33 Comments on 7 Reasons Why I Stopped Using Ubuntu

Richard Chapman on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 5:33 pm


You have more Open Source programs for Vista? How did that happen? Let me see. Oh yeah, anyone can compile source code to run on Vista. You make it sound like Microsoft is doing you a favor by making all these Open Source programs available for Vista. They had nothing to do with it. It’s just how Open Source works. It doesn’t discriminate against any operating systems.

When I became displeased with Fedora, I moved to PCLinusOS. When people became displeased with Vista, they move back to or stayed with XP. Some of them even moved to Linux. I’m not an Ubuntu user, but if I was I would have many alternatives to try before going back to Microsoft.

It would be nice if you could document your experiences with Vista. Like how much it cost you? How much (if not the free versions) you spent on security software? What’s the CPU usage at a complete rest? Boot up and shut down times after install and 3 months later. Did you disable the UAC? What you had to do to “tune” it up. Did you install Firefox and use it instead of IE. And if you don’t use IE, why?

If Vista works for you great. If it doesn’t work for you like Ubuntu didn’t, please tell use why like you did with Ubuntu.

Benoit on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 6:30 pm


Sorry to hear about all your problems with Ubuntu.

However, looking at the forums and relying on my personal experience, I have not had any of the problems you mention. Things are running better then ever. I find Intrepid Ibex to be a solid release with major improvements.

Good luck with Vista. My bet is that you will be back to Ubuntu in no time. Vista does not respect privacy and constantly phone home to the Redmond servers. Vista worked great for me too in the beginning. I only started to experience lag and sluggishness several months into it.

Regarding Windows 7. Many features within that release have been in existence for many years with linux.

elbeto on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 6:40 pm


Give Hardy a try, maybe all your problems dissapear. If not, there it’s always Linux Mint

Kyle Richardson on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 6:54 pm


I totally agree with this article. I just bought a new macbook and compared to Ubuntu, the ease of use is incredible. I did have a few of the troubles that you had, but most were resolved. The thing I can’t stand about Ubuntu the most is its lack of a good interface for webcam usage. I really enjoy Photo Booth for this, and yes I did use Cheese but when it would flash my screen would stay white. Really liked the article and keep up the great work!

tdoran on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 7:23 pm


I am completely befuddled by your post. How can you use Ubuntu for years, know about various open source softwares, yet not be able to try a distro other than Ubuntu? You have provided the lamest excuse I have ever run across for going from Linux to Vista. Have you never heard of PcLinuxOS, Mint, or SimplyMepis? All of these provide multimedia out of the box. If you are capable of downloading drivers from a manufacturer’s web site, then surely you have the technical skills to install and use such distros as Fedora or Mandriva. Although neither of these have the codecs included by default, the required software can easily be added. All of them are incredibly stable.

If Vista works for you — great, keep using it! If you use Vista because you think it’s the best OS for you, because you like it, because love Aero, because you need to use software not available on Linux, fine. If you are truly using Vista because Ubuntu no longer works for you and you are incapable of trying one of the hundreds of other distros, then all I can say is “Pathetic”

Tomislav Ruzicic on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 7:49 pm


Lol, just that, nothing more…

Tony on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 9:18 pm


I used Feisty Fawn and was impressed, but am not in a situation where I can use the later versions now. I am rather saddened to hear that the quality and features that made Ubuntu begin to take a role as an alternative to Windows are now not functioning as well. It’s always good to have an alternative.

anonymous on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 9:29 pm


I agree with most of the reasons those are some of the reasons why I stoped using ubuntu. However on the last paragraph you say ” But can you use Chrome under Linux? Not yet” it is not quite true, there is a unofficial package (pre-packaged, no need to compile anything) that can be used to install chrome in the most popular distros, for over a month.

William Comeau on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 9:37 pm


I agree with your comments 100%.Ubuntu now is upgrades with no
thought on repairing faults of previous editions.

William

Dirk Gently on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 10:07 pm


Good to hear your thoughts. Some people just leave and leave the Ubuntu community scratching their heads.

I for one switched to Gentoo because of upgrade problems between releases, though I still have a old Fiesty version running that just works and am afraid to upgrade.

Ubuntu will probably have to look at a “back to basics” approach soon. In the midst of delivering all the new features there have been alot of breakages. It is an incredibly amount to do to add new features, fix bugs, create an installer in a six month period. Is Ubuntu getting a little more cutting-edge than is neccesary?

Patrick on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 10:16 pm


Hi, I like to comment on some things.
I’m a long time Ubuntu user and I agree that there is still a lot of work to be done to polish the rough edges of Ubuntu.
About vista I can be very short, it’s a resource hog maybe not when you just installed it but wait a few months and you will consider an upgrade of your machine or another OS, about the speed of surfing that’s an issue with Firefox not with Ubuntu. try opera and you will be pleasantly surprised about it’s speed. it’s a bitch that there ain’t a version of safari available on Linux. about pidgin I totally agree with you it’s hopelessly outdated.
the other issues you describe I have never experienced, everything works almost flawlessly.

Cheers
Patrick

Terence Chang on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 10:59 pm


wow!

Saw your post link on Facebook. I almost switch my newly bought Dell Studio Laptop with Vista into Ubuntu.

I don’t really like the way Vista handle security and file system, but like you said. I got all my program working on Vista. Why switch to Ubuntu with more troubles?

Doug on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 11:10 pm


My answer to many of your points:
You may have had the wrong Linux distribution for you and/or your hardware!

i would recommend Ubuntu’s great nephew, Linux Mint 6, or PCLinuxOS, DreamLinux, Xubuntu or SimplyMepis. All of these, except DreamLinux, have all the multimedia working at install. DreamLinux needs an extra click or two for the same easy use.
When you return to Linux:
In Amarok, to turn off the On Screen Display – Settings>Configure Amarok>OSD>uncheck Use On Screen Display (BTW, this is one open source app NOT available for Windows, yet!)
In compiz, you might have to choose a lower level of 3d effects. this should take care of your “too big” windows problem. I have seen it too, but not for over a year. This may be a hardware capability problem, and not necessarily a Linux problem.
As to the vid/voice chat, Meebo plugin with Firefox offers that capability….but I have not tried it.

Hope to see you back…

sexysofie on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 11:17 pm


wow, that is so cool. i want to dump linux also. where can i download this vista iso. i want to put it on all my computers.

Zoltan on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 11:22 pm


I give you a truth, and this will be lot worse… Thats why more and more pepole making/using derivates of ubuntu. If I good remember, then ’til Dapper there wasn’t out so mutch variants, but now… I hate it when around the OS is loud hyping, but the real flame inside so small, that I even can’t feel it. There are not so much REAL contribution (to giving back something new, something innovating), but they transforming linux windows’ish and into shiny cRaP. Yeah, this will hurt many experienced user, but not for new beginner (switchers) people. They need that.

Heads up Jack! I think, that you have choosed the latest wrong distro. I say choose another one, like MINT, or Fedora witch has better things inside it – and much better community. Don’t change back to Vista, but if you did that – then you say: NO for living without viruses, trojans, stability, tons of softwares, and security, and many many things that inside linux.

birdydon on Mon, 19th Jan 2009 11:43 pm


This is fuzzy logic indeed. You use a Linux distro for over two years and build up problems contrary to what other users are experiencing. Yes, it’s time to do a clean install. So why not do a clean install of Ubuntu? Or Fedora, or OpenSUSE? Sure Vista will work “out of the box” for a month or two but then you’ll be back to all the MS crap you dumped in the first place!!

Jack on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 12:21 am


Patrick: I’d use opera if they had an option to use a Socks 5 proxy.

Kyle: You brought up an 8th issue for me. My webcam used to work up until Gutsy Gibbon, but it stopped working under Hardy Heron and Intrepid Ibex.

Richard: Boot up times are comparable now as they were under Intrepid Ibex.

FYI to many of those who say the problems aren’t that common. I posted about every issue on the Ubuntu forums. I was not alone in posting the problems and unlike previous releases, the problems just weren’t resolved.

Birdydon: I did do a clean install of Hardy Heron and Intrepid Ibex and the problems were still there. I really wanted the problems to go away.

Thanks, Zoltan. I have heard about Mint, maybe I will give it a try? I have to admit that the Intrepid Ibex problems have really turned me off from Linux.

fernando on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 12:31 am


Do you thing it happen on ubuntu http://www.crn.com/security/21.....2900845 ?????????

GregE on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 1:36 am


I have three computers running Intrepid and none have any of the problems you describe. Skype only needed the microphone line activated, and that would be needed in Windows as well. The big issue for Linux is using very new ATI video cards, HD3000 – 4000 series, the drivers are not yet ready. With Nvidia or Intel it all just works.

As for music playing I searched around for a XMMS replacement and found Audacious which is virtually identical right down to compatible skins. My new favourite is Decibel Audio Player.

yochai on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 1:53 am


While I do agree that some things are broken with newish distros, you don’t have to upgrade to them! I use intrepid and think it’s swell. on machines that aren’t ready for it (although really, there are strong arguments against this—flash and skype aren’t pulseaudio compatible because they’re closed source, not because ubuntu sucks) .

My main problem with this article is that there seems to be some confusion as to what “linux” is. Ubuntu is NOT linux. Ubuntu is a version of debian, which in itself is a a distribution of linux. So when you say “oh ubuntu isn’t working; i’m switching to windows” it’s kind of unfair. Try fedora, or mandriva, or opensuse, hell try gentoo if you’d like to learn a lot but feel like you’re in control. but don’t confuse ubuntu as something it’s not.

carpii on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 2:53 am


I recently went the other way, and abandoned windows on my desktop and laptop, in favour of Kubuntu 8.04.

For me, its mixed reaction. As you say, Ubuntu sound support is pretty much an abortion, and whilst a lot of things work out of the box, its not that uncommon you have to go searching forums and trying various hacks and config edits just to get basic things working.

I dont personally think Ubuntu is going in the wrong direction. Its starting to support more hardware gradually, but this adds more complexity. I do think they release things too early, especially 8.10 which was a bit of a disaster.

My biggest complaint is KDE, which I DO think has lost the plot entirely. Version 4.x is just a gimmicky mess with no attention paid to usability. Ironically this is the same complaint a lot of people had about vista. The difference is MS have the resources to react quickly, hence windows 7, whereas I suspect we’ll be languishing with KDE 4′s incredible flaws for probably a number of years.

Jack on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 3:20 am


GregE, thanks for the heads up, I will check out Audacious.

yochai, I was using Mandriva when it was called Mandrake. I’ve used straight Debian and Suse. For me, Ubuntu was the first distro that really made Ubuntu easy on the Desktop. That’s why it’s saddened me that they have increasingly turned into the kind of Linux distro that I would try and then discard.

OlympicSoftworks-Dave on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 3:33 am


Part of the nonprofit work my organization does is take donations of hardware and refurbish them with Ubuntu, then give them away to Senior citizens and families that cannot afford machines. In the last 2 years I have likely installed some version of Ubuntu onto over well over 200 computers, so I can say that I have a wide range of hardware compatibility and general GNU/Linux experience. I can vouch that here have been regressions regarding compatibility from 7.04 to 8.04. These are not Ubuntu issues though, the Kernel team is most likely responsible for any hardware management issues, not application guys nor distro level management.

You say Ubuntu sucks, your really saying all of GNU/Linux sucks…since all distributions use the same Kernel, and all distributions primarily use the same packages. Different versions to be sure, but still 98% the same. The difference with Ubuntu is the direction and the framework Canonical provides for the Ubuntu distribution’s community members to work together. I noticed you posted complaints on the forums, this is good…but did you get involved in any of the projects that you want features in? No?

Ubuntu is a distribution of Free Software packages, a framework to collaborate, and a philosophy. It is based on Debian GNU/Linux, also Free Software. You want features? Get involved. This software costs you nothing, no money, and you didn’t have to agree to any terms in order to download and use it. Almost none of the people who develop and maintain these applications get any compensation other then knowing they are doing good by the community.

Hardware performance and behavioral issues by and large come from hardware made by manufacturers that do not play well with Free Software. I am assuming you have an older Dell, or some such, I may be wrong of course, but from the fact that your experience is contrary to the lions share of users indicates this is true. Yes, some people will have your same issues since they also have the same hardware, but most don’t.

Now to your issues:
1) Skype doesn’t play well with Pulse Audio, not the other way around. Team Speak has/had similar issues. These applications were written to use a very old GNU/Linux sound system called OSS. Anything that uses the newer ALSA natively will have no troubles connecting to Pulse.

2) As had been said in another response, the issue was with Canonical deciding that Firefox 3 should be the standard browser. You can sill download and install a fully updated Firefox 2 from the repositories. I have to do this with some of the more under powered systems we get donated(600mhz-800mhz), but doing so they work quite well.

3) If after installing the meta package Ubuntu-Restricted-Extras, and then making sure you have the most current video driver available for your machine you still have issues like this, accept that your video hardware is ill-supported. This is typical for low-end hardware, or hardware whose manufacturer does not share it’s specs with the Free Software community. You can either learn to code drivers yourself or swap out to a cheap solution that IS supported. There are plenty of them

4) The XMMS project crew have switched priorities and no longer support XMMS. You could always learn to code and support it yourself, or petition the community for someone to pick up the project. If you ever venture into the Free Software arena again and want a low-resource music player, you may want to try Audacious. I don’t think Rhythmbox is a hog but if your collection of music is large, try gmusicbrowser.

5) Pidgin is playing catch up from a previous project that died. It works for what it is intended to do. If you want video chat capability, get involved in the project, encourage the devs to include video…perhaps they are already working on this now. You also can always shoot them some cash to inspire them.

6) I have not heard of any issues with external thumbdrives or whatnot. Everything I have plugged into Hardy or Intrepid machines has been recognized. With the exception of a Samsung MP3 player/thumbdrive. This was because it used the windows media file system though and not the standardized USB file system. But after visiting the Australian Samsung website to get the international firmware upgrade it works like a champ…what do you know? Only the American version of this thing is crippled. You may have similar issues, without model numbers I can’t help you.

7) Compiz. It works great most of the time, if your running with great hardware. I don’t believe you fit into this category. Solution, shut it off. System->Preferences->Appearance. Visual Effects tab, select None. No more issues. It’s functionality is so far beyond what vista is capable of it really cannot be mentioned in the same context.

Conclusion. You have dissed on numerous Free Software projects, software for which you paid $0.00 and gave up no freedoms to use.

There is an Ubuntu Hardware Compatibility List for people to check against to make sure the hardware they are buying will work well with the system.

Almost all of the projects that you dissed on are developed and managed by talented people in there spare time. You had the freedom to do anything you wanted to with Ubuntu, but just by installing vista you had to agree to use it under certain terms.

The base install of vista does not play DVDs, many of the video files you wanted to play, does not come with anything like Pidgin and certainly not video conferencing software. You had to pay money as well as agree to yet more terms to download and install software for these functions onto your computer. As well as pay more money and give up more freedoms for a firewall, virus protection, malware protection, registry cleaners, and what have you.

At the end of all this, you are really just leasing these things. You don’t own any of the software you have installed, and if you don’t like it you have nothing to do but buy yet more software that you won’t own. And microsoft reserves the right to make running changes to your computer any time they want, you have no authority to prevent this. Think I’m wrong? Read your EULA.

Congrats, you are the one troll-whiner blog I allow myself to respond to this month.

Jack on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 4:43 am


Just to clarify a few things. I am using a self built system chosen from the ground up to function under Linux. When I bought the parts, I was a 100% Ubuntu user. It uses an ASRock Conroe 1333-667D. It’s got the Intel 945 chipset. It’s about as standard as they come.

1) I understand that it could be Skype that doesn’t play well with Ubuntu, but it’s a popular program that many of us need to use on a daily basis. I work remotely and without Skype, I can’t work. I am certain I am not alone in needing Skype.

2) I have a dual core 1.6 ghz with 1gb of ram running Firefox 3. It runs SLOWER than my kids’ computer(700 Mhz Celeron with 192 mb under Windows 2k running Firefox 3). The issue is with the implementation of flash, javascript and java. Something isn’t working right.

3) Video playing worked perfectly under 7.04. It’s not about the most up to date driver. I am using an intel chipset for video. Nothing special at all.

4) XMMS was abandoned? Ok. Audacious is supposedly a good replacement. I will check it out. I personally just want something that plays Mp3, let’s make a playlist and doesn’t get in my way. Something like Winamp.

5) People have made feature request for Pidgin and the developers have said that people don’t need video chat so they won’t be supporting it. I find it Microsoft-esque to tell me what I do and don’t need in a software.

6) I know you don’t believe me, but take a look at these threads: http://ubuntuforums.org/showth.....?t=1043564 and http://ubuntuforums.org/showth.....p?t=903121 and probably many others.

7) The problem is the video system. I doubt it’s compiz. If I get problems, I turn it off, the problems go away for awhile, but then they come back again, so I turn on Compiz and the problems go away for awhile……..

I got what you say about the EULA, I don’t like it, but it’s a price that I need to pay in order to be productive. As I have said, I’d love for Ubuntu to return to the road it was on.

Bill Goldberg on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 7:09 am


Just because Ubuntu 8.10 doesn’t work well for you doesn’t mean it doesn’t work well for everyone.

It does for most people.

I don’t care what OS you use.

JP on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 8:17 am


Troll bait.

This is a joke. So called bloggers put Ubuntu in the title to get noticed.

NONE of this is true. I have had ZERO issues with Ibex.

ID10T

dawith on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 9:16 am


Hi guys. To fix compatibility issues between PulseAudio and OSS is easy, and works great for me. I’ve tested this with skype (though I don’t use it because it’s proprietary, but my sister does), and works great. Just add padsp before the executable. For example padsp skype. Just edit the menu entry/session and add padsp, and everything should run fine. At least here it does. Happy OSSing with PulseAudio

dawith on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 9:19 am


To run OSS applications with PulseAudio, just add padsp before the executable. For example padsp skype. I don’t use skype, but I tested this for my sister and it works great. I run Mint 6, so it should be OK with Intrepid. Try it first in terminal and if it works, correct the menu entries and/or gnome session (just add padsp). Happy OSSing with PulseAudio, guys

Frank on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 11:25 am


I also would recommend you to try one or two other distributions, before dumping Linux completely.
Ubuntu may be the most popular, but not necessarily the best Linux distribution. Maybe it’s just not for you.

There wouldn’t be hundreds of distributions if Ubuntu was right for everyone.

If you liked Ubuntu Gutsy, maybe Linux Mint is for you. I have to say that I’ve never used any of the *buntus, I was quite happy with Mandriva.

You really shouldn’t blame Linux in general, if Ubuntu doesn’t work for you.

And to some other commenters I have to say:
You aren’t helping anyone with phrases like “if you don’t like this piece of software, learn to code and improve it!”

This is not how people are convinced to use Linux.
This is how people are convinced that Linux users are elitist nerds that should better be left alone.

Dave K on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 3:20 pm


I actually agree with many of your reasons to ditch Ubuntu.
I dont think that is enough to use Vista. The downsides of Vista are far worse than the downsides of Ubuntu.

It seems like U is getting more bloated with strange new features.
What Ubuntu needs to do, after Jaunty, is dedicate one release to bug fixes and stability. No more new features that are halfway done. Just make it rock solid.

6 months is not enough time to integrate, stabalize, and rollout massive new features, I think maybe the devs need to take a break or something.

Sathya on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 3:22 pm


Hi Jack,
It was nice to read an article which clearly states as to why you stopped using Linux (well, as opposed to the catch-it-all 1 line- “Linux sucks”.

About your problems:
1. Skype: Skype has been giving me major problems on most distros, especially on couple of my laptops. The most common problem would be – that audio input is not available, that would be mainly because by default the mixer is set to capture the Analog Mic input rather than the digital mic input. and/or the default recording volume is low or muted. – Try changing these – it might just work.

2. Flash + Firefox – yeah that about really clobbers my system( an Intel Core 2 Duo with 2Gigs RAM) too. Alternative ? Its sorta OK with Opera.

Rather than flaming you, I’d say give Sabayon 4 a shot – it comes with all drivers, codecs et all, without you having to install anything. Do try it. It comes with Gnome & KDE 3.5.10

Wiseman1024 on Tue, 20th Jan 2009 10:11 pm


Troll. Even so, I’m in the mood of being trolled.

1. Wipe PulseAudio, it sucks. Or don’t use Ubuntu, use Debian.

2. Don’t know, tried another distro?

3. WTF, install mplayer.

4. WTF, install mplayer. Or find XMMS if you like it. Try Ubuntu PPAs, other distros, or source.

5. There are a dozen Pidgin alternatives, find yourself one you like.

6. Can’t diagnose, but KDE should automount properly, and if it doesn’t, use one of the two automounting damons there are somewhere in the repos.

7. Why are you using those retarded effects? Anyways, get yourself KWin (3.5, of course) or an underground window manager and shut up.

And you needed to reboot GNU/Linux? Other than updating the kernel, RTFM.

Jaunty Jerkoff on Wed, 21st Jan 2009 5:05 am


Personally, I thought Ubuntu wasn’t the OS for the rest of us around the v5-v6 timeframe. Its sad, but somewhat predictable, to learn that it has gotten worse since then.

I’m not one of those open source geeks who whine when they learn that someone in the world is using a MS product. Use the tools that do the job for you. If that’s Windows with ported open source tools, so be it.

Although I would say that there are a few ‘desktop’ open source OSes that actually do work right out of the box. I’m working on one right now. There are a few others that are close. So keep checking back. E-v-e-n-t-u-a-l-l-y, one will work for you.

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