Out of all the potential reasons not to use Linux (incompatible hardware, Windows-only software, etc.) they managed to choose 7 of the worst imaginable for their list. GRUB aesthetics?! It appears for a couple seconds each time you boot up! And how on Earth is refreshing one’s desktop “satisfying”?

If you choose your operating system based on default login sounds, please pick up your computer and fling it out the window. You might hurt yourself if you keep trying to use it…

Actually, for a Linux distro, Ubuntu is very successful IMO.
It obviously doesn’t have the same server market penetration as say RedHat/CentOS, but it is certainly gaining ground on the desktop. It’s arguably the most popular distro for end users.

So that guy’s generalisation is just that. He just doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

It really pains me to see such idiocy but it is a free country and everybody has freedom of speech.

Just because Ubuntu or any other distro is not a big success does not automatically make it a big failure. Change requires time and it will take time but Linux will get there and be a success.

I have a very hard time trying to get my friends and colleagues to use Linux. The reason they initially agree is because of the Cube (now Globe or Cylinder) or ‘coz I show them elive. ( Now I can do both simultaneously ) But those are, as I put them, short term infatuations, those who do fall in love and have a Linux installation that they do use regularly do so beacuse of the more important things like stability and responsiveness and are willing to learn and unlearn a few things ( stress on the word few).

And by the way, most computer literate people I come in contact with have at least heard the word “Linux” and know that it is an alternative to Windows.
I would say that is a start to fixing Ubuntu’s Bug # 1

This happens with movie critics all the time, so the same thing happening in the software sector is no surprise. If they can’t complain about some legitimate shortfall (of which there are plenty in any platform), they will invent some to poke holes at.

The bootloader “ugliness” is a classic example. You only see it for a few seconds during startup. Why would it matter since it’s not seen again until you restart? Is Vista’s boot options any prettier?

Refreshing is irrelevant. Default wallpaper and login sound are pointless arguments as they can be changed. So are the default players which can also be substituted to any number of free ones. I don’t use Windows Media Player that often either and have instead opted for the CCCP package with the free MP Classic.

The login screen is an obvious security feature that even Vista has followed.

As for Unmounting… “They are not aware of the Unmount Volume option in the Right Click Menu”. So the right click does have truly useful options instead of the “Send To” lacking. And do people not know about “Drag n’ drop”?

And as mentioned before, the Silverlight issue isn’t their fault. Besides, Moonlight is already available for Linux. And many modern Flash apps still require you to have the latest player anyway. Which means an additional installation with either option to use their rich UI.

An example being ITV’s (a UK tv company) on demand service. There is no alternative (legal) way to get their programming online without a silverlight 2.0 enabled web browser. That might be a deal breaker for some people.