Discussion on:

10 reasons why Ubuntu 12.10 desktop blows away Windows 8

I use Ubuntu to extend the life of machines that seem to quickly become underpowered with following Windows release.

I was surprised that the author did not provide a link to Ubuntu's requirements. I think it would be helpful to the reader.

12.10 requires more resources to run than 12.04.

if you have machines 2006, then stick to 11.10 or earlier distros of ubuntu.
well, that or mint.

My "Linux box" at home is a rather low-powered netbox that runs 12.04 okay as long as I'm not doing much more than web browsing (which really is almost all that I do on it), but opening new programs takes.

A.

While.

I think maybe I'll have to give Mint another look.

I dual boot a 3 year old laptop with Win7 and Mint... works great! No plans to change.

You can get the benefits of the Ubuntu repository and kernel fixes etc., by just using Xubuntu (either directly install, or after installing Ubuntu, add xubuntu-desktop as a package).

You have a computer guru

IT DEFEATS THE CONCEPT OF "PERSONAL COMPUTER"

I am thermonuclear against LINUX.

So if you're "thermonuclear against Linux, DON'T run it! It's your choice. The rest of the world doesn't care.

Over the years I have tried Ubuntu and other distros however it never fails some required support file, driver, etc. diverts my attention and requires me to search, read, learn, try, troubleshoot and fail. Seems like with Windows those issues are less noticeable. That said, after reading your brief, I will now try the new version.

Not sure why everyone keeps saying that the UI has changed in Windows 8. Metro is just a full screen Start Menu...they desktop and all of your legacy apps are still there and are being developed still. I have been running it since the consumer preview and now I am running the RTM thanks to tech net. I also run Linux and Mac machines, Ubuntu was my distro of choice but after unity it just sucks, I try every new version but keep going to CentOS 6.

Then you can change the GUI.
it's not that hard to do.

I'm really struggling to see the real benefits over windows 8 as attempted to be defined here. Most if not all these features outlined by the author are already available in Windows 8 in some form or fashion. I detect a hint of bias in this article due to the lack of objectivity.
1. Why would I want the amazon search feature? If I want to search amazon content I include the amazon keyword in my google search or I go to amazon's site. Going to amazon's site is not that hard. This amazon search feature is not necessary and does not add any real value in my opinion.
2. Dash Previews. I invite the author to right click a file in the search results of ANY recent windows versions and see how many options he is presented with.
3. Interface based on efficiency. I don't think I get your point here. Are you saying that having to use the mouse as well as the keyboard while doing work will make your experience inefficient?
I could continue but it's all in the same vein. UBUNTU 12.10 is comparable to Windows 8 to say the most. It definitely does not 'blow windows 8 away'.

Although I prefer Linux to Windows at this point in time, I do agree that the title is exagerated. I tried and really don't like "metro" on my desktop, and I do prefer Unity if those were my only two choices. Thank god they're not!

I really wish "Linux advocates" had a more realistic and tempered way of presenting things. This over-the-top "advertising" is really creepy. For instance, the "amazon search" thing has raised an uproar of discontent directed at Canonical. That Mr. Wallen is saying it's a wonderful "feature" is a dubious decision. I don't mind an occasional "lipstick on a pig", but this article is looking to pick a fight (or a flame war).

Such utopic presentations aren't useful as they leave the new user arriving on Linux wondering where the hell is that supposed utopia. I'm not saying the author is not entitled to his opionion, but temperance in his presentation would be a good pratice.

People who think anything other than Windows is going to be the dominant desktop really are out of touch with reality. The same can be said about people who think it can be replaced on business desktops. Who cares? Open-source software is not about market share. Lots and lots of good tools in the open source realm. Good desktops even. But why does it even matter? If you dig Ubuntu...or any other distro....knock yourself out. But stop lying about benefits that don't exist.

However... its very simple & easy to turn OFF the amazon search. Takes 2 seconds

Jack Wallen has been hoping Linux will become mainstream for years. Saying it is a winner doesn't make it so.

Windows 8 is going to push Linux farther and farther to the fringes. Android (Linux-based) is not a full-fledged operating system. Microsoft will have a consistent UI (and kernal) from phone, to tablet, to laptop, to desktop, and to server. We can probably include the XBox gaming console too, but I've never used a gaming console since the original Atari so I really can't say for sure. Let's not forget Microsoft's cloud software: SkyDrive, Outlook.com.

Microsoft just about has the Holy Grail when it comes to a unified ecosystem.

Linux is great for appliances: firewalls, phone servers (Inter-Tel), iMacs, and other devices where you don't want users getting under the hood. Linux is wonderful for the folks that like to brag about how much smarter they are than other people. It's great for the folks that like to dance to a different drummer.

I've been dealing with PC's since the CP/M and MP/M days. I was there when each vendor had a different flavor of CP/M. It was not fun. It was not productive.

I do not have any Microsoft stock.

Except, of course, for how every Win8 Surface tablet available today won't, oh, do things like run Windows software. And how all the WinPhone 7.x devices are falling by the wayside. And how all those Win7 licenses MS is so proud of having sold you won't run any of the WinRT apps.

Not sure "unified" means what you think it does. HTML5, once the vendors get past trying to stall the key standards - now THAT will be a unified experience.

Yes. Unless MS goes ahead with the Windows 8 Pro version of the Surface. Anyone who wants to transfer apps from their desktop can get that version. Though I wonder if the RT units can "talk" to desktops in other ways.

I know for sure that RDP and Citrix Receiver style remoting will be available on RT ... but that puts it on the same basis as iOS and Android and Linux, in terms of running Windows apps.

RT being able to RDP and having similar superpowers as iOS and Android is cool with me. My intent was to get the [cheaper] Surface RT to do what a hipster-version of me would do with an iPad.

My current convertible-tablet can be upgraded to Windows 8 Pro to do all those desktop like things (run Access, GIS, 3D-modeling, etc).

Of course, "APPS" is the name of the game. Office is a good start but they will need to bring in some heavy hitters. If MS goes RT all over their Streets & Trips GPS program, I can take the Surface on road trips instead of taking my more expensive Win8Pro convertible.

I find no requirement to go beyond office 2007. Ergo, I would consider W8 if my Office product will run well on it.

I have a DOS app running on my W8 Pro (actually Enterprise) tablet.

web apps are already the primary use by most people including companies whether internally hosted or "in the cloud".
Web apps are no longer tied to Microsoft or Windows.

BYOD is the new buzz at most companies including the fortune 50 one I work for... because all of our applications are web based. so mac, windows, linux doesn't matter.. browsers do

I think Microsoft's problem is that its lost its "hold" on what computing is and what people use it for. W/out that monopoly like control... their future is going to be alot tougher than their past.

Microsoft has both locally installed programs and web applications. Office is available in both flavors. I don't think this aspect of computing is their weakness. Their shortcomings are in device coolness and "web entertainment" software/services.

Until you loose your web connection and, with it, your application work. This web app model is nothing new. It's what the old guys would describe to me as the norm (terminals and mainframes). But local programs is still the way to go... in this case, go anywhere. Work anywhere you want.

Cut the cord, kids! Your parents pulling on your leash everytime you tried to run in the mall is NOT the norm.

I am running Windos7 now and have bin trying to switch to Ubuntu for several years and I have both systems installed on my dual boot desktop. With each new release I upgrade and hope that I will be able to completely switch to Ubuntu. I did not like the Dash but I got used to it. My problem is always to find the right drivers for the hardware that I have. Widows 7 goes out and automatically finds all the drivers that I need. Furthermore, some of the simplest things to get accomplished in Window takes a lot of extra work in Ubuntu. One example is copying a section of a picture. In Window I just use a tool to select a square and do Ctrl C and Ctrl P into my application. In Ubuntu I have to go from point to point to select the four sides and then it may not be square. I also have problems with Mail Merge. I have to search for everything in Ubuntu (maybe I am still on a learning curve) but in Windows I can get things done in a few minutes where it would take me half an hour or more in Ubuntu to do the same thing (Except Thunderbird and Firefox - I use both in Windows and Ubuntu). I have also been with computers since the days of CP/M and BBS'S and I do not like Microsoft and their hard-nosed ways (the likes of the former IBM dominant computer giant) and would love to get away from Windows entirely. I even tried some of the programs to run Windows programs from within Ubuntu but always there are several that I cannot run. Sometimes I have problems with Firefox where some sites will not display or run everything on the site and I have to use Explorer to get don what I want.

I do think though, that eventually the Linux based Ubuntu will replace Windows the way that Microsoft replaced IBM as the dominant computer operating system and Microsoft will go the way of IBM.

The ability to do emails, browse the web, write office documentation such as spreadsheets, podcasts, slide presentations etc, will be present in every product that we know or will appear. In all likelihood, if Linux takes a bigger share of the Market, MS will release a Linux version so as to not lose its bread and butter product. Office products will be the next race.

Glad to read that Ubuntu is becoming more and more a very viable to Windows, and for Windows-8 in particular for business and serious personal PC users. It will be interesting to see if, how, and when Microsoft responds. If they want to give business away to their competitors, that is their choice to make. But, it is axiomatic that when you lose business, it is so much harder to get it back.

"Jack's primary focus is on the Linux operating system and its effects on the open source and non-open source communities"
says it all really...........total and uttter load of codswallop I appreciate that Ubuntu is a good OS, but it is no where ready for what Win8 has to give.!.Why on earth does TR make stupid statements of this ilk...rather dissapointing somewhat.

I understand your feelings, at least I am trying to (am having some trouble with it, though). Your article has a very funny title to be honest. Could it be possible that you could curb your enthusiasm a bit and give your article a bit more of a realistic and fathomable title than "..blows windows away" ? I've noticed a trend of articles and blog posts online using nice vocabulary and a morbidly garish use of tech keywords to make it sound like the author knows what he is blabbering about. This article is one of those. Amazon.com search results in my face? No, thanks, I don't use it and I am sure a lot of people don't. How is it a feature? Just...How? *sigh*....

" If the file is a document, the preview will allow you to open the containing folder, open the file, or email the file."

Wow, ingenious. Windows never really had it...Windows 8 especially doesn't have it on the wall where you right click on it and is presented with many options at the bottom. Oh Windows 8 doesn't have it. *SARCASM INTENDED*

" I can attest, after using Unity since it first launched, that 12.10 is the most efficient desktop interface I have ever used."

Of course, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs (did) crave YOUR opinions as they are obviously expert opinions. *SARCASM INTENDED AGAIN*

"Ubuntu 12.10 has Web services directly integrated into both the Launcher and the Dash, making it one of the most well connected interfaces on the planet. The simplest example of this is the ability to have the arrival of Gmail announced in the notification area."

Sorry to burst your bubble but that integration has been introduced in Windows 8 as well. With the mail metro app, I get the email notifications on my desktop, at the top corner and it's a Windows issued notification.

"To take this to a new level, it decided to allow users to share files with others via Share Links. This feature lets you copy links to files within your UbuntuOne cloud storage and share those files with other users"

Read this, please:
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/windows/3360327/how-share-photos-files-windows-8-skydrive/

AND OUCH, I can't play all of my games on the "blowing" Ubuntu, at least not with 100% gaurantee or using the full potential of my graphics card.

Ubuntu is good, Linux is good. It's open Source, it's beautiful, perfectly suitable to those who don't have to play a lot of games and those who don't have to use applications which rely on Wine.

But really, don't make yourself the target of justified ridicule by choosing the title that you did for your article.

Thanks.

...this is funny story, if Ubuntu is so fine and good OS there's no need to compare it with any other, specialy not Windows 8. Big differeces are, so, that's good, people can choose and make their choises. Some of us likes Windows, good or bad OS, and some likes Linux,,,take what's the best of both of them...don't salt my mind about "mine is bigger"...that's stupid. Can't talk anybody in. We can try both of these and decide what is better for us. You keep on with Ubuntu, I want to give a chance to Windows 8, and I belive everybody should do the same. After that, we can talk.

I can't stop laughing after seeing the "amazon search" feature listed as the first reason why Ubuntu is going to beat Windows 8...haha.

Please, to whomever in charge on approving publish in 10 Things. Please don't ever let articles like this published online. It's going to ruin the good reputation on a site I really love.

Thanks in advance.

This 'comparison' is laughable and is a typical response from someone that dislikes Microsoft products 'on principle' as opposed to disliking them based on a mature debate of the features.

1 - Amazon Search. Hmm. Yes, great if you like shopping on Amazon. On Win8 you could use 'Bing Desktop' to search the ENTIRE internet, not just one site.

Actually, it's a waste of time to say any more about the other points which are equally blinkered. I agree with the post from overscaled. This article is junk.

Actually it's even betteryou can just open the chams bar, click search type in what you want to search for and Select where you want to search, Bing, Skydrive, apps, settings, Windows app store, contacts, maps and so on.

If Amazon releases an app, you can search in that aswell.

Windows 8 runs games.
Ubuntu? not so much.

Windows also has a LOAD of software that the Linux community can make mimics of.

If you're using a PC to surf and listen to music, Ubuntu as an OS is excellent.
it even lets you get a little fancy and do some neat stuff, should you feel the urge.
but will the average user feel comfortable using it?
noooope nope nope.

windows is what people use,
so they inherently feel more comfortable with it, even after a new version is installed.

the reasons you listed, author, don't really apply too much to a normal user.

That is all...

Number 1... Amazon Search. Now that's important? It would be about number 500 or so on my list. Now that I think about it, not on my list.

I see nothing that comes even close to Windows 8 in your Ubuntu offering. Are you sure you worded that headline the right way round? This question of using fingers or a mouse, does not Windows 8 allow you to use fingers as a mouse and keyboard ? I must confess that I have not used Ubuntu 12.10 but I see nothing there that would draw me away from Windows

Sorry, but it's still Linux and on the server - yeah, ok, but the desktop - fail. I appreciate all the hard work by Ubuntu and if that's what floats your boat - go for it. I'll stick with Windows (by the way, 8 is pretty dang neat! 7 is the way to stay, though, at the moment if you are a gamer). Just sayin'...

Normally the Linux guys get out in support of these sorts of articles. I can't remember a flame-bait article like this that's had such little support for Linux in the comments.

I certainly agree with others that there's not much in this article to suggest Ubuntu is going to blow away Windows 8 (which, of course, is not the only option. Many - probably most - people will stay on Windows XP or 7). And the language in the article is far too strong.

As someone that logs into servers all day long, the Remote Login feature sounds interesting to me. Having applied more thought to it, I don't know that I would actually use it. There are certain people out there that would appreciate it a lot, but it's not a mainstream feature that's going to drive people away from Windows.

I agree with the author about app installation. Windows has remained old-school on this for a long time. I believe they are introducing an app market with Windows 8 so perhaps that's about to change.

As for the other 8 points - they are all very weak. I can save two clicks when I want to search Amazon??? Wowee!! I actually agree that a good API around this could open up a lot of cool integrations in the future. I seriously doubt companies will be investing time to do it for Linux though. When such an API is built in to iOS people will start using it.

Dash Previews? Do you realise every advantage you listed has been available in Windows since, what, 2000?

Efficient interface? I didn't see a lot that sounded game-changing. I'd expect Ubuntu to have better keyboard support given the nature of its users. Windows has always had pretty good keyboard support too. Very few people actually use it though, so again it's hardly going to drive people away from Windows.

Integrated web services - do these need setting up. If so, wheres the advantage of just installing the existing applications that do this for you already (I remember using a toolbar app that notified me of new gmail messages several years ago).

UI change - yeah, this could certainly be a sticking point for Windows 8. History shows that when Microsoft releases big changes like this people hate it, but a few years later couldn't imagine going back. In any event, this isn't a differentiator. In fact, your description of the changes in Unity sounds like you were describing Windows 8! A massive/contentious change, but you can go back to the old way if you want to.

Same interface for tablet and PC - I'm not sure how you missed this, but Windows 8 is doing this too.

Performace - Windows 7 and 8 both make great use of hardware, and run on low-performance machines.

File sharing - I would have thought Dropbox has this market cornered. And I tend to believe in monopolies for these sorts of things - it works best when everyone uses the same system. Perhaps something new will come along and replace Dropbox, but it will take a platform with a critical mass (like iOS) to make that shift happen. It doesn't even matter if the Ubunut file sharing is superior.

Overall, this is a disappointing article, but not unexpected from Jack.

Have you tried NoMachine (NX Client for Windows) to log in to your Linux servers? Between !M and webmin there is nothing lacking from remote login.