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.
Nandan V, Student
I've been using Ubuntu for a little over a year now, and I find it to be wonderful. It provided me with a great introduction to the Linux Desktop and I haven't felt the need to move away. In the last few months, I have managed to move away from using winXP completely and only use it when I am forced to for "external reasons" .
R Benjamin, Student
Okay, so about a year ago a techy friend was talking to me and raving on and on about how great Ubuntu was. I'm good with computers, but I never got around to trying Ubuntu until a couple months ago. Boy, what made me wait? After I downloaded it, I immediately burned it onto a CD and used booted from it. I was amazed.
The operating system worked flawlessly with my compaq laptop, ran faster than lightning compared to vista, and ALL the software that came with it was free! No trials, hidden payments, and monthly fees! FREE! Needless to say, thought I still use vista because some programs don't work aren't compatible, Ubuntu is my primary OS and I am amazingly impressed by it.
Ivica, Student
I tried many Linux based OS's, but except for Ubuntu, all of them had some features which I missed. Ubuntu works for me without much stress. I like when an operating system has features to explore, it makes using it much more interesting. And my computer doesn't slow down when I have many programs installed.
Pradeep Balagangadharan, Systems Engineer, Siemens Information Systems Ltd.
I used to be a fan of RedHat Linux until I came across this piece of gold. Ubuntu is amazingly fast, eats low on system resources and is very secure. Most importantly, no longer do I need a good antivirus software. A superb OS, even you would love to embrace it.
Canonical has done a wonderful job, by materializing this concept of shipping OS installation discs for free!
Luca A. Marinosci, Developer, Analyst, System Administrator(and loose time researcher)
I've switched to Ubuntu when i bought my little Eee pc 900...I wanted to try and...Ubuntu rocks...it's...just...beautiful! I've been a Ms system adimn for so long...too long! WIth Ubuntu u have control...u can do way more things...
Now my personal webserver is running Ubuntu, my Eee pc, and soon even my G1s
Thx Ubuntu!
Ryan MacNeille, Linux Technician
I have been using and developing Linux for over 5 years. Kubuntu is my only source for computing. The open source capabilities of this software are truly endless. If you can imagine it you can create it. Everyday people ask me what that weird flashy cube is on my computer and I can spend hours explaining the wonders of this system. Linux is constantly being upgraded and changed, it will never stop and it will take over all other operating systems in the future.
The Linux community is amazing, if there is anything a new user doesn't know, there are thousands of more advanced users ready to answer their questions.
The addition of Compiz Window Manager creates a 3D world of magic on your desktop, or I should say "desktops."
Linux will never die. Windows is already on it's way.
In a world full of gates, walls and fences, who needs windows?
If you have ever thought that your operating system is too slow, troublesome, cumbersome or just plain annoying, switch the Linux! You don't have to format your entire hard drive and start all over with something you don't understand. If you want to try it, just download it for free and run the system off of a CD or flash drive. Use it until you understand it, then install it if you wish. In the system setup you can choose to partition your hard drive and have Windows and Linux on the same computer. If you have a problem with Linux and can't get online, reboot into Windows and figure it out. Want to use your Windows files without rebooting? Simple! You can view every file on your hard drive through Linux.
Linux comes preloaded with a better version of every piece of software that you would normally pay for in Windows; Office software, multimedia players, graphics editors, instant messengers, torrent downloader, IRC client, Bluetooth, Cd & DVD Burners, etc. It's all there. And if there is something extra that you want, simply install it, for free! All of these programs are more advanced than Windows versions.
Linux Forever!
Dan, Carpenter, Student, Computer/Tech Enthusiaist
I switched to Ubuntu from Windows XP about three months ago. I didn't have anything against XP or Microsoft I just always had a curiosity about Linux but was a victim of the misconceptions. So one night I decided to download Ubuntu 8.10 and install it. I was immediately submersed into the exciting world of Ubuntu. It satisfied my tech desires, my gracefulness desires, my aesthetic desires, it satisfied just about every desire I had. I am now proud to say that I have wiped Windows from my drive and converted my Dad, brother, girlfriend, and a friend. They all enjoy it greatly.
ubuntunerd, pc addict
Ubuntu has made my life different in many ways and I'm thankful for all that I have learn because of it.
Here is how I give back to Ubuntu by showing others how to use it: http://my.opera.com/ubuntunerd1/blog/
Mario Vidal Fernandez, CEO of PRA Enterprises
For many years I've been using the Windows operating system. I've also tried Mac OS X, however ever since I tried Ubuntu Linux I was shock of how powerful, how fast, how secure the operating system is. Ubuntu Linux is the best operating system I've ever used next to Mac OS X. It's the most secure, fastest, customizable, un-hackable, most powerful operating system. I had Windows Vista on my HP Media Center PC and when I tried Ubuntu, I completely deleted Windows off my PC and it's now 100% Ubuntu Linux. Even my netbook has it.
PRA Enterprises will support open source software and will revolutionize, bright forward open source to the world. Ubuntu Linux, Mozilla Firefox and other software libre (FLOSS) shall be embraces by trillions of people. Microsoft and Apple will see the potential and the power of open source software. I have never been proud until now to say, free and open is the key to the future.
Barry Siemon, Student: DeVry University
As a Computer Information Systems student I needed an Operating System that was not only stable and safe, but has the flexibility to be capable of dealing with many different programming languages. The work I do on the computer is too important to trust too an operating system that will eventually crash, for one reason or another, causing loss of data. I've never lost any data, after erasing windows, and switching to Ubuntu and Linux Mint permanently. Ubuntu is also great for every day usage with movie, music, photo, and document files. I recommend Linux to people all the time, while I keep repairing systems loaded with windows.
Azmi Atassi, Student
Linux has engaged my life in a way that Windows and Mac could not, it is an excellent operating system that deserves the best of awards. Its user friendly interface, and its simple way of operation makes Ubuntu a star. I just recently downloaded 9.04 and I love it. I recommend it to anyone that loves real and true technology!
cmltow, Student
I was a windows user looking for a way out. I had heard of Ubuntu because Firefox's Stumbleupon app (open source). I had been using open source apps for music, video and virus scanners for a couple years already. I was yearning to leave windows behind, but I was just too scared to make the jump. My chance finally came when XP crashed on me yet again. When I went to reformat the hard drive a familiar routine by now, I was told that my installation CD (which I paid almost 0 for), had been used too many times and that I needed to buy a new one. I felt dirty, like I was being exploited. This was the last straw. I wiped my hard drive, installed Hardy Heron and never looked back. I wish I would have switched years ago.
Mr. Thompson, Student
I'm a poor student, you know? I don't have money for the new wazoo the suits tell me I need to have. I grew tired of it and began searching for a new way of computing.
Linux was it. Ubuntu is now installed on my computer, and has been since 2007. I never looked back; the ease of use and simplicity of the desktop just cannot be beat.
Ubuntu is my choice OS. Nothing less.
Peter, Natural Gas Production
I've used windows for years and learned a LOT! Like how to remove viruses and spy-ware, edit the registry, do virus scans, reinstall and recover data.
When windows wouldn't support me any more I just couldn't bring myself to pay for the new windows and I opted for Linux.
I've bounced from version to version learning as I went but have settled on UBUNTU.
My old computers have new life now, I've resurrected every old PC in the basement, now that they're not bogged down with all the processes windows used they run faster than they ever did and my memory isn't choked either.
Windows is a giant ball of band-aids all depending on each other to stick together, every service pack adds another layer without healing the problem, the very core of windows, how it runs and how it gives permission to malicious software is the problem.
And windows will never be fixed because of the huge legacy of hardware and software that depend on that little OS buried under all those band-aids.
Thank you UBUNTU, Thank you Linux!
Adler Moraes, Student
Ubuntu introduced me to the Linux world, and I'm very grateful for it, although I use another distribution today.
Noam, Israel, SQA and Support
Ubuntu has entered my life when 6.06 was released.
After trying it our as a live cd on a thinkpad x31 and it has been there ever since, currently installed with 8.10. at work i use ubuntu servers as file and Oracle database server, allowing me to have endless uptime of these system. recently i have taken a P-4 system with 1gb of memory and an readeon ATI card and connected it to my lcd tv, after installing Boxee on it, it has become our wonderful media center and torrent client.
Later my 7 year old daughter inherited the X31, since i got a new dell from work, and she loves it, easy to use, easy to configure and much more.
My 3 year old son is using ubuntu as well on a P-3 system with 384MB ram, playing games such as supertux and gcompris.
all in all ubuntu has influenced my life at work and at home.
Thank you Ubuntu
Ahmed AlQotb, TV Presenter and Writer
Ubuntu is ideal for my works, the Arabic support is unlimited, and all needed tools are available, no need to install drivers, no need to install any additional software to start working..
Many references and materials can be available through free open source programs like bibletime, Zekr... etc. I have been using Ubuntu for more than 4 months, I never needed to go back to Windows, and now, I can't even try to do, while loosing all these advantages, ultimate simplicity and elegance.
Alex, Programmer Analyst
My first time using Linux was quite a while ago (90's), but I always use to go back and forth between Windows and Linux.Now I have dual boot with Vista, but I use windows Vista less and less.I'm very Happy with Ubuntu Gnome(9.04 beta) and I plan to make it my only OS'.
Khaleel Gebran , Student
I was using pirated version of Windows XP, i had heard about linux as a very secure os which was meant specially for servers and for geeks/hackers. I despised and hated Linux for what i knew was- it was only CLI with no user friendliness, no games, no one using it.
But after sometime i watched the movie- Gandhi which inspired me to stand on our own feet, and i was using pirated OS. So i thought to try the best linux Distro and first made a review of all popular distros, I googled and came across the free shipit offer of ubuntu. I requested one and first had a hard time in installing it(for everyone here primarily uses windows and nobody in our neighborhood knew linux), well after much struggling i first made a dual boot. And as i was having no active internet connection, i coludn't try out all the features. Later on i with much effort i learned to install s/w..etc Later on i came across Ubuntu ultimate 1.6 which was available in our library. I installed it and for the first time i watched a video and played music. I was very happy. But still i was missing my games. Sometime later i came across games which did not require a graphic card. I played them and still was not satisfied, then i started to search for Nvidia driver for my GeForce Nvidia 7500 card. I got that easily but i was not knowing how to install that!!. I put full 3 Months! effort searching for a how to. At last one fine Night i decide to experiment by going in the recovery mode available at the startup. I installed it and as i had heard that a Nice Nvidia logo came up!! BOy i just felt to scream like Hell!!
from then onwards i could play all the graphic intensive games... and then i learnt to connect to the internet..with my mobile modem.. which is very slow here in India...
2 years have passed since i first started using it.. and now i am loving it :-) you can say i am an EX-windows lover cum linux hater.. who changed after using and learning what Open source and linux have to offer.. Really i feel the contribution of those people who have helped OSS, Linux grow is Praiseworthy!! Thank you guys!!
alisadeq, student
when I brows an Arabic site I was seen an author invited us to use Ubuntu 7.10 . Then I downloaded it from Ubuntu site . After I install it and use it sometime , I removed windows XP and install Ubuntu 8.04 LTS .
and I now use ubuntu 9.04 beta , it's a very amazing, better than windows 7 , and it's more beautiful than mac osx .
Share Your story
Please tell us why are You using Ubuntu. Share Your story!
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