After getting fed up, once and for all with Windows in all it's glitchy glory, I decided to save my important files, and install Ubuntu. Why Ubuntu? Ubuntu is the single largest Linux community out there. With a new version available every six months, the Ubuntu operating system is amazingly stable and offers tons of features that most Windows users are accustomed to. Before I installed Ubuntu on my laptop, however, I installed Kubuntu, Ubuntu's KDE brethren. For those of you that don't know what KDE is, it is one of the most popular desktop environments (K Desktop Environment). Others include Gnome and XFCE. Kubuntu 9.10 was very glitchy when installed on my Dell Inspiron 6000. It was not able to connect to a simple WPA protected home network, and the visual effects were choppy and even cause my entire screen to black out a few times. But before I reached for my Windows 7 enterprise disk, I thought "Lets try Ubuntu first." So I did. And I am sure glad I did. Not only is Ubuntu the most stable operating system I've come across, but the wireless worked flawlessly, the graphic capabilities are top notch, and downloading and installing applications and packages are as easy as typing simple commands such as 'sudo apt-get install NameOfApp'. All necessary drivers were found without having to go download and patch any broken or outdated ones. The desktop environment in Ubuntu is the Gnome desktop environment. Which was incredibly simple to navigate and even easier to modify. With a couple add-ons, I was actually able to have snow falling on my desktop. It may not be highly visible in image, but it impressed my non-tech savvy girlfriend. Before I installed Windows 7 on her laptop, I asked her if she wanted XP or 7. She said, "I want what you have." I explained that what I used was linux, and even though it is fairly simple to use, the applications such as iTunes that she was used to, would have thrown her for a curve ball in the Linux environment. Myself, however, am willing to go to the extra lengths to get iPod ready applications for Linux. It's too bad that people aren't willing to experiment with new technologies. Typing in commands for installation in a terminal is not for everyone either, though. That is why I recommended Windows 7, because the average user can just download and double click to install like the Microsoft-droids have taught them to do since Windows 3.1. In conclusion, I am very very very happy with Ubuntu that I'm not sure I even want to try Windows 7. I would recommend Ubuntu, as an open source advocate and programmer to anyone and everyone that is willing to get away from the Windows world. If you are happy with Windows, than I would recommend either XP or Windows 7, as Vista is unstable and as described by a friend and former Microsoft employee as "a guinea pig to determine what features people like for the future Windows 7 release."
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