Well it’s been about 4 weeks of running Ubunutu 6.06 (Dapper Drake). I must say I’m pleasantly surprised with how easy the switch has been. Obviously there is a learning curve, much like there is with any new application…but that’s half the fun! Below is a list of the good and the bad I have experienced over the last month.

The Good:
> Nice interface/UI - very easy to learn and use
> Minimal restarts
> Excellent stability
> Open Office - Opensource version of Office
> Amarok - Music player with some really cool features!
> Great user community
> Tons of free software and applications
> Installing programs via sudo apt-get install is actually very nice
> Samba
> NTFS Support
> Tons of customization options
> Ability to run on a low end machine gives new life to older PC’s
> The GIMP - free Photoshop clone

The Bad:
> Can’t play iTunes files, I will need to convert any iTunes files to mp3’s.
> Nvidia and dual monitor support is lacking
> Printer support is bad, my Lexmark 5150 is pretty much a paperweight
> Games…..thank God for XBOX!

My current Ubuntu Desktop (click for larger image)

Let me start by saying I have never been unhappy with Microsoft Windows. Over the years I have worked with Windows from 3.1, 95, NT, Millennium Edition, 2000, XP and now Vista. With the exception of Millennium EditionI have always been happy with the product(s).

Here is where I get into some of the bad…

Over the past 5 years I have increasingly gotten into the DIY (do-it-yourself) PC mode. More and more when I upgrade I now need to call Microsoft support to ensure them that yes I do own a Windows license and am in fact just upgrading or rebuilding my machine. Although I have yet to be infected or harmed in any way by a lapse of security on Microsoft’s part I cannot ignore the fact that their security is increasingly coming under fire and has had numerous flaws exposed.

As someone who works with Internet technologies I’m constantly being exposed to open source software and tools, and am continually amazed at what great quality software exists for free….with that being said I have been spending a few months lurking on the Ubuntu Linux boards. Now with the recent launch of Vista I’m looking at at least a few hundred dollars to upgrade, and will lose my XP license as a part of that upgrade process. Well that made the choice much easier for me…..

The time has come to give Linux a fair try. So on Sunday February 18th, I backed up all my important data to an external hard disc, burned the Ubuntu 6.06 Dapper Drake ISO release to CD and then wiped my drive. Low and behold the Linux trial is about to begin…

Stay tuned for my trials and tribulations…