10 reasons to choose Ubuntu as a working OS

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Two and a half years ago, tell me someone that my primary operating system will be Ubuntu, - I would have just laughed. I have not had any experience with "my Linux" distros, no experience programming, and even mandatory beard and stretched sweater jokes about "Linux users" completely absent.

It has been two and a half years, a sweater and a beard and have not appeared, but on the eve of the release of the next version - in my untutored eye - easy and quick distribution for a wide range of users will be a great occasion to talk about the 10 reasons for which at the time I gave up the familiar world, created for the most inexperienced users, with the participation Microsoft. How do I know - maybe one, several or all of these factors will be decisive for you.

no viruses

80% of my working time due to the huge number of websites and web services. Not all of them have a "right" frames and "clean" page. Previously, you had to do that? Correct: to put an antivirus (free, paid, or - to confess, in school and college years - "Broken"), constantly getting a bunch of alerts about potentially malicious code, scripts, Trojans and other "Gifts." Twice - in 2005 and 2007. - as a result of "virus" attacks had to lose important documents and files, and then restore them from backup.

For two years now we have nothing. Viral epidemic, associated with "contaminated" versions of IM-client, the vulnerability in IE code exploits of the blogs - it's all been successfully passed by, becoming for me only in the news headlines. Yes, there is a vulnerability in the Ubuntu code; yes, malicious script can be "collected" manually on the remote computer, having root-access. But if you will not "give away" access to your notebook to anybody, the likelihood of leakage files - very low. A household of "Trojans" you just completely forget. They will remain somewhere in the Microsoft universe.

You will no longer be a "pirate"

Let's face it: very few people buy in Russia and Ukraine licensed software. Yes, it was wrong and unethical, but it is. While we are talking about a student or a freelancer for whom not "taken" appropriate regulatory authorities, all goes well. As soon as it comes to small businesses, and even relatively large firms, in this case, the use of "pirate" and "vzlomannnogo" threatens to become a major software fines, lawsuits in court and even closing a business (not to mention the fact that you give a formal occasion, "to pay you a visit," if suddenly you "break the rules": the theme of protection of copyright rights and the use of this "protection" as a power instrument of pressure on business - a widespread practice, just look at the recent events ProstoPrint.com).

Install Ubuntu removes the question of whether you paid for the software to the state or to the right holder. Hundreds of free software for daily work - and no headaches with people in uniform for violations of someone's patents. It is understood that the specific software products such as 1C do not work with open platforms; but I'm talking about working tasks for a wide range of users, and not only for economists and accountants.

saving money

In order not to be a "pirate" for the software and operating system, as well as anti-virus software and tools - for all that you have to pay (somewhere more somewhere less). Recalculate all licensed programs that are installed on your working "machine", estimate their total the price - and you can see how much money is spent only on soft "stuffing" your laptop or personal computer.

To date, getting rid of the virus by putting a full office suite, a few photos of the editors, programs for audio processing, music players, multimedia shell and customers to work with IM-messages, I had not paid nothing. Not because I feel sorry for the money. Just at the time I had a task to maximize the opportunities bootstrapping - and I realize it using Ubuntu. If I need a paid software - I would prefer to buy a Macbook, and again to solve the problem with the "iron" and software platform. But both cases are less expensive time-consuming than the life in the Windows universe.

saving of time

In the previous section I have approached the question of saving time. What usually say Windows users? "Brake", "stuck", "I had to overload a laptop." On the "blue screens", I think they know everything here and do not need reminding. All this - not only the loss of files or a certain irritation and negative emotions to the user. Each time you press the Reset, you lose time. With each 'silent' application window, you lose time. During the period that you spent on "something hinders the computer today," it was possible to realize 30% of the tasks (no kidding, I compared once their productivity by working with text and photos throughout the day on both Windows and Ubuntu on the same laptop: if the text is treated, both about the same, at the opening, processing and editing photos in RAW using software based on Windows I needed an average of 20-30% of the time more than in the corresponding editor for Ubuntu). Think about whether to spend moments that add up to hours and days throughout the year, looking at how another program again "hangs" or "crashes".

flexible customization

You only need a minimum program, but extended package to work with network storage and disk? Or do you need a workplace photo-editor and layout of magazines? Or maybe you are not interested in all the program's office, but you are creating music and need a powerful audio editor and programs to work with synthesizers sound? The final configuration of Ubuntu you define themselves immediately after installing the core OS. Always possible to "convert" workplace photographer working in remote DJ and vice versa. Appearance can be configured as anything from fine visual copy of MacOS up minimalistic console and a couple of shortcuts on the desktop. Any "decorations", the settings and change the software package in the universe of Windows invariably "trash" in your system registry and create a long-term "headache". It also fully implemented the slogan "Linux for human beings": the trends are on a Linux distribution designed for simple users, not geeks or experienced people who strongly believes that Windows 7 - is the pinnacle of human thought in terms of operating systems.

A simple way to "revive" the old computer or laptop

For two years I put Ubuntu on a variety of devices, from laptop with Intel Atom and SSD-drive to the old computer with Celeron 600 MHz and a standard old HDD to 10GB. In my opinion, there is a simple, intuitive and affordable way to "revive" the old device. Nor is there a clear and intelligible free distribution to those who choose "system every day "for their parents or relatives, not too versed in computer "Literacy". Here you can set up once, assign rights, shown how to use the program - and live peacefully, without fear of what your tomorrow grandmother or dad, or the younger brother of "demolish" the entire registry, format all disks or ENTERED dozen "Trojans", trying to see movie.

New jobs can be created in 15 minutes

Yes, you read that right. Exactly so will it take to to the "pure" laptop or PC with bootable USB-drive to open the Ubuntu even without installing to a hard disk, spool of Internet connection required program from the repository and start work. Never install of Windows will not last 15 minutes (not to mention the training system to work and filling its programs).

The collapse of one program does not mean that "all is lost"

In addition, a significant difference from Windows: "fallen" program in Ubuntu does not affect the work of the rest of the system and other open source software at this time. A Restart or removal does not require you to restart the mandatory, which got used to all those who lived for many years and lives with Windows.

If I for some reason hangs media player or "fall" Google Chrome tabs, it does not mean that the work of the remaining 5-10 programs open at this time, it will be paralyzed. And I did not use to work tasks for a special "iron": I work a standard office laptop configuration with dual-core processor and only 1GB of RAM.

Make backups easier

Typically, if a backup of the entire system or a file storage in Windows to use parallel laptop or PC for other tasks, then - again - "everything slows down." I do not know why, but for 2 years backups with Ubuntu I quietly parallel is watching movies, listening to streaming audio or even photo editing - and thus nothing "does not slow down." Do backups become easier and more convenient.

Multimedia on the "office" configuration? Yes it is possible

I was able to adjust the budget by the media center for viewing of downloaded movies and listening to music streaming system unit with only 600 MHz and 192 Mb of RAM inside. This is the budget of the budget decisions :) And nothing "dopilivat" or not had to change: the shell player works great, the video is played, the sound is broadcast, do not "jerks" and not "Brakes".

During the two years of constant work every day for 8-12 hours with different laptops and PCs based on Ubuntu, I found a top 10 reasons to continue to remain with the OS. Maybe someone will be more of these reasons, someone - less. If you have something to add to this list - I will only be happy :)