I am currently deciding if I want to set up a small IT-consultant company. And since I have been running Linux Ubuntu on this laptop since I bought it, I am planning on continue doing just that.
The last month I have been using this computer as my main computer, not the one that is being used while enjoying hobby-development. Now it is used in order to actually doing and getting jobs. So what have I experienced?
- Linux is actually not stable. This can have something to do with X-server and the update from 8.10 to 9.04. I am running a Dell computer and there is said to be some problems with the open source drivers for the graphics cards from Intel.
- Annoying bugs. It is really irritating when you are to edit an Open Office document and then the program for some good reason focuses on another already open document. Moving back to the one you are to edit does not help. Bugs like these are reasons enough to move back to the old OS (XP).
- Applications “missing”. I could really need an invoice application that runs on the desktop and not on the web. The web is really not that secure and who knows when the server goes down or your Internet connection is lost.
I am also looking for a good Photo Management program like Fotostation. This program is the one that most Norwegian professional photographers use and there is a reason for it: It’s made with the photographer in mind, and also the need the editorial staff has, not what mom and dad needs to create an online photogallery. I have tried Picasa and Fspot, but they are all in the later category (parents).
I might have the answer to 1 & 2: I have upgraded, and I have not done a “virgin” upgrade since I am keeping my home-partition. When you upgrade from XP to Vista you are doing a clean (“virgin”) upgrade aren’t you? You aren’t keeping stuff? Or are you? I have not done that whenever I have upgraded from one version of Windows to another.
I just read a post with the title “Top 10 disappointing technologies” and related to the list they did mention Ubuntu Linux:
“…deep down even the hard-core evangelists will agree that Ubuntu has thus far been something of a disappointment. While Linux has definitely caught on in the enterprise server and database market, the open-source OS has never really been able to move into the greater market.”
I can totally, heartly completely agree with this statement.
What comes to mind is: When something is free, there really is a cost to it. The cost related to Linux (any distro) is that you can’t choose the professional applications. And the list here is starting to get quite long (Photoshop will be put high on the list if you ask anyone which application they miss in order to do a complete switch to Linux).
Am I willing to pay this cost? I really don’t know. I’ve started to think that the business model related to Open Source must change – or – the mentality in the Open Source community must change. I’ve written it and said it many times: I don’t mind paying for software to run it under Linux. Therefor I would not mind getting Photoshop or any other software on this platform. But there are others out there who don’t want to see anything but free and open source on their computer.
