Why I like Ubuntu

I switched to Ubuntu Linux sometime back. And after that, anyone I see gets a “Switch to Ubuntu” speech.

Why do I love Ubuntu? Simple, because Ubuntu is free. Free as in...

Free: The simplest meaning of the word – no price tag.

Free disk space: The Ubuntu OS needs a surprisingly small amount of hard disk space and RAM. And all the applications written for Ubuntu are small, or rather, tiny. The files created by Ubuntu applications are smaller too. This means plenty of free disk space, and better performance.

Freedom from proprietary software: A Windows machine needs proprietary software to do anything more than type unformatted text or create very simple bitmap files. Using the system for anything else means spending a small fortune each year to keep the system up to date, or the other alternative.


Ubuntu has open source alternatives for most Windows applications. For example, the document reader can handle .djvu, .cbr and .pdf files, each of which require a special software to read in Windows. And for graphics, there's Gimp, which I prefer to Photoshop – much more intuitive. (I'm an amateur, not a CG professional. I know people prefer Photoshop and Mac for really high-end graphics). There's also Blender, a 3D modelling software that's free and open-source.

And of course, Ubuntu does not need the most tyrannical type of software – you know, the one which slows down your system, requires updates every week, and once your annual license expires is absolutely useless, not just outdated? And after all that trouble, not 100% effective?
Well, Ubuntu does not need Antivirus Software, because its...

Free from viruses. Actually, there have been viruses in Linux systems. Now, for comparison, check here.

Free, efficient tech support: An Ubuntu user is a part of a community, not a customer who has to depend on the vendor for support. In Ubuntu, all it takes is a single Internet search to get the answer. The Ubuntu forums are terrific, with people explaining the 'how and why' of a problem before giving clear instructions on how to solve your problem. This is the best part of using Ubuntu IMHO.

And best of all, I never have to see this nasty thing which had the audacity to turn up at the end of one of my nightmares. Take that BsoD!

Just a note: The stuff mentioned here holds good for all Linux distributions, not just Ubuntu. This page gives a comparative analysis of most of the distributions.
Here's the link to download Ubuntu, and some tips on switching to Linux from Windows.

Thanks to boygeniusreport.com for the image