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.
MysteryFCM, Nothing atm ..... got a broken arm/hand
I've been playing with Linux and Ubuntu on and off for a few years, and for now at least, constsantly come back to Windows as I find it a little too frustrating (well, that and I miss Outlook, along with the various programs and browser extensions I've written for Avant).
I've documented alot of my experiences both on forums, and in my old newsletter (I'll not link to them - just search for "MysteryFCM + Linux" ;o)), but more recently, I installed Ubuntu using Wubi, and whilst I don't use it often, it does give me the chance to play with it without having to load the live CD (pretty important considering my lappys CD drive is dead), and so far, thanks to help from Scotts Newsletter forums, I've been able to solve a couple issues, so may be moving it to a more permanent partition.
Winael, Support IT
In 2006, I decided to test the Cube Desktop in Beryl, and so I install my first Linux system, that was Mandriva. Unfornately, I was totaly lost, and no access to the Community.
After that I heard about Ubuntu. I decided to test it... and it didn't work because of my ATI graphic card.
I post a thread on the French forum of Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu-fr.org) and in 40 minuts somebody help me.
The French Community is very active, and the Wiki is so good.
And The distribution is so easy to use. That's why I installed Ubuntu on all my computer. I become an Ubuntu addict. I update my Ubuntu to the news Alpha 5 for each version since Gutsy Gibbon :p. I joined recently the Ubuntu-party-Paris team.
That's all Folks !!!
Shivkumar, Technology Consultant
I have been using Linux (Redhat 6) since 1999. Debian was my distro of choice till recently. I have been using Ubuntu since 6.10 and have never looked back. I even deploy Ubuntu servers on all my clients' hardware! Last week, I got myself an Asus EeePC 701 (eeepc.asus.com) and replaced the existing Xandros distribution with Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron).
Its the most user friendly desktop distribution I have encountered and I always have a few admirers and converts whenever I show off Beryl (on my Toshiba laptop) or Compiz-Fusion on this one.
Ubuntu Rocks!!!
Toby Adams, Vendoe ICT Teacher
My subject at the Leigh Technology Academy, London, UK is heavily focused on pioneering ICT systems and technologies. I believe that Ubuntu Linux is a pioneer of innovation in today's rapidly diversifying landscape of technology. Implemented on a few systems in my department, soon to be expanded department wide.
Dave, Small Business IT Support
A little over a year ago, I took over IT support for a small company. I'm not exactly a "professional", but I'm a geek, the company belongs to some friends, and I couldn't really turn them down.
The machines I "inherited" were a real mess - my clients had no appreciation for licensing or copyright laws. (Neither do I, really, but this is a Business environment, and with the livelihoods of several people on the line, I couldn't afford to take too many chances)
I think they had one legitimate copy of Win2K, several legitimate installed copies of WinXP (Pre-installed - no installation disks) and various "evaluation" copies of Win2K Server and Win2K3 (If you didn't get "Pirated" from that euphemism, there's no hope for you)
The sum total of my linux experience was about 10 minutes using a Knoppix LiveCD, and I wasn't thrilled with abandoning a system I "knew" for one that I had no idea about.
With Windows Vista looming on the horizon and a client-expressed desire to upgrade, and knowing that P-III were not going to cut it, my options were to either help them break copyright law, abandon them entirely, bill them a fortune for new equipment and licenses, or find some less expensive option.
My Linux experience started out pretty rough. After trying to install 4 different distros on what turned out to be a marginal hard disk, I had actually given up and started reinstalling XP. It wasn't until XP crashed on install that I new I had other problems. When I tried again, Dapper Drake was on the top of my stack of distros, it installed quickly, and gave me very few issues.
In 2 weeks, I was confident enough to press a Dapper server in to cover the minor functions of their primary server (A win2k box), and over the next two months, I slowly pulled every function off the old server, boxed up its hard drive for a fail-back.
That original server has been upgraded every 6 months, about a month after I've used the distro on my own machines. I've never done a "clean" install since Dapper - and it's running great now on Hardy. (Its backup has had clean installs after each distro)
A few weeks back, my sister was talking about purchasing a point-of-sale system for her restaurant. Thanks to my experience with Ubuntu, I think I can build the whole system for a tiny fraction of the costs she was expecting to pay.
Maxo, Programmer
I was always helping my wife get around the quirky things Windows would do after being installed for just a few months. I tried Ubuntu on a dual-boot and became sucked in.
As a complete computer nerd, I love all the playing that open source allows me to do. I can configure almost every aspect of the desktop very easily (without any hardcore modding.)
I now have four computers in the house (if you want to include OLPCs XO) and they all run Ubuntu. I couldn't afford to buy a full Windows license for each one, and don't have the time to constantly trouble-shoot and fix every single Windows problem that comes up.
This is not to say that Ubuntu is 100% flawless, but the number of problems I run in to is much smaller.
My non-techie wife had no problems moving to Ubuntu either.
Daniel, Doctor
I finally made the switch to Linux about a month ago and haven't looked back! Having used windows for years I got fed up with the sluggish performance, BSODs and security holes..there had to be a better way. Buying a new laptop recently with Vista preinstalled was the last straw. Why buy a new laptop with a new operating system with the end result that it runs slower than the pc you are replacing!! Off went Vista and on came Ubuntu! Ironic, that thanks to Vista, more and more people will be trying Linux!!
Dan Palmer, Student
I was a Windows user for all of my life until I was introduced to linux early in high school. However I didn't know enough about it at the time to use it.
Now I use Ubuntu along with Mac OS X as together they make the perfect system. The only thing I was worried about was Linux's apparently terrible support for wireless networking. I have to use the internet wirelessly, so this was an important issue for me. But I decided to try Ubuntu anyway.
After a very quik install and reboot out of the Live disc, I logged in for the first time havinginstalled no drivers myself, and the first thing I was presented with was a box saying: "Ubuntu has found a wireless network. Would you liek to connect?". So much for bad wireless support! It supported the encryption on my network as well, which is more than I can say for Windows Vista which didn't support anything above WEP!
Linux is the perfect OS replacement for Windows. Get it now and be part of the revolution!
Skar, Network Administrator
I have used linux for few projects in the past but never really felt like using it as my main OS. But then everything changed after I started using Ubuntu (Gutsy).
Not only have I switched from Windows, but I have completed formated my HDD replaced it with just Ubuntu. I have never experienced an operating system that is not only rich in features. Getting all your applications are just a click away from the Synaptics pkg manager. Stability and security is as good as it can get. And have the options and means to harden this OS to any level you require.
From the ease of use to the interface design Ubuntu is simply beautiful. And most importantly with Ubuntu, YOU ARE FREE.
Steven, United States Air Force
I have been using an old laptop (800 MHz, 512 Megs of RAM) for years, running winxp. It was suggested to me that I try Linux on it, and see if it worked better. It did, not surprisingly. I continued using it for a few more years, when eventually I grew tired of it, and longed for a new computer. I was going to recycle the computer through my new computer's program, but it would cost me . I was tempted to throw it in a dumpster, but I wanted to do the right thing. I kept it around a few months, updating it to 7.10, then 8.04. I wanted to try to use it to help somebody else get into Linux. Eventually, I sold my old laptop to a fellow Airman for . I only asked for , but he said the extra was for tech support. I have since helped him grow accustomed to Ubuntu and it's peculiarities and difficulties. It's amazing that such old computers can still be useful today.
Mike W, Corporate Developer Drone
Write Your story Having messed around with Ubuntu since 7.04 (dual booting with XP) I finally made the jump and went Linux-native with 8.04.
Main reasons?
I loathe the necessity to install (and pay for) so-called 'anti-virus' software which only seems to nag and leech performance.
I admire the community ethos of the whole 'nix thing (especially Ubuntu, natch).
As a professional Windows developer I have absolutely nothing against Microsoft but I feel they totally dropped the ball with Vista - An OS whose design seems to have been totally driven by the type of gross corporate ineptitude I have to deal with at work every day.
Vista was the last straw for me (at home, at least).
There are, of course, more reasons...
I've a few work related XP VMs running under VirtualBox on my Ubuntu system and they run faster than Windows natively.
My one gripe?
Please, please someone create a friendly, capable UI to deal with the demonic xorg.conf
Chris Dominowski, Ubuntu Forever!
If I were to say how many times my windows machine has crashed, the string theory could not accurately personify it. I was thinking about getting a mac, but they are also notorious for breaking down. Needless to say, when I heard there was a better alternative to either system, I was ecstatic. To make a long story short, I haven't used windows again after installing ubuntu. Why would I? The difference between Winblows/Smackintosh and Linux is the difference between a Lean-to hut and a Mansion. Ubuntu is clearly the better choice, and I'm never going back... ever.
Mike Moya, Tech
I turned on my Windows Xp computer and got denied access, it would not load up at all. Only way to fix this was to reinstall windows entirely and loosing everything.
So what I did was I got on a friends computer and downloaded Ubuntu 6.10 and I installed it on my computer on a new hard drive so that I can recover my stuff from the windows drive. Success!!! Ever since then I'm a complete Ubuntu user with out any crashes or access deny junk. Also I've been able to learn another language and become completely fluent with it. It is for human beings!!!
Finley, retired
I have been messing around with various Linux distributions for years, always running a dual boot and engineering some spectacular crashes. I don't know how many times I've had to reformat/reinstall. I have always hated Windoze. It is like they just don't care how many crashes and how much grief you have to put up with. Anyway this isn't an anti Windoze rant.
After I recovered from my two year addiction to World of Warcraft I downloaded Gutsy Gibbon, burned it and installed it. I couldn't believe how smoothly it went. I wiped windows from my hard drive and now run Ubuntu 8.4. I love it.
Only reason I can see to run windows is if you are a serious gamer, but Wine (running windows apps in Linux) gets better all the time.
Dan, IT Specialist
My first Linux distro was Caldera linux. Yes, really. For several years, I rode the fence between Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. Once I tried an early version of Ubuntu, I finally made up my mind. I'm still required to use Windows and Mac OS for my career, but at home we are an ALL Ubuntu family.
My eight-year-old goes wild over his Xubuntu installation, my wife is 100% comfortable with her own Ubuntu desktop, and have Ubuntu on both my personal desktop and laptop.
We couldn't be more pleased! We all spread the word about Ubuntu to everyone we can, and feel great about doing it!
Eric, Unemployed Student
My reason for switching to Ubuntu (and Damn Small Linux) came as I got fed up with Windows completely. It actually started when I heard that Ubuntu would send you a nice, pressed CD for free, so I sent away for one and, lo and behold, I received Ubuntu (Gutsy) and didn't have to pay one red cent.
I started messing around with it and, of course, ruined it...a few times. Unlike Windows it proved so much easier to bounce back (although I did need to reinstall at a couple points). As a music student, I need a score writing program and want other sound editing software. Ubuntu came to the rescue once again with Ubuntu Studio (which I currently run along with Wine 1.0rc1) providing me with the equivalent of thousands of dollars in audio/video production software.
The support is amazing and always helpful and I have become a semi-active member of the community and an evangelist of its Linuxy goodness. I tell all of my fellow musicians that if they want a studio computer on the cheap to use Ubuntu Studio or people who want an alternative to windows to use Kubuntu.
I cannot thank these people enough who work so hard to make this as painless a Linux distro as possible.
Papa.Coen, Software Engineer
I have always wanted to use Linux, but I like my (dos/WinXX) games too. With Ubuntu, leaving my games behind is not such a bad swap. Some of my games even run on Ubuntu. I still have a dual boot though, but only when I want to play a game that is for WinXX only.
Nonetheless, I've been using Ubuntu for over half a year now, and I'm still using it today for everything (even gaming, just not _those_ games).
Corvus Elrod, Freelance Storyteller
Several years ago, fed up with paying premium prices for unstable and non-secure software that functioned as the mega-corporations wanted and not as I wanted, I migrated to Linux.
As I replaced each of my productivity tools with excellent free and open source software, I tried a variety of distros and settled on one that was "good enough."
When Feisty Fawn was released, I gave Kubuntu a try and installed it on my desktop within the week. With every subsequent release, I've loved this distro more and more and I know run it on all the machines on my network.
Gilan, Retired
I first heard of Linux in '95. A classmate of mine showed me Red Hat on his laptop. I got a copy of it and installed it on my computer. For me the most important things on my computer are the video, sound, and internet access. I don't remember which, but one of them didn't work right with Red Hat. So I took Red Hat off. For about twelve years I would try different versions of Red Hat and different Distro's. Each time the same story. One or two of those things wouldn't work, or wouldn't work right. I'd wipe my drive and put Windows back. In 2006 I came across Ubuntu. I installed it on my Acer Laptop and everything worked. A few months later in 2007, I had sold my laptop and I bought a 2nd hand 500 MHz P III with only 256 MB of ram. I cranked up Compiz and was blown away. My mouth was literally hanging open. I couldn't believe the performance. It was like a brand new Dual Core system. I've been an Ubuntu addict ever since.
Jo-Erlend Schinstad, Consultant
I had my first look at Linux in 1994, I think, on a computer party. I liked the idea, but I didn't give it another though until another party in 1998. That's when I started using it, but it was still very complicated stuff. It took me a week to get a window system up and running, and I everything was enjoyable pain to a technical person. Since then, I've been sort of a Linux dipsomaniac. I've tried all the distros, used them for a while, and hated them all. Well, I've actually never hated Ubuntu, but then, Ubuntu was the first distro that made me stay. I'm sure all the others have improved vastly too, because, you know; people share.
Everything about Ubuntu attracts me; the technology, the human ethical way of thinking, the communities respect of other peoples feelings and convictions, but most of all the separation between software and hardware. Applications can improve without the need to buy a new computer, which in this age is really important, not only for one self, but also to the environment. People do buy new computers though, and there is nothing wrong with that. It simply means that someone else can inherit the old one and make good use of it, for personal growth, fun, profit or whatever it is that they need a computer for; and they won't be left behind because of its age.
Ubuntu is not for everyone, but if you keep complaining about your computer, and don't at least try it, then your computer is not the real problem. Your habits as a consumer is, so stop complaining and live with your problems -- or try to sort them out. Ubuntu has solved all of my problems, computer-wise, and fixed a lot of problems I hadn't even considered before. All my hardware just works; no driver installs. All the software I need is installed by default; except some codecs, which are really easy to install. Granted, I'm not the most demanding user; I download videos and watch them, purchase and listen to music online. I use the web, mail, office stuff, accounting stuff, write some software, edit some videos... Normal stuff that people do, nothing fancy, but the feeling of having the system work for me instead of against me, is .. Well worth the money not spent.
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