When should you not use Ubuntu LInux
My very good colleague Morten asked a very relevant question in the company discussion forum:
Why should you not wish to use Ubuntu Linux. That was his question after reading that my laptop running with Ubuntu 9.04 and the EXT4 file system boots and starts up Firefox in 42 seconds.
Here is my reply.
There are lots of reasons why you should not run Ubuntu.
Microsoft Windows software does not
run on Ubuntu
This is the short reply. There are ways
of running MS Windows software on Ubuntu, but thery are for the initiates
of the 7th circle who also read the F...... manual. And even for those,
not all Windows software will run on Linux.
The short version: MS Windows software wil not run on Ubuntu.
There are not Linux editions available
for all software titles
You have to make a list of software
titles or generic software needs. And then you start ticking off the list.
If all needs are met, go ahead and run Ubuntu.
I for instance need a graphics package.
On MS Windows I use Paint Shop Pro. There is a nice Graphics package called
GIMP available in the standard Ubuntu installation. Check.
Note: The Domino Designer client is
not available for Linux.
Not all hardware is supported
If you are running high-end, cutting
edge or exotic hardware, it might not be supported.
It is my impression that this problem
is not so big as it has been.
Other issues
Web banking. Will it run on Linux. Some
banks' web interfaces do and others don't run in Firefox on Linux. Mine
works.
Digital signature - a Danish Digital
signature for logging on to (mostly) government-run websites. You have
to jump hoops and do special magic tricks to make it work. I haven't had
any success yet. A colleague says he managed.
Who should not run Ubuntu?
A Lotus Notes Developer. No Notes designer
Client.
Who should run Ubuntu?
In a company context I would say it
would work for your average Office worker. Email, Document management,
web surf. No problem.
Network admins and both Java and HTML
developers will be fine with Ubuntu.
In the home context:
People who do not need to play games.
The technically inclined. Or those who
have a neighbour who is.
People without high-end hardware
People that like fixing problems.
