So at work I’ve been using Ubuntu on my desktop as my primary computer. I have primarily been a Windows user at work (because I have been forced to) and an OS X user at home because I prefer it. At first I kinda liked it, at least a little better than Windows. Then I began to hate it for the following reasons:
- It works just like Windows (and looks almost like Windows)
- Except when it doesn’t – then it sucks because it doesn’t work in a predictable manner
Here are some key problems I’ve had with Ubuntu:
- It can never quite remember my monitor settings properly – every time I remove a monitor or want to switch a display it loses everything or goes extremely flakey
- We play Unreal here afterhours and the audio just “disappears” – if I futz with the monitor settings then I lose Audio, hunh? Reboot required to get audio back
- No common UI – dialog boxes behave differently, things just feel “off” depending on which program I’m using
- Katapult is a poor replacement for LaunchBar or QuickSilver (which started crashing repeatedly on me on the last update so switched to LaunchBar)
- Installing an application takes command-line work – blech
The are a few good things, but not enough for me to love it:
- Wow, a real terminal – but I have this in OS X
- Updates are painless – again I already have this on OS X
- It’s stable – again I already have this on OS X
- That’s about it – otherwise, eh
This isn’t to say I don’t use Linux, I use it for my server, but I can’t see using it as a desktop replacement, not by a long shot. In order to win me over they have to really be thinking out of the box and not just duplicating what Windows or OS X has done – which they really haven’t yet (yes I know about things like Compiz Fusion – but that isn’t the whole user experience that’s just one small part – yes I said small).
So, I’m using a G4 machine right now to VNC into my work machine for specific apps I can’t install (or don’t want to) and will be upgrading the laptop to either a MacBook or MacBook Pro in the next few months. Then I’ll be really happy.
