With the increasing number of software applications available to the average user, the quest for better and cheaper options is becoming more and more prevalent. For many, open-source represents the best option, as it is both free and legal. This, however, is not a new phenomenon as the idea of “free” has become commonplace within the computer ecosphere. For example, few can remember when you actually had to pay for a web browser. Also, applications such as Open Office are turning users away from the more costly options, such as the overly expensive Microsoft Office.
Unfortunately, switching to an open-source operating system can be a much more complicated and cumbersome task than simply switching your web browser and not all users may be fully aware of potential pitfalls. This article will focus on some of the more problematic issues and weigh them against the advantages of open-source operating systems which a specific emphasis on Ubuntu as it is currently the most popular alternative.
Potential Disadvantage: Software Incompatibility
First and foremost, you should be aware that you may have difficulty using your Windows software because it was not designed to be used on non-Windows operating systems. Ubuntu, for example, informs users that "[i]n the same way that Windows only runs software designed for Windows, applications must be made on Linux to work on Ubuntu."
One way around this is to install a copy of Windows on a virtual pc. One of the best options is VirtualBox as it can be optained free of cost. Unfortunately, you would still require a valid copy of Windows, which is highly expensive and negates the most popular reason for switching to open-source in the first place.
Potential Disadvantage: Hardware Incompatibility
Getting your hardware to function properly may also result in significant frustration. For instance, one of the most problematic issues with open source OS's has been in the area of network adapters, for example, some earlier versions of Ubuntu were a nightmare. Dennis O'Reilly of CNET News stated bluntly in 2008 when reviewing Ubuntu 7.10 that after wasting hours on attempting to locate a wireless driver that he was "not willing to spend hours searching for a solution to a problem I can avoid by simply switching to Windows."
While driver support has improved significantly in recent years, it is still not nearly as simple a process as it would be on a Mac or Windows machine.
Potential Advantage: Improved Interface
While many Linux based OS's may have been critisized in the past for unnatractive and confusing user interfaces, Ubuntu 10.4, has addressed this problem by giving the user a much more attractive and professional looking interface that represents a significant improvement over earlier versions. In fact, the latest version of Ubuntu looks incredibly similar to Mac’s OS-X. Overall user-friendliness has also been greatly improved bringing the level of usability closer to a Windows operating system.
Potential Advantage: Use of System Resources
A significant advantage of operating systems such as Ubuntu lies in the fact that they are highly useful on older computers. While it may not always be advisable to use one of these os's as a main computer, they are a great option for computers that do not have to capalities of handling newer systems such as Windows Vista or Windows 7. Ubuntu is a very light opeating system and uses significantly fewer resources than more recent Windows options.
What this means is it may be sometime before an operating system receives universal adoption that does not originate from Apple or Microsoft, if ever. Fortunately, open-source means that we are not completely without options as long as you are willing to sacrifice some of the conveniences that come with a universally accepted operating system. The average user, however, should carefully examine the implications of switching to open-source before making the transition.
Chris Bowles - null
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