Ubuntu 9.04 as slick as Windows 7, Mac OS X (CNet)

[Drew Wilson]

Here's what the official press release won't tell you about Ubuntu 9.04, which formally hit the streets overnight: its designers have polished the hell out of its user interface since the last release in October.

So much so, in fact, that I am starting to prefer using my Ubuntu "Jaunty Jackalope" desktop over the similarly slick Windows 7 beta (which I am currently running full-time on one desktop) and Mac OS X Leopard operating systems, which I also use regularly.

I left Windows Vista, XP, and even Debian lying bruised and battered by the roadside some time ago.

You won't be able to notice the vast improvement in Ubuntu's desktop experience over the past six months by browsing screenshot galleries of 9.04 or looking at new feature lists. What I'm talking about is that elusive slick-and-speedy feel you get from applications launching fast, windows moving around without jerkiness, and everything simply being where it should be in the user interface.

More...

Cool!

[mountain_rage]

Its been a while since I've installed Linux on one of my machines, I'll give it a go.

[Signa]

I just read an article that XP is going to be literally embedded in Win 7 (VM instead of compatibility mode). Sounds like there isn't much of a reason to NOT upgrade. That is unless it's being overstated how awesome this is.

[TFoS_Fan]

I'm a Linux user, I'm even an Ubuntu fan, but in my opinion, Windows 7 definitely has a better user interface than any Linux distro I have ever used.

I say this for a few reasons:
1. Aero transparency / effects are gorgeous, and although transparency/compiz effects are available in Linux distros with compiz, many graphics cards don't yet have good Linux drivers. Aero seems to run well on all fairly new hardware.
2. Actual windows management is great in Windows 7. Its much much easier to find, position and organise a large group of open windows / applications.
3. The aero theme of windows 7 is far more aesthetically pleasing and than Ubuntu human theme. Ubuntu requires tweaking (that the average user wont do) to make it look nice. Furthermore, Gnome is generally a bit dull with any theme and looks a bit like a new version of Windows 98 with all the grey (by default in Ubuntu at least). KDE is much better aesthetically in my opinion, but much less stable than both Gnome or Windows UI.
4. Nautilus is a bit too minimal for my liking.

[sudilav]

Well, i now have to unfortunetly disagree with you. Linux is much better than any windows OS. mainly because Windows was made for idiots, if i wanna do something on windows.. in most cases i can't, because they restrict the users from doing so, but in linux, even if it is restricted there is always a way where there's a will. Windows is restrictive, it's beautiful i agree with, but restrictive. And how in vista, hanging processes? they're annoying, used to take my computer 12 hours to shutdown, then svchost broke and it never did... so i rebooted it to linux F10.

EDIT: i am not calling anyone here an idiot, i'm calling microsoft idiots because of how they dumb-down the end-user of their product.

[TFoS_Fan]

Well, i now have to unfortunetly disagree with you. Linux is much better than any windows OS. mainly because Windows was made for idiots, if i wanna do something on windows.. in most cases i can't, because they restrict the users from doing so, but in linux, even if it is restricted there is always a way where there's a will. Windows is restrictive, it's beautiful i agree with, but restrictive. And how in vista, hanging processes? they're annoying, used to take my computer 12 hours to shutdown, then svchost broke and it never did... so i rebooted it to linux F10.

EDIT: i am not calling anyone here an idiot, i'm calling microsoft idiots because of how they dumb-down the end-user of their product.

I direct you to the bold in my post. I was merely talking about user interface. The thread seems to be on the topic of UI. I agree with all your points and that is partly why I use Linux, but I think most people would have to acknowledge that the aero UI of Windows 7 is currently superior to ubuntu human.

[sudilav]

Sorry, mistakened UI for GUI... As a programmer i prefer windows, mainly cos i ain't got the first clue to linux. the GUI for linux is great, the UI for windows 7... well, i had one friend who used Windows 7 and in the same day he rebooted and switched back to fedora, i will try windows 7 out when there's a torrent download for it.

[Signa]

There is and I'm running it now. Beta, of course, but the GUI is pretty nice. I don't know if it's because it's beta, but there is no way I can find to make taskbars of folders. That is pissing me off.

[drtoker]

The UI isn't where linux is lacking. Everyone I have introduced to Linux distros love it, except one thing: Software support.

Without it, they can polish the hell out of it, and it doesn't matter. Without mainstream software support (apps and games), mainstream users will never make the switch.

Stop polishing and start getting more software dev support. If the linux community wasn't so divided over so many distro's this may have been accomplished by now.

Edit: I dual boot Linux, but sad to say, spend most of my time in Windows 7 RC due to the above. I am competent in Linux, just can't get the same functionality out of it, except on the programming side.

[TFoS_Fan]

The UI isn't where linux is lacking. Everyone I have introduced to Linux distros love it, except one thing: Software support.

Without it, they can polish the hell out of it, and it doesn't matter. Without mainstream software support (apps and games), mainstream users will never make the switch.

Stop polishing and start getting more software dev support. If the linux community wasn't so divided over so many distro's this may have been accomplished by now.

Edit: I dual boot Linux, but sad to say, spend most of my time in Windows 7 RC due to the above. I am competent in Linux, just can't get the same functionality out of it, except on the programming side.

I agree with your point. But I still think UI is important to users. I don't think many users could or would want to go back to XP once they try Windows 7, but they both run nearly all the same applications.

[sudilav]

There needs to definitely be more support for installations, the end-user cannot be expected to use perl to install their programs, there needs to be a standard installer rather than this multiple choice of YUM, RPB, DEB and all the rest. This is also where the UI lacks i think... the need for terminal only helps those that are experienced and the general population are... well... not.

[TFoS_Fan]

There needs to definitely be more support for installations, the end-user cannot be expected to use perl to install their programs, there needs to be a standard installer rather than this multiple choice of YUM, RPB, DEB and all the rest. This is also where the UI lacks i think... the need for terminal only helps those that are experienced and the general population are... well... not.

I think the package problem is getting better. Most of the time people can use repository software and so don't even get exposed to what type of installer packages their system is using. I also think with the popularity of Ubuntu (and its many derivatives such as Mint) .deb packages are becoming the standard method of distributing installers.

[jspaces]

Windows 7 RC is way better than Vista IMHO. The compatibility mode works surprising well. I have found some things in Vista and Win7 are quite hidden compared to XP and actually difficult to adjust to my liking. The eye candy is nice but how much of your computer resources do you want running the environment and not have available for your programs. I have turned all of Windows 7 desktop effects that I could for performance reasons. I want my games to have all the available resources for their use. Mind you I did that with XP as well.
My hardware:
Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe
Athlon 64X2 7850
4GB
Nvidia 7600 GT 526MB
Windows 7 rating > 7 out of 10
I like my applications to run as fast as my computer can since that is why I am using the computer in the first place. Eye candy is just that and not the complete meal.

[jspaces]

The latest version of GNome and compiz is very polished not just Ubuntu's. Although Ubuntu is very easy for new Linux users to get a handle on. Windows 7 RC1 is not quite as polished and has fewer options for configurations and settings. Not sure Windows is the best user interface because some things have disappeared or are so hidden to be difficult to use.

no way I can find to make taskbars of folders

@Signa > I afraid RC1 is no different AFAIK.