Paul Thurrott Is Certainly Right About This One…

Lifehacker has a list of the top 10 Ubuntu applications. Let’s run ‘em down…

#10: Beryl: A slick desktop interface that offers desktop switching for virtual desktops a la Spaces (in the new version of OSX). It does offer some slick animations on Window motion, but in reality, that eye candy would get old real fast (just like it does on Vista which looks better with all the stupid transparency turned off). It’s very cool looking, but hardly practical, and very demanding and specific as far as the hardware it will run on. Not for me.

#9: Checkgmail: A tray-style notifier for Gmail. Windows has one. Mac OS has one.

#8: Brightside: Mouse gestures. The only program I’ve ever used mouse gestures in is Firefox using a plugin called All in One Gestures. I had an add-on for Finder that did it, but I just hated it. It’s one thing to use a mouse gesture to go forward or back in a browser. It’s another to do otherwise. Brightside also supports hot corners, which are built into the Mac OS and easily addable to Windows.

#7: Katapult: QuickSilver for the Mac or Launchy for Windows, both of which I use, both of which I love.

#6: Liferea: An RSS reader. Need I even start with how many of these are out there?

#5: Kopete: A multi-IM client. (Again, need I even start with how many of these are out there?)

#4: gParted: Probably the best partitioner out there, but frankly how innovative and new is a partitioner?

#3: Samba: Built into Mac OS and Windows.

#2: AmaroK: iTunes for the Mac or Windows Media Player / Zune Marketplace for Windows.

#1: Automatix: An app to install apps? Ack!

Now before I say what I’m about to say, let me preface it with this. I love Ubuntu. I think it’s awesome, works well, installs easily, and can revitalize a crack-ass old cracker computer (I’ve done it). That being said, Paul Thurrott believes, and frankly with plenty of evidence backing him, that Linux isn’t really innovative or new, and continues to copy the advances made with Mac OS and Windows. I’d have to agree, based on this list.

Linux has its place in the world. It’s quite functional, damn secure, and runs like lightning on a 500mhz computer. My only problem with it is there is just about nothing differentiating it from other desktop operating systems except for its price tag.

Linux, in general, seems like a great concept… Just not a very original one.

[tags]linux, windows, mac os[/tags]

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  • James

    But the price tag differential is one of the biggest pros Linux has. Example: When looking for a program to fill some need if I have a choice between a slick commercial app, an original shareware program, and a functional if copycat freeware program, most of the time I will go with the freeware.

  • James

    But the price tag differential is one of the biggest pros Linux has. Example: When looking for a program to fill some need if I have a choice between a slick commercial app, an original shareware program, and a functional if copycat freeware program, most of the time I will go with the freeware.

  • http://www.insignificantthoughts.com/ Vinny

    Except that all these free apps do have free equivalents on Mac OS and Windows.

    Linux is great, but it’s certainly not innovative.

  • http://www.insignificantthoughts.com Vinny

    Except that all these free apps do have free equivalents on Mac OS and Windows.

    Linux is great, but it’s certainly not innovative.

  • http://myubuntu.reading-notes.com/ Elwyn Jenkins

    I almost fell for your article, but when I got to the end I suddenly knew that you are not living in the real world. I don’t care that Ubuntu is original or not, I just care that I still have the $400 in my pocket that it would have cost me to buy Windows Vista. So, I don’t want to know anything about it being original or not, I just am thankful that I did not have to work another week in my year just to pay my Microsoft Tax. This is the only reason I need to install Ubuntu over Windows Vista.

  • http://myubuntu.reading-notes.com/ Elwyn Jenkins

    I almost fell for your article, but when I got to the end I suddenly knew that you are not living in the real world. I don’t care that Ubuntu is original or not, I just care that I still have the $400 in my pocket that it would have cost me to buy Windows Vista. So, I don’t want to know anything about it being original or not, I just am thankful that I did not have to work another week in my year just to pay my Microsoft Tax. This is the only reason I need to install Ubuntu over Windows Vista.

  • James

    Oops didn’t make myself clear. I was comparing the three OS choices to choices we have in other software (commercial, shareware, and freeware). Just like the freeware software I buy may not be the most innovative it does what it needs to and the price is a major differentiating factor for why I chose it above my other choices. Same with OSes.

  • James

    Oops didn’t make myself clear. I was comparing the three OS choices to choices we have in other software (commercial, shareware, and freeware). Just like the freeware software I buy may not be the most innovative it does what it needs to and the price is a major differentiating factor for why I chose it above my other choices. Same with OSes.

  • http://www.insignificantthoughts.com/ Vinny

    You could make a strong case for Linux. I think it fills a need out there quite nicely. I’m just not so sure it’s best feature is anything beyond its cost. You could make a case that it runs really well on older computers too, but I don’t know how big a deal that really is for most people anyway.

    Remember, I’m not talking about geeks like us, I’m talking about the average Joe.

  • http://www.insignificantthoughts.com Vinny

    You could make a strong case for Linux. I think it fills a need out there quite nicely. I’m just not so sure it’s best feature is anything beyond its cost. You could make a case that it runs really well on older computers too, but I don’t know how big a deal that really is for most people anyway.

    Remember, I’m not talking about geeks like us, I’m talking about the average Joe.