The Rotten Word

Image via Wikipedia

This is the first of two posts I’m doing this week on the (slow) dawn of the user-friendly Linux desktop environment. I’m fairly new to the world of Linux, and the Linux desktop has been brewing for years. But it has never been closer to the average consumer.

The plethora of cross-platform software solutions, new deals with hardware manufacturers, and improvements in interface design are all converging to make the Linux desktop a very real possibility. This first post will explore how a transition from Windows to Ubuntu happens.

We’re going to start off with a brief overview of the most commonly asked questions and tomorrow we’ll follow up with some more in-depth analysis.

Some Questions, And Some Answers

I use Linux on my laptop, which is my main computer. I’ve been doing that for over a year now and haven’t had any need to switch back. I still get  a lot of questions, though. Admittedly, it is never a seamless transition, but most of the popular software solutions from bigger-name operating systems have their Linux equivalent.

Some examples:

What about iTunes?

I love Songbird. There are more stable and less-fiercly-developed music management applications available for Linux operating systems, but Songbird is at the forefront of a lot of great innovations in the way web browsing and music management interact.

What about office applications like word processors, spreadsheets, and presentations?

I love Open Office. All the tried and true office solutions are included in a free, open source package that offers full compatibility with Microsoft’s Office suite. Little perks include USB portability, integrated PDF export, and a vibrant user community.

I’m at college. I miss my mom girlfriend. I need to Skype and IM or I’ll deteriorate into an emo mess.

Ubuntu comes, out-of-the-box, with the open source video-conferencing and VoIP client Ekiga Softphone. If you’re in love with Skype, there is a version for Ubuntu and you can find more information about it here.

As for instant messaging, the current stable release of Ubuntu comes with Pidgin. It supports multiple chat providers and has a rich environment of plugins. The newest version of Ubuntu, 9.10 “Karmic Koala”, replaces Pidgin with Empathy, but the functionality remains the same. Buddies across all instant messaging networks will be able to chat with you.

Enough with all this serious stuff, I want GAMES!

Well, the usual kiddie games like checkers, solitaire, mines, and other low-res, high-fun classics have their Linux equivalents. But this is one place where Ubuntu fails. There are some games available for the veteran gamer, but nothing terribly impressive. They want to be on your desktop, not in your Mountain Dew-and-Cheetos den (I used to have one, too). Your Ubuntu computer will not be your gaming box. For now, anyway.

How do I access Windows if I absolutely need to, now that I have this Ubuntu stuff?

Virtualization software like Sun’s Virtual Box allows you to install that old Windows disk on a program running in Ubuntu without restarting. It runs full-screen and is a totally immersive experience. Looking at the computer form across the room while it’s running Windows in a virtual machine, you can’t tell it isn’t a native Windows installation.

In other words, your Windows can live inside your Linux, ready for use if you ever, for some reason, absolutely need to use Windows. Setting up a virtual machine is a little more complicated than the other applications I mentioned above, but the menus do a pretty good job of walking you through it.

I keep a virtual Windows system on hand for use with obscure Windows-only software that I occasionally need, for testing and tinkering with new operating systems without endangering my own system, and for offering friends and family a familiar computing experience on my laptop when they visit.

This is a simpler alternative to dual-booting, which you can read about on Wikipedia, but that’s a post for another day.

Still Not Sure?

Well, you’re not alone. There are broader issues facing the transition from common operating systems and proprietary software suites to the smaller players in the open source world. Tomorrow, I’ll continue ranting about the topic, focusing more on Ubuntu’s overall struggle for mindshare and less on the individual user.