Ubuntu, Windows and Virtual Computers

At the July 2009 General Meeting Hank Skawinski promoted Ubuntu as a better operating system (OS) than Windows. Hank showed us his new netbook computer that dual-boots Windows XP and Ubuntu. He booted into Ubuntu and showed us many of its features. Hank noted that Ubuntu cannot run some critical Windows programs, such as TurboTax, Quicken, QuickBooks, and Photoshop. This keeps many users from considering Ubuntu.

Using a virtual computer, I am running Windows XP and Windows programs, including the above programs, in Ubuntu. As a timely follow up to Hank's talk, Hank and Jim Dinkey asked me to describe to the club members how I do this. 

What Is Ubuntu?

• Founder: multi-millionaire Mark Shuttleworth. Last month, Hank introduced us to Mark Shuttleworth. Mark started a network security company, grew it, and sold it for $575M. Many people, with more money than they need, wonder how to use their money to make the world a better place. Mark decided that what the world needs is:
• Goal: a free, stable, secure, high-quality, easy-to-install, easy-to-use, operating system and applications for the average user world wide. Mark wants to give users another option: Microsoft ($), Apple ($$), Ubuntu (free).
• To achieve this goal, Mark set up and funded the Ubuntu Foundation and he started Canonical (London) a company with 200 employees developing, maintaining and distributing Ubuntu. Mark is the president (in charge) of both. The foundation funds Canonical.

Others, such as software developers and computer companies, have looked at what Mark is doing, like what they see, and want to participate. The Ubuntu Partners Program allows others to help with Ubuntu.

Ubuntu is not a shoe-string operation. It has some muscle. Ubuntu uses the secure, stable Linux kernel with a Windows-like graphical user interface.

I have been using Ubuntu for over two years. I do:

• no malware scans,
• no software firewall ( I do have a hardware firewall in my router),
• no defrag (When Linux writes a file to the hard drive, it keeps the file intact. It does not break the file into fragments.),
• no registry, and
• no Secunia. (Ubuntu keeps both the OS and the applications up to date with frequent updates.)

I have had no crashes of the operating system. Occasionally an application freezes. After forcing the frozen application to quit and restarting the application, Ubuntu gives me the option of recovering the application. Recovery is usually successful.

More About Ubuntu

• First release: October 2004. Upgrades every six months. Automatic updates as needed (weekly). Ubuntu is less than five years old. Most recent release is 9.04 (April 2009). Next upgrade is 9.10 (October 2009).
• Currently 8 million users and growing; It is running in 55 languages;
• 30% of Linux desktops use Ubuntu.
• Dell, HP, Toshiba, and others sell Ubuntu computers overseas in computer stores.
• In the U.S., you can buy Ubuntu computers, from Dell, HP, Toshiba and others, on-line but not in stores. If you ask for a Ubuntu computer in a U.S. store, you will usually get a blank stare.
• System76 (Denver, www.system76.com) is a good on-line source for Ubuntu computers. They only sell Ubuntu computers. The computer is made to the configuration you specify. Sales are up 61% in 2009. Ubuntu is growing.
   
• Ubuntu is an African language word that loosely translates as Humanity.
• Learn more at the Ubuntu website. www.ubuntu.com