windows – 🇺🇦BerkeleyLUG

Why do most people use Windows as our computer operating system? Windows is used by 88% of computer users as their operating system , MacIntosh is 6%, iOs 3%, Java ME 1%, Android 1%, and Linux is 1% according the latest figures from http://www.realtimestats.com/. Link http://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?spider=1&qprid=8. Windows definitely has an operating system monopoly with no competitor even close. Unfortunately most software manufacturers simply give few non-linux interoperability and support options.

I believe Ubuntu is a good alternative choice and is much cheaper. Ubuntu is a very popular Linux distribution. Linux is very much winning on servers and phones, even over former market leader Apple with their iPhone.

Mark Shuttleworth recently said at the Ubuntu Developer Summit in Budapest, Hungary on May 5, 2011 “Bring free software to widest possible audience”. He also wants 200 million new users in 4 years.

To start using Ubuntu please download ubuntu.com/download, and receive Ubuntu support and assistance you are on your way from moving away from Windows. I’m a member of Berkeley LUG and we give out many copies Ubuntu or Ubuntu distros as we can to meeting attendees on a volunteer basis.

1) You will never pay money for an upgrade of Windows or Mac OSX. Not only is it “much cheaper” but by percentage technically it is infinitely cheaper!

2) Users will probably never get another computer virus

3) You won’t have to buy Spy ware

4) No need to deal with licensing fees for computer software. But M$ Office is a major revenue cow for their company. Open Office now Libre Office is a real threat. libreoffice.org.

5) Anyone can legally share free software with co-workers and friends that are big bonuses.

6) Older computers and equipment work well with Ubuntu

7) Fewer hardware upgrades, but Moore’s Law marches on and everyone can benefit from faster hardware.

8) You don’t need automatic updates. As initially configured during installation automatic updates are turned on in Ubuntu.

9) Easy to have quick upgrades with Linux — Some say too quick.

10) Ubuntu will have fewer computer bugs

11) Open standards mean there is compatibility across open platforms

12) Linux will never go out of business because it’s not owned by one company

Thanks to Bob Lewis of the Felton LUG mail list for the link to “Battle of the OS Titans” on Forbes.com written by John Dragoon, Novell‘s chief marketing officer. Novell is the sponsor of community-supported openSUSE. I think the article gives a nice summary, emphasizing that the dominance of Microsoft has loosened compared to a few years ago.

The Operating System release calendar this month is amazing: Microsoft Windows 7 general retail availability was October 22nd, Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala releases Thursday, October 29th, openSUSE 11.2 Fitche releases Thursday, November 12 and Fedora 12 Constantine is released Tuesday, Nov 17th. Apple beat everyone to a release by about a month: Apple’s OS X 10.6.1 was Sept 10th after the late August Snow Leopard release.

One point I would have liked to see John emphasize more is the impact of Google’s Chrome OS entry. This isn’t just any old Linux distribution. Google has significant mind share in the public at large and I am looking forward to seeing how the Linux and mainstream computing landscapes shift with it’s availability in the second half of 2010.

The telephone targeted Android was a good warm up. I use it daily on my phone. Yet the netbook & desktop targeted Chrome OS has some tricks (like a new security architecture) that should prove interesting. Mike Belshe has blogged about the Chrome browser development story giving some more background on this. I believe Google has achieved improved security, speed, and stability with their browser and I am looking forward to seeing how this approach translates into their Chrome OS (Linux) distribution next year.

For now I’m getting ready to celebrate the new releases.

Tag: windows

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