Ubuntu 10.04 vs Windows 7

In a matter of days Ubuntu 10.04 will be released, this is the latest stable release of the popular Linux distribution. In many ways this could be described as the best and most user friendly Linux of all time. If a Linux distribution was ever going to be suitable for the desktops of the masses then this release is it.

However I feel that it’s unlikely to worry those at Microsoft and Apple too much. Windows 7 is a triumphant release, having used it for six months so far I rate it as possibly the best thing Microsoft has ever done (outside of the Xbox 360). Apple is becoming a bigger name by the day, with the masses well aware of the iPhone and iPod, it’s inevitable that some of those looking for a new computer will be swayed towards the Mac.

Ubuntu has many great features, but critically it’s what it doesn’t have which would put off a casual user. Open Office may be fairly compatible, and is certainly usable, but it’s no MS Office. From school, to the office, to the home people are used to Word and Excel. In fact I believe many don’t know the difference between these two applications and Windows itself. Open Office works, but it is inferior to MS Office. When so many users pirate MS Office anyway the fact Open Office is available for free doesn’t quite have the beneficial effect you’d imagine.

With so many games now being played through the browser this isn’t a key issue to discuss. With the PC games market not quite what it used to be (and Linux/Mac ports fairly common) this shouldn’t hold back anyone wishing to move from Windows to Linux.

When it comes to security Ubuntu Linux wins hands down, in fact it wins by such a margin that there isn’t really a debate on offer here. If Linux and it’s distributions were actually targeting the home market (they’re not, more on that later) then this would be a huge selling points over Windows.

Windows 7 wins on looks, just, with a bit of effort Ubuntu can be beautiful, but out of the box Windows 7 is already ahead. Getting Ubuntu looking great can be a bit technical, which rules out many casual PC users.

As a developer I’ve always enjoyed working with Microsoft Visual Studio. It’s a fantastic piece of software and it’s only when you try to use something else that you realise how good it actually is. The IDE options in Linux aren’t limited, but none of the available options come close to Visual Studio.

Ultimately though on the whole Linux is written for the Linux community. It isn’t trying to be a Windows 7 beater, it’s trying to be a Linux beater.

In the future I believe most computers sold will be of the portable variety. I also believe most users will be using these devices to surf the web and check email. With these requirements it is certainly possible that a Linux distribution could end up on a popular device and really awaken the masses to the advantages of Linux. However this isn’t certain to ever happen, with Microsoft and Apple and of course Google pushing their devices hard it seems unlikely that a third party will rock up with a must have device running the netbook version of Ubuntu.

So to sum up, if you are a computer user who likes the idea of something new, and are semi-technical, then Ubuntu 10.04 will offer many hours of enjoyment and satisfaction. You may even decide to drop Windows for good. I know I’m now at the point where I could cope without Windows. My reason for ultimately choosing it will be Visual Studio, at least until a comparable piece of software is available on Linux.

Reasons to use Ubuntu 10.04: Free, solid, secure, easy to use, huge number of apps, great browsers.

Reasons to use Windows 7 and not Ubuntu: MS Office, commercial apps at retail, better games.

Or you could do what I do and use both! That’s probably the way to go for now.