Ubuntu Productivity

I am an entrepreneur in the large format printing and internet-software industries. I am a computer-geek at heart and a self-taught programmer. I have an insatiable desire to learn and experiment. This lead me to explore the world of Linux. I have been exploring the potential of using the Ubuntu Linux 8.04 operating system to replace both Windows XP and Mac OS X Leopard as the standard operating system on my desktop. This is an interesting experiment and I know that many people will benefit from my experiences, so here is where I will share them.

I have seen plenty of reviews where the curious give it a try, but never a long-term experiment. I intend to evaluate the effectiveness of a free operating system, namely Ubuntu, at competing to replace its already established commercial competitors.

Ubuntu Linux is a very capable operating system. But to become a power user of Linux, as I am of the Mac OS X, it has a very steep learning curve, especially for someone like me that:

• Has no prior Linux experience
• I am rather unfamiliar with the terminal (OS X does a good job of hiding the need for a terminal)
• Must spend time getting things done instead of trying to tinker until the computer is ready, then getting things done

My biggest question when I first picked up Ubuntu was “will it work?” Yes, it works, and it works very well.

My next question was “will it be cost effective to use this on a daily basis?” It has stiff competition with Windows and Mac OS X, but my initial experiences told me that it was probable that I could replace the Windows and Mac os’s with Ubuntu.

Here is the blog of what I have learned and am learning on my quest to learn about Linux and if Ubuntu can become my default operating system.