Ubuntu and Microsoft’s Increasing Irrelevance
For the longest time while a Mac user over a decade ago, there was a definite boundary of “stuff” that one could do with a Mac. I’ve tried to pinpoint my switch to Windows and I think it was just by sheer lack of “stuff” to do on my computer. Couple that with becoming part of the corporate world, and I suppose that’s just what happens. During my time as a Mac user, I dabbled with various flavors of Linux and always ran into the same thing. If you were not a programmer or hardcore computer “techie” there was not much for you in Linux. Web browsing, e-mail, basic word processing, and that was about it as far as mainstream applications go on a desktop computer. It never lost its value as a server, and has increased in that regard even more so. For this discussion, however, I’m talking about the desktop computer that you check your bank account, check Facebook and share digital media.
Fast forward to now. Since it’s release, I have upgraded two machines to Ubuntu 10.04 and I am just blown away in how far it has come. Every release of Ubuntu Linux is better. I’ve even got a few friends and family running Ubuntu exclusively, and they have never even noticed that Windows XP is gone. In fact, you tend to notice the OS even less with Linux. And really, that’s the way it should be. I guess that’s why I’ve fallen in love with my Mac. It just does what I want and stays out of my way. A few software updates here and there, but otherwise the OS stays out of my way.
Ubuntu started out as a very polished and commercial-looking flavor of Linux. I have been regularly using it since 5.10. Each version brings us closer to even more freedom in our desktop computing needs. I kept a virtualized copy of Windows XP and Windows 7, just in case. Since leaving one of my customers that had a VPN that wouldn’t work in anything other than XP, I have not booted up those virtual machines since.
Where once I was dependent on the applications in Windows XP, I find that I no longer need it for anything. I’m at a point where I’m surprised that Microsoft products are completely irrelevant in my personal life, and increasingly less relevant in my business role. Do I love Office for Mac? Not really, I could switch to something else if I had the ambition to learn it. Could I live without it? Absolutely. That makes me happy.
If suddenly my Mac went away, I would have not trouble switching to Ubuntu exclusively. The Mac is still obviously a commercial release and the hardware/software integration is second to none. I doubt they have much to fear from Ubuntu, but the other player in this business sure does. What I don’t understand is that probably significantly more development and resources went into Windows 7 and it wouldn’t even be a consideration for me if my Mac self-destructed. If you haven’t yet, go get Ubuntu. It’s free and easy. You just might find yourself surprised.