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This article leaves out a key factor of why I've never committed to Linux full time, and why I wouldn't buy an $80 laptop to run linux. I have 1 laptop, and I

This article leaves out a key factor of why I've never committed to Linux full time, and why I wouldn't buy an $80 laptop to run linux. I have 1 laptop, and I don't just use it for development. I've tried over and over to use Linux as my primary OS, but every time the sheer jaggedness of the GUI experience, when I'm doing non-development (I guess normal consumer) things, bugs me non-stop until I switch back. It's like switching from Ruby to C++. C++ is amazingly powerful and has great uses, but ultimately Ruby is a lot more enjoyable to use. I think it's just a personality difference. If you're comfortable in the nitty gritty of linux, more power to you! But you're not going to convince me linux is better because you're can change the window system or [insert some other component I wouldn't care to change]. And you're not even going to convince me you're much more efficient. The arguments of efficiency and customization are always about low level details that I don't need to care about, and that play no part in good software engineering. [This is about the scope of web development, I love linux in different fields such as embedded systems. Again though, it comes up frustratingly, excruciatingly short as a general use OS]

Matti 13y ago
Having a very affordable Linux laptop that only works well for development could be seen as an advantage: you use one machine for work, and the other one for play and personal stuff.
- Jormundir 13y ago
  I had a big personal battle over this idea, but decided it would be silly to physically switch between two laptops based on what I was doing. Sometimes the activities are mixed together too: I'll finish a class and decide to check email or some other program for a couple minutes, then get back to development.
kevincrane 13y ago
It's popular to hate on Ubuntu, but I personally love it and its UI. I've used Ubuntu since 11.04 and run 13.04 on my personal laptop (for development and day-to-day stuff). I'm a sucker for pretty things like translucent title bars and snapping windows to full-screen, but I also love how easy it is to develop with Linux (as opposed to Windows). Everything is usually a single command away on the command line (sudo apt-get install blank) so it's easy to install new libraries or programs for development. It may not be for everyone, but it definitely is possible to use Linux without having to install and fiddle with new window managers or file explorers or all the nuts and bolts. I've never even really had driver issues on my laptop now that Ubuntu has become this mature.
- wildster 13y ago
  I agree the hardcore linux folk all seem to hate on Ubuntu, but it does just work.
  - tjr 13y ago
    One reason that some avoid Ubuntu: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/ubuntu-spyware.html http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/ubuntu-spyware.html
    - kevincrane 13y ago
      I agree that it was a shitty default configuration/decision, but uninstalling Amazon was as trivial as you could possibly get, so I'm not really concerned about that.
  - dkuntz2 13y ago
    I wouldn't say they all hate Ubuntu. They just don't prefer it. Speaking for myself, I think it has a fine core, and recommend the Gnome Remix to most people looking to get into Linux. I just don't really like Unity (mostly because it feels really slow every time I use it), and they're not really being excellent to the rest of the Linux community. I feel (and I said this recently in this same post) that if they focused on one thing, and stopped trying to do ridiculous and unnecessary things (like Ubuntu for Phones, and Ubuntu for TVs, and even Mir), Ubuntu could return to the nice, quality product it was. My second favorite desktop setup was with 10.04 and 10.10, the switch to Unity is what ultimately pushed me away from Ubuntu.
- Jormundir 13y ago
  Maybe I should try it again, but last time I used it, I couldn't get programs to just work. I don't want to hate on ubuntu, I liked a lot about it, but so often you can't just install and use something, you have to do a bunch of fiddling. Last time I used it, I couldn't get Dropbox to install correctly. Sublime text would always open in the default spot and with the default window size rather than where I closed it. There are all of these very minuscule problems that add up to a very agitating experience. That's why I said it comes up excruciatingly short, I feel like Linux is almost the best OS on every level, yet on every level (above the command line) there's some little thing that's irritating.
TheLegace 13y ago
You should try elementary OS, and I mean the beta-transition, it is by far the most clean and beautiful user experience you will ever see.

Matti 13y ago

Having a very affordable Linux laptop that only works well for development could be seen as an advantage: you use one machine for work, and the other one for play and personal stuff.

Jormundir 13y ago
I had a big personal battle over this idea, but decided it would be silly to physically switch between two laptops based on what I was doing. Sometimes the activities are mixed together too: I'll finish a class and decide to check email or some other program for a couple minutes, then get back to development.

kevincrane 13y ago

It's popular to hate on Ubuntu, but I personally love it and its UI. I've used Ubuntu since 11.04 and run 13.04 on my personal laptop (for development and day-to-day stuff). I'm a sucker for pretty things like translucent title bars and snapping windows to full-screen, but I also love how easy it is to develop with Linux (as opposed to Windows). Everything is usually a single command away on the command line (sudo apt-get install blank) so it's easy to install new libraries or programs for development. It may not be for everyone, but it definitely is possible to use Linux without having to install and fiddle with new window managers or file explorers or all the nuts and bolts. I've never even really had driver issues on my laptop now that Ubuntu has become this mature.

wildster 13y ago
I agree the hardcore linux folk all seem to hate on Ubuntu, but it does just work.
- tjr 13y ago
  One reason that some avoid Ubuntu: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/ubuntu-spyware.html http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/ubuntu-spyware.html
  - kevincrane 13y ago
    I agree that it was a shitty default configuration/decision, but uninstalling Amazon was as trivial as you could possibly get, so I'm not really concerned about that.
- dkuntz2 13y ago
  I wouldn't say they all hate Ubuntu. They just don't prefer it. Speaking for myself, I think it has a fine core, and recommend the Gnome Remix to most people looking to get into Linux. I just don't really like Unity (mostly because it feels really slow every time I use it), and they're not really being excellent to the rest of the Linux community. I feel (and I said this recently in this same post) that if they focused on one thing, and stopped trying to do ridiculous and unnecessary things (like Ubuntu for Phones, and Ubuntu for TVs, and even Mir), Ubuntu could return to the nice, quality product it was. My second favorite desktop setup was with 10.04 and 10.10, the switch to Unity is what ultimately pushed me away from Ubuntu.
Jormundir 13y ago
Maybe I should try it again, but last time I used it, I couldn't get programs to just work. I don't want to hate on ubuntu, I liked a lot about it, but so often you can't just install and use something, you have to do a bunch of fiddling. Last time I used it, I couldn't get Dropbox to install correctly. Sublime text would always open in the default spot and with the default window size rather than where I closed it. There are all of these very minuscule problems that add up to a very agitating experience. That's why I said it comes up excruciatingly short, I feel like Linux is almost the best OS on every level, yet on every level (above the command line) there's some little thing that's irritating.

TheLegace 13y ago

You should try elementary OS, and I mean the beta-transition, it is by far the most clean and beautiful user experience you will ever see.