I took a break from blogging last month, in fact I took a break from using computers other than work and simple Internet surfing. Last week I “fixed” a friends computer that was infected by a rogue virus. Of course that computer has XP as the operating system. While I was scanning and removing the virus’s from that computer I was thinking of how we could get Ubuntu as the most used operating system. We can tell everybody the advantages of an open source OS for one reason or another this is not enough. Most computer users do not want their OS to change. They want it to be the same all the time, that is why Windows Vista is failing to capture the hearts of Windows users.
I think that if Ubuntu wants to succeed as a Desktop OS for everybody, there should be a everything works version that is released every two years. This new version would be the least cutting edge of the family with only security updates. The LTS version for the commercial users still continues to come out every two years, but not the same year as the new Ubuntu. The October releases (X.10) for advanced users (make this one bleeding edge). I think that it might work. For Ubuntu to succeed as a mass market desktop it has to be “dummied” down.
I will be posting again at a regular pace again.
Adventures In Computing 
I disagree. Distros like Debian already have a “version… [that is] the least cutting edge of the family with only security updates,” and it hasn’t “succeed[ed] as a Desktop OS” any more than Ubuntu has.
Comment by A.Y. Siu — September 4, 2008 @ 12:42 am
Debian has never been as popular as Ubuntu is now. Ubuntu right now is our “great white hope”. I think we should all keep on plugging and one day linux users will be in the majority.
Comment by spurius — September 4, 2008 @ 9:31 am
It must be simple enough for granny, have good enough games for billy, be save enough for joey (this pervert), have all the software Bob needs at work and must be intuitive and goodlooking enough for jane. ubuntu is on a good way i think.
Comment by jaja — September 4, 2008 @ 11:34 am
One of the reasons Ubuntu has become popular is its regular six-month releases. The kinks still have to be worked out, but Ubuntu is making slow, steady progress. Mark Shuttleworth has a good business sense about him.
Comment by A.Y. Siu — September 4, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
The reason that Ubuntu is popular with tech savvy people is the six month releases. I am not saying to stop the six month releases, what I am saying is there should be a version for people that have computers but with no knowledge of computers and dislike change. Again the main reason that Vista is failing with XP users is that it is different from XP.
Most people do not want change. I thrive on it that is why I like Ubuntu and trying new distros all the time. Ubuntu is very popular with us nerds and I find it easy to get people that haven’t had computers before to try Ubuntu and stay with Ubuntu. It is easier than converting someone that is used to XP and is set in his/her ways.
Comment by spurius — September 4, 2008 @ 3:38 pm