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Story: Dell chooses Ubuntu for Linux PCs
Linux finally coming of age?
Having been a user of Ubuntu since version 4.10 I have been really impressed by its performance and ease of use considering what is it, a Linux operating system. Ubuntu has shown that non-techies can switch to another operating system without having to buy a Mac. With each incarnation of Ubuntu the improvements have been immense, closing the gap in terms of usability with the likes of Windows and OS X. Although there is a little way to go to be on an absolute par so far the signs are more than encouraging.
At the moment I feel that Ubuntu is lacking the multimedia applications that the other two established operating systems have but not everyone wants or needs such things. As a business desktop workhorse it is definitely on par to the other two operating systems.
The question now is whether Ubuntu can make the breakthrough into the mainstream. Something we will now see with its availability on Dell machines. I feel that unless a there is a massive promotional campaign on par of the likes of Microsoft and Apple then there is little possibility of people taking notice. Until then I believe that Ubuntu may find it difficult to make a serious impact on the desktop market.
For me it serves a lot of my main needs as a web developer and general home user I still have to back to my windows PC for music production, editing home videos and general design work. If the same applications were available on Linux I would make a wholesale switch no questions asked.
For Ubuntu to be successful people need to give it a go.
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