardware without doing some Googling to see if it's compatible.

There are popular games that work with Ubuntu under Wine, and you can check the Wine compatibility database for that:

http://www.winehq.com

As for software, I found that everything I needed as a professional web designer and illustrator already existed under Ubuntu. To top it off, there are many features and conveniences in the desktop that are much better than those found in other operating systems. It's nice to click "upgrade" and have all your software, not just your OS, upgrade itself.

Once you are feeling advanced, you can start using the command line for some tasks and realize why nobody (not even Apple or Microsoft) has abandoned it after all these years.

You can also experiment with different versions of Ubuntu on the same machine - I have Kubuntu and Ubuntu Studio both installed here, and I just select which one I want to use at the login window. I'm posting this from Kubuntu.

Windows users may have a hard time adjusting to the software install method in Ubuntu. Instead of surfing to a website and grabbing an installer, you check in your package manager first, to see if your machine can auto-install for you.

A good way to start out is to pick up a new hard disk and install Ubuntu on that. This means you get to keep XP while you adjust to the new interface.

Since a new version (Gutsy Gibbon) is being released in October, you may want to wait until then to try out Ubuntu.

Whatever you choose, good luck!

Answer 3

I'm running Ubuntu 7.04 on one of my PCs. Its a linux based operating system meaning it won't run Windows programs. If you do enough research and are a fairly advanced computer user you may be able to find ways to run some Windows programs but it isn't intuitive or easy.

I love Ubuntu b/c the linux operating system is much more secure then Windows and since I do nothing but browse the internet on the PC its loaded on it works great with minimal worries about firewalls and virus protection.

It also comes with some decent office-like products that work fairly well.

The reason I like using it because its built in security and I'm getting extra life out of my PC. The yearly McAfee updates seem to bog down my PC. I don't have any anti-virus software on the Ubuntu PC so no bogging and quick boot up times. I'm not sure if everyone does this but it work great for me. I haven't had any issues as of yet with viruses or spyware. I've been running it for over a year.

There can be some issues with hardware and drivers. Ubuntu has an excellent user group so you can usually find answers to fix stuff.

Plus Ubuntu may be used on the laptop for $150 project for underprivileged children in developing countries. The use of the product helps ensure those kids will be getting a great product with little bugs.

Answer 4

First off, you can try out Ubuntu two different ways: By using a "live CD" version (just pop the disc in the drive, boot up, and give it a try) or use VMWare Player (with www.easyvmx.com) and go through the process of installing it and using it to get a feel for the environment.

Video games under Linux is a constant issue. Some games work. Others won't (you usually have to buy a version that is specifically ported to Linux - but many games will play just fine with TransGaming.com's stuff). Most hardcore gamers like myself keep at least a partition with Windows on it for gaming purposes.

Most popular software will run via Wine. There are lots of open source "alternatives" to popular software packages (which may or may not be good enough for your needs - and most open source software lacks a sense of professionalism that a number of usability tests would help resolve).

Don't forget to consider OSX as well! Open source software runs there just fine (usually) and there is Parallels for running Windows apps. And the whole OS is very well-thought-out. A nice balance between geek (Linux: Way powerful but nerdy/too many functions) and sleek (Windows: Not-so-functional but with a good look-and-feel). But then again, games are an issue. Ports to OSX are about as regular as ports to Linux.

Answer 5

Personally, i think you should stay with windows XP.
There is a program called Wubi that lets you try Ubuntu on your windows system. It's free (i think it's a beta) and it worked fine on my PC. It'll put Ubuntu on your PC and takes up around 5 gigs of hard drive space. You can then uninstall Wubi like any other program. Try it at your own risk and it'd be a good idea to backup your inportant data. Wubi does not delete windows XP, when you start up your PC, it'll come up with a menu letting you choose if you want to boot into Ubuntu or Windows.
Please note that Wubi will download the Ubuntu ISO file from the internet on installation, it took around 3 hours with me on a broadband connection (1.1mbps) and when you first boot into Ubuntu, it'll take some time to setup.


I dont think Ubuntu is compatible with all the leading video games.

Answer 6

No, popular games and software do not work for Ubuntu. And, if you remove Windows XP and suddenly screw up in the process, you may need to get a technician to get it right.
If you do not have much experience working with software, i'd recommend you get a technician to do it for you.
But, if you want software availability, you would need Windows XP/Vista