I’ve used Linux operating systems on and off over the past few years.  Linux fanbois will tell you that you don’t ever need Windows again, and it’s great to use Linux, because Windows is crap.

I’ve got one thing to say to those fanbois.  Linux is still crap.

For the past 6 months I’ve been using Linux as my fulltime operating system.  I was dual booting with Windows Vista on a seperate partition.  That’s a different part of the hard drive for the non nerds.

I was using Ubunto 9,04.  It’s a very good operating system, and very easy to customise to how you want to use an operating system.  Just like Windows.

Before I go on.  In an operating system, I want something easy to use, and something that just works.

Ubuntu could not offer me that.  It was free, hoorah.  But if all the Linux lovers out want to see people make the switch, that’s regular users, not advanced computer users, Linux needs to improve, a lot.

I’ll be fair, because I still like Ubuntu a lot.  I’ll admit, I am not using it to post this, I am using Windows Vista, while I wait for Windows 7 to download.

MP3 and DVD Playback
It can be done, but not out of the box.  The reason is simple.  The licences for these are not free.  Linux is free.  They need to sort something out for the regular user.

Drivers
They have come a long way, but there is still a long way to go.  My wireless for example required a driver download, and another program to install it.  Many Google and forum posts to get it working.  Not goo enough.  In both Windows XP and Windows Vista, they work, out of the box.

WINE – Windows Emulation
I don’t want to have to use sub-par free applications that do what my Windows applications do.  Dreamweaver, and Fireworks for example.  Work on Windows, built for Windows.  The Linux way to go?  Install WINE.  A Windows emulator, to run your Windows apps within Ubuntu.  But, they don’t all work.

So instead of using Dreamweaver CS4, I was using MX2004.  Five year old software.

The same with games.  Some work, some require manual changes, some just don’t work, and NONE work like they do in Windows.  The frame rates are lower, and they are very much less stable.

OpenOffice
For free, this application suite is great.  It’s also available on Windows, I suggest you download it and give it a go.  I use Office 2007 though.  Compared to that.  It’s nothing.  That is however opinion.

Email
No exchange, no Outlook.  There are some good options available, however, I don’t use email that often, I try to stick to webmail.

Software Downloads
Windows actually loses out on this one.  With Ubuntu, and a lot of other Linux operating systems, you can use a package manager, which is built right into the OS.

Ubuntu Add Remove

Bascially, you serach, find what you’re after, double click, apply changes and bam, it’s installed.  If it’s not there to find, it might be online, and you’ll be able to download it and install it like in Windows.

So I guess, if you can deal with the little things, or you’re just a basic user that can get past the driver issues.  Great, Linux will work for you.

For most users.  There is still a way to go yet.