Contrary to popular belief, Vista's many quirks haven't done much to change Microsoft's domination of the desktop.
Even by the most flattering measures, Windows has only lost around 3% of its market share to Apple's OSX over the last two years, while Linux has surged from powering 1.25% of desktops to... um... 2.13%. [Source: w3counter.com]
These numbers are significant – after all, they suggest almost twice as many people use Linux now as did back in early 2007. They don't really point to a mass defection from Microsoft, though, and as the common consensus points to Windows 7 being much better than Vista, there's no reason the trends couldn't be utterly reversed.
By happy coincidence, the next version of Ubuntu, the most popular distribution for those who do switch, is launching exactly one week after Windows 7 hits the shelves. Codenamed Karmic Koala, we're loving the alpha version already, but here are some things that Windows does that Ubuntu should (but probably won't) do, to help woo people away.
1. Better boot time
Canonical, the creator of Ubuntu, reckon it has got this one in the bag, but then it said that about Jaunty, too. Windows 7 isn't always as fast at booting as is often claimed either, but it has the reputation for being quicker than Vista. Karmic may well win yet, though: Canonical is aiming for a 25 second boot time by completely overhauling the way the OS loads.
2. Improved suspend and hibernate
Windows 7 seems to have nailed this one at last, after problems plagued Vista, and more especially XP. Ubuntu is still where Microsoft was four years ago, though: there's a lot of hardware – especially laptops – that struggle to return from standby.
3. The taskbar
If you install Avant Window Navigator, Linux has arguably the best user interface of all three major OSes, taking the simplicity of OS X's dock but combining it with a Windows-like system tray and start menu. Out of the box, though, the Gnome panels still look like they were torn screaming from the desktop of an Amstrad 1512 and skinned.
4. Kid control
It may be low on the priority list of FOSS devs, but even the most libertarian of us know that children can get up to no good, and it's our responsibility to help them learn to use computers safely. Some of Windows 7's Parental Controls have been retrograded from Vista, but at least they're there...
CHILD SAFE: It not be the first priority of the FOSS movement, but Ubuntu should start thinking of the kids
5. Help!
The universal panic button, F1, does bring up an HTML help booklet in Ubuntu, and if you want to know how to do something you used to do in Windows, it's a good place to start. There's almost no mention of one key word, though: 'Troubleshooting'. The Ubuntu forum is a good resource, but you have to admit Windows isn't bad at hand holding when you run into a problem. Which is why you hit F1 in the first place.
6. Drive encryption
Ubuntu comes with basic folder encryption, but the process of setting it up is a bit complicated for new users. It throws terms like 'PGP' on the unsuspecting, where BitLocker simply asks you for a password and then locks up.
Your comments (13) Click to add a new comment
nisuspi
July 23rd
13. I know Rythmbox has tagging and DAAP supposedly built in, but neither have ever worked for me, despite many hours trying (with DAAP anyway). The shares appear on other machines, but are completely inaccessible.
The tagging often renames and resets depending on the internet library it cross references with, enough that I've stopped using it anyway.
Alert a moderator
oaty
July 22nd
12. This article is incorrect in some points.
I can't believe you comparing Rythmbox to Windows media player. On 9. where you say there is no sharing, clearly you have not even used Rythmbox for longer than ten minutes, Rythmbox has full DAAP music sharing BUILT IN! DAAP is the same protocol used by iTunes for their music sharing, in fact when I turn it on in Rythmbox it appears in iTunes on windows machines. Go to edit>plugins and check DAAP music sharing plugin. Was that hard??
5. There is full up to date help and support included in ubuntu! Go to System>help and support.
12. UAC - Simple right click a folder or file go to properties and permission. In there is the best UAC you could ever have. The Linux way!
I would also recommend docky instead of AWM - It combines the goodness of AWN with the search functionality of spotlight. In fact its quicker than any search and quick launcher out there.
I'm sorry this article needs some corrections.
Alert a moderator
whilefalse
July 22nd
11. 1 idea Windows 7 should steal from Ubuntu...
Don't crash when I try to do *anything*.
Alert a moderator
bufke
July 22nd
10. 12. User Access Control - The UAC generally is something most users click Yes anytime it comes up out of habit. Thus it's easy to install spyware or delete config files with it. In ubuntu, it only prompts for preset activities like installing software. If I try to delete xorg.conf, I can't easily, unless I'm an advanced user. Only an advanced user should be messing with such files. Also didn't MS steal the UAC idea from unix?
Alert a moderator
thinkdave
July 22nd
9. ....have you even used Rhythmbox? I just changed the genre tag for a bunch of songs by right clicking the song and going to properties you know exactly the same way as all other media players. And you think ticking 'share my music' in the music sharing plugin is convoluted.
And compiz already has a similar feature to windows 7 side by side resize with the Maximumize plugin. And besides dragging a document to the side of the screen sends it to the next workspace where there's no need for side by side shenanigans you can compare by flicking from one workspace to another.
Alert a moderator
nisuspi
July 22nd
8. Yep - see below. I use Ubuntu pretty much exclusively and have done for a long time now.
The UAC point is not that a third level of security is needed, but a more obvious way of letting you know when you need to provide permission. For casual users - and the idea here is about what Ubuntu could do to become more attractive to the iPod owning masses - sudo is a tricky idea to get your head around, and frustrating if you're trying to change a setting but can't understand why it won't save. A pop-up dialogue telling you that you need to provide permission to do what you're trying to do in all cases - just like when you log onto a wireless network in the morning - makes sense.
Note the word desirable - I never said any of these things were possible...
Adam
Alert a moderator
Tell us what you think
You need to Log in or register to post comments