Ubuntu Users' Stories
Below you will find Ubuntu Stories submited by people all around the World. Most of them are in english, but we are also allowing other langauges.
If you want to contribute add your own story, help us to make this page more popular by telling your friends, posting it on your blog, digging it (etc), or contact us at ubuntustory@centrologic.com if you are able to translate it to your native language.
Who is using Ubuntu?
Check out who and why is using Ubuntu Linux. Read the stories below.
Dr. Kaushal Sharma, Faculty in University
I was bored from Microsoft Windows and its licencing procedure and want to try something else. one day i got UBUNTU 9.10 and decided to use it. I am a bigginer to the computers but install it easily on my laptop. (yes i have some problem to install a fresh copy not alongwith the windows). but i feel gr8 desktop look portability, but needs some emphasis on-
1. compatibility in office
2. more functionality in open offices
3. printer installation is not available to my Canon LBP 2900
if these problems will resolve, the ubuntu is the ultimate solution for windows.
Barry Schinnerer, School Busdriver
Full time Geek running Ubuntu 9.10 as of 1/9/2010. I was thrilled to find a working alternative to Windows. I started using Debian but switched to Ubuntu because of its ease of use. Now, if I could only talk my wife into using Ubuntu instead of Windows!!
WebNuLL, Student
Im web developer, i posted my bigger application on one of PHP forums and the first response was "its not working on my Linux", then i wanted to install Linux.
I went to my friend, he gived me Ubuntu 8.04, when i launched livecd i said "WOW its amazing", installed it as dual-boot with windows xp.
After two weeks i full stared using Ubuntu.
After 4 months - Debian, after next 3 moths Arch Linux - and here im :)
Currently im not using windows, i dont need it!
Martinex, unemployed /student
I first tried Linux Ubuntu 7.10 in 2007, because my Windows XP was broke down for good (blue screen with information about HDD damage during instalation, but HDD was fine;p).
And liked it. No cost, no viruses, without reinstalation every month, aplications free of charge, simple, fast and secure.
I do not regret changes.
A Hampton, IT Engineer
I took the leap to Ubuntu edgy a few years ago after trying many other distributions in dual boot situations. Ubuntu was taking off, and I have never looked back. I run Ubuntu at home, and am able to run hardy at work, with VirtualBox for the connectivity to MS Exchange. I love the speed, flexibility and security that Ubuntu provides on modest hardware. My career has benefitted from linux and Ubuntu.
Ace Leon, Technician
I am managing a cybercafe and I for the 6th time I had to shut down the whole place because of a god-forsaken malware I decided to look for an alternative which would satisfy these requirements:
1. Safe - No Viruses, malware, spyware, or any other whatever stuff that kills a computer system and your peace of mind.
2. Free - I don't want to pay again everytime I reformat my computer.
3. Satisfying - A system that will let me enjoy my computer peripherals to the fullest.
And they were all satisfied. Not by an antivirus, not by a firewall protection software. But an operating system.
Ubuntu is the one I picked.
It took me only 4 days to know the DIYs of the system. I started off 2 months ago, and now, I'm even getting people converted to Ubuntu.
I still use Windows XP, but that is only for my client machines on the cybercafe. My server computers hold Ubuntu as well as my pendrive.
What you will like to Ubuntu is that it is straightforward in giving you the feel that you don't need a lot of codes to learn. And you don't need to tinker to all those programming languages if you're a total plain computer user.
Ubuntu also comes with a bundled freebies of software you would normally pay thousands for their Windows counterpart. The bundle includes:
1. The OpenOffice Suite, which by now can open even Office 2007 files.
2. GIMP, which is the best free alternative to Photoshop.
3. Mozilla Firefox, the safest way to browse the internet.
and many more.
If you really wanted some software, you may use the add/remove feature of Ubuntu 9.04 or the Ubuntu Software Center of 9.10 to install whatever software you'll need.
Newbie or not, Ubuntu has an edge now. Linux evolved into something revolutionary. I suggest and recommend you to move to the revolution too.
Your name Kyle Bianchi, Self-described nerd & full-time student.
Ubuntu Linux came in handy at just the right time for me. I started school four months after losing my job, and I was tight for money. Student loans and federal grants got my classes taken care of, but the required software I was supposed to buy would've set me back -- I couldn't afford it. Microsoft Office is ridiculously expensive, so Ubuntu keeps you a step ahead by having OpenOffice pre-installed. It's great. You get all the compatibility for none of the cost. Linux, by nature, is safe and reliable. I've been using Ubuntu for about two years now, and since then I have overwritten my Windows partition and use Linux full-time now. Not having to worry about spyware, viruses, and DLL hell make using Linux a simplistic task -- one which I am happy to say that I am going to stick with for as long as I use computers.
Johndavid400, Apartment Manager
I hated having to reload Windows every few months because of inevitable viruses. I have been using Ubuntu since 2006, and it is now the only operating system I use. Nothing gets to me more than when my friends and family ask me Windows questions every few days... I tell them to switch to Ubuntu! My wife even switched to Ubuntu after a few months of seeing me use it. Even as a beginner, I have had no problems with Ubuntu that the community of users online could not help me figure out. It is the best linux distrobution in my opinion.
Ando R, Student / Freelance Web Programmer
I first tried Linux (Ubuntu 7.10) because my Windows XP had once again crashed my system permanently. The start was a bit clumsy, but I figured it out. What amazed me was how much more faster and easier working with a computer can be. And that I don't have to pay anything for my software. As a tremendous extra, World of Warcraft works even better under Linux. I've recommended Ubuntu to all of my friends and some of them even "went Linux" and are happy with it. No viruses, no payment, no stress - Thank You Ubuntu.
David Hilton-Bright, Teacher and Web Designer
After fitting a larger hard disk in my computer, I discovered that Windows would only allow two installs. After I fussed around getting a customer number from Microsoft, I installed Windows again and accepted the latest updates, which included some Microsoft malware called Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA). It told me my legitimate copy of XP was now counterfeit!
To avoid the annoying messages, I began to use Linux and when I couldn't get my sound and printer to run after one Linux upgrade, I tried a free copy of Ubuntu 9.04 that came with a computer magazine DVD. To my amazement absolutely everything was configured perfectly. I have still got Windows XP but I only use it for Dreamweaver and testing sites I have designed. It's just not safe to go on the Internet in IE and Windows any more and Firefox in Ubuntu runs smoother anyway. They only write viruses for the most popular browsers - Windows Internet Explorer - how sad - never mind I have Firefox and Ubuntu!
Pouyan, University Student ,Iran
It is a Linux and Linux it selfs means flexibility. Of course Ubuntu has made it easier to use and make it work with everything you want.Having it installed on My old AMD DURAN tm 700MHZ PC and Also My Core Due Laptop shows the complete flexibility of this system.
Shane, Student
I'd been raised on Windows, and became what is known as a 'power user'. I knew about Linux, but wasn't quite sure about it, whether I'd be able to use it, and use it well. Then along came a nasty virus, constant fragmentation, and everlasting disc cleanups. So out with Windows, and after a lot of thought as to what distro would best suit me, along with a couple days research, I downloaded and installed Ubuntu (8.04). I've been in love ever since. I even installed it on my second pc (first one is dead, may it RIP) a 500Mhz copaq deskpro with a mere 384mb of ram. And it was like witnessing a resurrection. It now gives the 2Ghz windows XP box a run for its money!
Long Live Ubuntu!
Jun Ramoneda, Application developer
I've been a windows guy for quite a while and have been playing with a lot of linux distros for quite sometime too. I installed Ubuntu on my laptop when i got fed up having my computer infected by viruses despite having antivirus software. Been using Ubuntu as my main os since 8.04. I find Ubuntu quite a joy to use.
Jodan, CEO, Philosoft IT
I started using Ubuntu about two years ago, because one of my friends sugested it as a viable free alternative to Windows.
About a year ago I stoped using Ubuntu because some things on my laptop just didn't want to work, but that was 8.04 Ubuntu has made such a massive leap forward with 9.04 and 9.10 that I think I might never need to go back!!
Today my company runs a Ubuntu network server, and most(if not all) of our PCs and Laptops run Ubuntu or Ubuntu flavours(Mint,Xubuntu,Kubuntu,Edubuntu,Ultimate Edition etc...)!!
Aaron L, United States Marine
I have been tired of using Windows for a long time. It was slow, full of problems, and hard to update. The first thing you have to install after reinstalling Windows (again) is a virus scanner. I started using Ubuntu when my laptop would not work, and I could not get into the repair partition of the hard drive. I had been considering using Linux for a while, but was a little nervous. I found Ubuntu, installed it on my laptop, and have never looked back. I love Ubuntu, and I like the inherent security and cleanliness of the operating system. My friends come to me quite a bit to fix their computers, and when I tell them to try Ubuntu, they are also nervous, or have never even heard of linux, but generally love it when they see it. Now, I have both the computers in my house running Ubuntu, with no problems. Even my kids prefer it over windows. (It's a lot faster than Windows, my son told me.)
Paul Muchira,
I have been working on Windows operating system for years until this year 2009 April when I decided to migrate to Ubuntu,I gave a brief basic operational manuals to my organisation staff about this free open source and all are proudly using Ubuntu. Our organisation server is also operating on linux and i have not experienced any problem for months since migration.I also realised that with ubuntu I can do so many operations since it comes with inbulit packages. It just install and you can start using it. I recommend Ubuntu to people still on Windows OS. Try Ubuntu and you won't regret. It's easy,free,flexible and affordable.
Cassidy James, Web Developer
I used to think Linux was a super-complicated DOS-like operating system for servers and servers only.
Then I tried out Ubuntu on a live CD.
I promptly installed it as it was obviously a much more secure, stable, and usable OS than Windows. I've used Ubuntu ever since.
Jake Fulton, Student
My father first mentioned Ubuntu to me, being a computer guy. The idea seemed pretty cool at first. The more I learned about it the more I wanted it. So eventually we got around to installing both Windows and Ubuntu on my laptop. I use them equally or perhaps Ubuntu more. The more I continue to learn about it the more I love it!
RICHY.B, IT STUDENT
I'VE been using a desktop with xp mce for the last 4 years and have had to reinstall at least once a year. I recently had to purchase a laptop for college with vista installed, which i've been happy with until i decided to install ubuntu 9.04 on my old desktop. Wow I've been using it for 2 weeks now and it makes my new laptop feel like something from the 90's.i love it so much i have compleatly wiped my hard drive & clean installed jaunty it's all i need and more, bye bye microsoft.
Adam, ex-I.T.
I was as Systems Administrator from Win NT4 on up to Server 2003, and nothing was worse than coming home from a 12+ hour day just to do tech support for my family's computers. I couldn't catch a break!
I installed Ubuntu 5.10 on a spare laptop (this was years ago, when it was first released) and was very impressed by it. I played around with it long enough to realize that my wife and kids would have very little trouble moving from Windows XP over to Ubuntu.
I installed it on 5 out of 6 computers in my house--I still had to keep an XP box for work purposes, unfortunately. Soon my wife and children were learning the ropes of this new OS, and my home tech support time dropped down to nearly zero.
That was about three years ago. Today, Ubuntu is the primary OS in the house, my kids can switch between Windows, Linux and even Mac OS's with little or no problems, and my home network is secure and virus/malware free. It's like a breath of fresh air.
I finally left the IT industry and (unlike my SysAdmin job) am surrounded now by computers that just work and are secure, as well as users who truly understand what is going on with their personal machines. It's like heaven.
Now all I gotta do is get my parents interested. :)
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