UBUNTU – A REAL WORLD TEST

 

In a previous post “Re-Furbish – 1/10/09” I documented the refurbishment of an older computer on which I installed Ubuntu. By the time I was able to return this computer to its owners, Ubuntu had been updated to the latest version 9.10 (Karmic Koala).

The family have now been using this computer for about a month and I thought that it would be interesting to find out how they are coping with Ubuntu. The Ubuntu computer has been used mainly by the two teenage daughters both of whom can be regarded as generally proficient in technology including the use of computers.

Unfortunately the news is not all that good for Ubuntu. After one month, both daughters stated clearly that they would prefer to have Windows XP on the computer.

I am a little disappointed as I like Ubuntu and was hoping that it would get a better reception.

The daughters did not take into account that Ubuntu is free.  To older people like me, the fact that Ubuntu is free and Windows costs an arm and a leg would be a significant factor when assessing the pros and cons of a product like a computer OS but it was not an issue in this assessment.

On the other hand, they did fully appreciate that Ubuntu is safe and virtually malware free and no anti-virus program is needed. But also it must be said that, in their world, they know that a fully patched copy of Windows is safe, unless you go looking for trouble, and there is a good free anti-virus program from Microsoft. Their only contact with viruses has been with computers belonging to their friends who have little/big brothers who use Limewire for “free” songs and surf for porn.

The girls are twins and I will refer to them as Twin L and Twin K. The school they attend uses computers running Windows OS and Microsoft Office. Extensive use is made of computers with both text books and homework work issued and completed on Thumb Drives. Students are expected to have home computers and to comply with Windows / MS Office standards.

When they first started using it they had to manually connect to their Wi-Fi network a few times but this issue is now OK. It connects automatically. Also (and this has happened to me) after an update either on Ubuntu or Windows, it stopped being able to print to a Vista attached printer. (This is a bloody annoyance to me also). However, apart from the printing issue, things generally are going OK.

With 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest their ratings and comments are:

TWIN L

Comment – She had no difficulty working out how to use Ubuntu.

Cons –

· She is used to Windows and would generally prefer to stay within the Windows world. She has had some formatting problems when opening larger Word (.doc) files particularly for textbooks. (I have advised on how to overcome this by the View / Zoom menu in Open Office). Further to this issue she does not like the default file formats for Open Office which require an extra step to save / open files in MS Office format.

Pros –

· She finds Ubuntu easy to use and is happy with web applications like Facebook / Myspace that are accessed the same as in Windows via Firefox. (The family uses Firefox as well as IE).

Rating 6 out of 10

TWIN K

Comment– Twin K is a little more positive. Like her sister she picked up how to use Ubuntu quickly and easily. She would use it permanently but for one great big deal breaker:

Cons –

· Deal Breaker -No iTunes

· Also the MSN Messenger substitutes are a little flaky.

Pros-

· Likes ease of use and safety and would be prepared to use it but for the iTunes issue

– Rating 7 out of 10

MY COMMENTS

I was hoping that they would really like it but I forget that most people use computers as a tool. They are comfortable with Windows and as their school and probably their future University and employers will use Windows, they probably see little point in using something different. Moreover, they are part of a generation that finds no difficulty with using technology and they could pick up a new OS without problems if and when the need arises. For example they would not need to be told how to use an iPhone.

Neither girl had any difficulty in using it. Rather, their complaints pertained to specific issues and I have to agree that the iTunes matter is significant. The things that would stop me from going fully to Ubuntu are the iTunes issue as well as the driver issue and lack of refinement on some of the programs (like the MSN Messenger substitute as pointed out by Twin K).

But I have to say that the biggest disappointment to me is that both girls want XP re-installed even though this is the third computer in the house. Their point is that it is just another tool and they have neither the inclination nor the patience to muck about with what they consider to be a second best choice.

Ah well – I tried!