__/ [ BearItAll ] on Monday 27 November 2006 09:35 \__
> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>
>> Eight reasons why Ubuntu is the Linux poster child
>>
>> ,----[ Quote ]
>> | 1) Its large user base. Because Ubuntu is so popular, it becomes
>> | even more popular. This viral marketing was the same thing that
>> | made YouTube successful.
>> |
>> | 2) Hardware support. One of the most common complaints among new
>> | Linux users is that their new hardware is not supported by any
>> | Linux distribution. Well, with Ubuntu, hardware support is added
>> | within days of the hardware coming out.
>> |
>> | [...]
>> `----
>>
>>
>
http://www.jubling.com/eight-reasons-why-ubuntu-is%20the-linux-poster-child.html
>
> I don't want to seem negative, Ubuntu is popular so it must have something
> that people like, but what ever that is I don't think it was one of the
> items on the writters list, well, not in the sense of being uniquely
> Ubuntu.
>
> 1) Its large user base. Because Ubuntu is so popular, it becomes even more
> popular. This viral marketing was the same thing that made YouTube
> successful.
>
> That point misses the fact that Ubuntu initially started with One
> installation, then there is the pushing phase trying to get noticed amongst
> the other distros. Being popular because it is popular omits the build up
> period.
>
> Ubuntu isn't popular because its popular, it became popular because it
> offered users something they didn't feel that they got from other distros.
> Remaining popular can come for the reasons that the writer mentioned
> though.
>
> 2) Hardware support. One of the most common complaints among new Linux
> users is that their new hardware is not supported by any Linux
> distribution. Well, with Ubuntu, hardware support is added within days of
> the hardware coming out.
>
> All Debian based systems are benefitting from the Debian system. It is true
> that Ubuntu can pass drivers etc through to their users more quickly than
> others, which might be what the writer meant, it just isn't what he
> actually said.
>
> 3) Its ease of use. Lets face it, you can't make a mainstream distribution
> without ease of use. If you tell a Linux beginner that they will have to
> type out all their commands into a console, they will have a Windows CD in
> their disk drive faster then you can say "Open Source".
>
> I don't see that, when I tried Ubuntu I didn't feel like I had anything
> particularly special loaded. It was the nice clean gnome that I always
> load, except that the menus were reduced. Items that you are used to seeing
> weren't there.
>
> So I suspect the ease of use comes from less room for confusion. That is
> probably a good thing for new users. Probably is a particularly good thing
> to have reduced menus on a training system. I did notice that on the Ubuntu
> web site they had some particularly good tutorials of various aspects of
> Linux. So all in all the reduced menus along with a good tutorial is a good
> thing.
>
> 4) With each new Ubuntu release that comes out, it becomes easier and
> easier to install. This helps beginners that would normally be frustrated
> when a cryptic installation error occurs.
>
> Debian itself is very easy to install, we have to pass the bulk of the
> credit to Debian. It is easy to install because of the extraordinarily good
> package manager which Debian supply.
>
> 5) Its package manager. The package manager in Ubuntu makes finding free
> Open Source software so easy that even your grandmother could do it. Not
> only will the package manager download the package for you, but it will
> also install it for you.
>
> Thats one of Debian's. All Debian based distros benefit from the work put
> in to apt-get. One of the best implementations built around that, in my
> opinion, is the Linspire one. But in the end what ever gui a distro puts
> around apt-get, you can only have one click install and one click
> uninstall, 'clean' and 'auto clean' because apt-get implements them.
>
> This package manager group saw that the only way you will get the
> programmers and distros doing a friendly install is to make the installer
> extreemly easy to use whilst being powerfull enough to cope with even the
> most unusual of situations.
>
> 6) Its community. The Ubuntu community is always there to help beginners
> with any problems that they might encounter on their first Linux
> experience.
>
> That does seem to be true (looking from the outside), their forums are well
> supported and have a good range of knowledge. This makes Ubuntu well worth
> staying with once you have taken the plunge. I also firmly believe that it
> is a good idea for potential new users to join these forums before they try
> the install (for which ever distro they opt for), have a chat with other
> users, it helps you to gain a bit of confidence but also will hi-light
> areas you might have problems with so that you are pre-armed.
>
>
> 8) Partly because of the package manager, Ubuntu has great media support.
> From video to music, Ubuntu comes pre-loaded with all the programs you need
> to watch and listen to your media.
>
> Now come off it, we all know how to get the DVD player and other codecs
> these days, that can't be claimed as a Ubuntu specific thing. They are
> still subject to the same difficulty that the other distros are subject to
> in this area. Every distro since the dawn of time would have liked to load
> the codecs for you, rather than just give pointed hints as to where to find
> them.
>
> I always thought that the Suse idea of giving users a broken and frankly
> useless Xine was a particularly stupid idea. Much better to give no players
> at all, then when the user pulls in the proper player there isn't the risk
> of a conflict.
>
>
> Ok, Ubuntu Is popular, there are so many good distros out there so Ubuntu
> must have something that makes it stand out. I think it is very likely that
> it is their web site and forums that makes its ongoing popularity. The main
> grumble over the years of various distros was how alone new users were when
> they load a distro that has no telephone support included. Ubuntu's online
> support and community are very likely the key to Ubuntu's success, because
> it's users need not be alone.
All good points, so I won't snip. I notice that you left out the 7th point.
What surprises me most is that you didn't mention what I consider to be the
primary reason, if not the /only/ reason, why Ubuntu became popular. Ubuntu
ships CD's for free to merely any place in the world and it ships an excess
so that the CD's can be spread. It's viral in nature. And, of course, once
you have grown a community, there's support too. It's the 'network effect'.
By the way, the Ubuntu Forums have hit a milstone today/yesterday: 200,000
registered members.
Lastly I'll add that when people are preparing for a migration to Linux they
often do so with hesitance and reluctance. They also believe that they might
be forced to have Windows as a fallback. Therefore, a free CD is the only
investment they are willing to make ($0). What way would be more convenient
than a simplified ordering page that asks for so little? You don't even need
a CD burner, time for burning, time for research and selection of a distro.
How many people would even be familiar with an ISO image? I can recall an
Australian writer (Stan Beer?) who tried burning a Linux CD with Windows
Media Player, which unsurprisingly will not give an easy time (no support)
burning ISO's. The frustration and the RTFM-types flames he got were almost
enough to steer him off track, but he was stubborn. Later he was praising
Linux for so many of its merits.
Best wishes,
Roy
--
Roy S. Schestowitz | X-No-Archive: No. Stand behind what you say
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