What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
Summary: You can use Ubuntu in the cloud, on servers, on the desktop, on tablets and smartphones, but can the popular Linux distribution play in all these spaces?
Ubuntu has come a long way since it's first circle of friends.
Once upon a time I knew exactly what Ubuntu was. Built on top of Debian Linux, it was the most popular Linux desktop around. Today, Ubuntu is in the clouds, on servers, tablets and smartphones, and, oh yes, it's still on the desktop. By spreading its energy in so many directions it's hard to see what Canonical, Ubuntu's parent company, really wants from Ubuntu. So what exactly is Ubuntu today? Well, here's my overview of Ubuntu 2012.
First, Ubuntu is still very popular on the desktop. It may no longer, however, be the most popular desktop Linux. Mint, which is built on Ubuntu, is arguably the desktop Linux of choice for experienced Linux users.
That's because Ubuntu switched its interface from the popular GNOME 2.x style desktop to the more beginner friendly Unity interface. Now, Ubuntu is getting ready to switch its interface again to an even more entry-level user friendly interface: Head-Up Display (HUD).
A first look at Ubuntu Linux's Head-Up Display (Gallery)
At the same time, Ubuntu has decided to abandon its KDE Linux distribution: Kubuntu. Kubuntu will still be around, as Kubuntu developer Jonathan Riddell wrote but "in the same way as the other community flavors such as Edubuntu, Lubuntu, and Xubuntu." That is to say, Ubuntu will supply software resources but no developer funding to keep Kubuntu afloat.
This comes as no surprise since, as Riddell admits, "it has not taken over the world commercially and shows no immediate signs of doing so despite awesome successes." So moving forward, Ubuntu is now fully committed to only its GNOME-based HUD interface.
At the same time though, Ubuntu is also trying to make a stronger play for the business desktop. Canonical recently released the Ubuntu Business Desktop Remix. This is a version of Ubuntu, which is based on Ubuntu 11.10. This edition will come with five years of support. It includes the Open JDK 6 Java run-time environment along with some proprietary software such as Adobe Flash Plugin and VMware View.
Some users object to these proprietary programs, but Mark Shuttleworth, Canonical's founder, defends this move. Shuttleworth wrote, "Everything in the remix is available from the standard Software Centre. ... No secret sauce for customers only; we're not creating a RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux), we already have an enterprise-quality release cadence called LTS (Long Term Support) and we like it just the way it is. This is a convenience for anyone who wants it. Having a common starting point, or booting straight into a business-oriented image makes it easier for institutional users to evaluate Ubuntu Desktop for their specific needs."
These changes have lead many long time Ubuntu users to switch to Linux Mint, with its new GNOME 2.x style Cinnamon interface. That said, Ubuntu still remains popular with many users as its recently showing as top desktop distribution on the LinuxQuestions annual user survey shows. My question is, as Canonical divides its attention in so many other directions will it be able to keep its popularity
A walk through Mint Linux's new/old Cinnamon desktop (Gallery)
For example, Canonical also wants to compete with Red Hat and SUSE in the server space. Ubuntu has been making serious efforts as a server since 2009 . In some server spaces, Ubuntu has done very well for itself.
For example, Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distribution on the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud. Ubuntu, which is now using OpenStack for its own cloud efforts, has also been making progress in the private cloud market. However, Ubuntu has not been successful in getting corporate customers to switch from RHEL or SUSE to Ubuntu.
At the same time, most of Canonical's efforts seem to be going to smartphones, tablets, and TVs. The idea here is to use the Unify/HUD interface to provide a universal interface for devices.
A quick look at Ubuntu TV (screenshots)
This is all well and good. I can see Unity making a fine tablet or TV interface. I can also see Unity/HUD becoming a popular interface for the desktop. I know people who want to get their hands dirty with Linux's controls don't care for it, but then Mac OS X has shown that there are far more users who want an easy-to-user interface than know the ins and outs of, in Apple's case, BSD Unix. I can also see Ubuntu continuing to do well on the cloud. I'm not at all sure it can make great gains on the small business or enterprise server space.
But, and here's where I come to a problem, I don't know that Canonical can execute all these plans at once. Dropping Kubuntu, whle painful to some users, was a smart move. Still, the company isn't that large to begin with and it's recently undergone a major reorganization. Individually I see most of these changes as being for the best. Collectively though... I don't know. I fear Canonical has bitten off more than it can chew. What do you think?
Related Stories:
Shuttleworth: Don't blow a gasket over enterprise Ubuntu remix
Mint's Cinnamon: The Future of the Linux Desktop? (Review)
Linux users cautiously optimistic about Ubuntu's Head-Up Display desktop
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Talkback
RE: What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
RE: What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
What a surprise - Loverock can't see that non-windows systems have a place in computing systems.
25 years of computiing support - from IBM Mainframe systems, through the horrors of Windows 3.0, through to the point where I have a real choice in what I use for home, fun and work systems. I have an ubuntu 'server' (parentheses because it is PC grade hardware) running mail, web site and file/print sharing.
I am struggling at the moment with the route Linus is going on the desktop, but Windows 8 has no real appeal for me either.
I use Windows 7 at work and think it is probably the best work desktop implementation I have ever used, although I was blown away by SunOS 4 in the early 90's, which made Windows look like an old Dodge pickup competing with a Mustang.
I like the diversity, I also like the ability to chose 'horses for courses', and as a basic desktop right through to server system, linux definitely has a place in my clients' offices.
Alexander the Penguin
In 4Q11, Linux ran 53% of smartphones, 39% of tablets, 64% of servers, 81% of mainframes, and 91% of supercomputers. A little more "lack of progress" and Linus will weep like Alexander for more worlds to conquer!
A couple corrections
Linux is not Android and Android is not Linux. If you want to talk about Desktop Linux, 1% coverage.
For smart phones, Apple still kills Android in the profitability arena. That little fact will eventually kill the Android based hardware makers.
Same goes for the 39% of tablets. By the way I own 2 Androids and an iPad, Apple wins hands down
91% of Super Computers, well, only sort of. The versions of Linux on these beasts is highly customized to the point where it's barely recognizable as Linux.
64% of servers is another statistic (Lies, damned lies and statistics). If you had said, Web Facing Servers, you might be right. Overall servers? Yet more fud from the uneducated.
Better luck next time
RE: What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
RE: What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
Don't look now, but you're arguing with *yourself*! :-D
In any event, claiming it's not *REAL* Linux if it's successful is a tautology. Linux is a kernel. Android runs on it. Windows Phone 7 (if you can find one) doesn't.
64% of servers? Then why are server sales
at 78% (or something) for WIndows based units.
And don't say because they don't have a choice, that they ship with the OS installed. You can get any server from the OEM's without the OS for less.
RE: What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
RE: What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
Maybe we're happy where Linux is at right now?
Fail some on this:
pfred1@spot:~$ uptime
16:17:21 up 61 days, 16:01, 1 user, load average: 0.22, 0.17, 0.16
The only thing that annoys me is you.
Linux isn't a platform you plank.
RE: What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
The primary differences are price (Ubuntu wins) and apps (Ubuntu loses). That said, with more apps moving to the cloud, Ubuntu stands to make rapid gains. I think SMB's will grow to appreciate a centralized, low-cost computing universe that is at least as stable as the more mainstream options and that can offer what every other platform can offer through virtual machines when those needs arise.
Hello???
RE: What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
RE: Linux is relevant, but not Ubuntu.
RE: What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
Linux Mint is providing an easy to install Debian. The Debian Edition links to the Debian repositories, not to the Ubuntu repositories. Debian has larger repositories than Ubuntu does.
Simply Mepis and Antix did the same thing a couple of years ago, for the same reasons. Ubuntu is trying too hard to compete with Fedora for the 'Bleeding Edge' groups. The result is too many hangs and crashes for some users tastes.
Going with Debian gives the users a more reliable system, without the occasional craziness of Ubuntu.
Debian offers three levels of software, with a fourth for those who are fanatics.
<B>Stable</B>, for servers and systems that absolutely have to work. It takes a couple of years to get the bugs out, so software in Stable is usually 'old'.
<B>Testing</B>, for general use. This software is getting the bugs out, and is usually much newer than the versions in 'Stable'. Usually less than 6 months old. Testing is generally compatible with Ubuntu, though since Ubuntu compiles with different flags set, a Debian package might not run on Ubuntu, or vice versa. (Only about 80% success).
<B>Unstable</B>, "Sid". These are packages that are certified to run, but often crash. These are close to the latest. Once they have enough issues resolved, they move into Testing. Comparable to Fedora.
<B>Experimental</B>, These are packages that are submitted, but that are not assured of running. This is for those who don't mind when the system goes down. If you must run the absolute latest, this is where you will find it on Debian. These are usually packages created directly from Upstream, with nothing fixed. But, at least half of the packages don't really work as advertised.
I hope this helps you.
RE: What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
Any hard data on actuall usage of Ubuntu and new king of Linux Desktop Space ?
And BTW when did you seen products successful before it entered market ?
RE: What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
Ubuntu still has more total users, but Limux Mint has more new users. The actual user base is generally established by sales figures. Since neither distribution (distro) is sold, there are no user base figures. That's after all why Gartner says that there are only 1% of desktop users on Linux. That's all that are purchased with Linux pre-installed. The vast majority of Linux desktop users just buy a windows machine, and then replace Windows, or install Linux beside Windows. Best guesses made by comparing visits to Web Sites vary widely, giving figures anywhere from 0.05% (Microsoft Help) to 20% or more. Microsoft's own estimate in late 2008 was 8-10% It's almost certainly a bit larger now.
Microsoft isn't worried, as at least 2/3 of Linux users 'dual boot', meaning that they still use Windows, and often purchase Microsoft products as well as using Linux.
Home use of Linux lags Corporate server use, and leads Corporate Desktop use. Corporate desktop use is known, and is around 2% globally.
Linux is preferred in many corporations for server use because one Linux server can replace up to 5 Windows servers, using the same Hardware. The differences are in the Unix background of Linux verses the desktop background of Windows. Linux server administrators get paid more, but the corporations need fewer of them.
Using existing user base for beta-testing GUI experiments?
On a desktop with a 24 inches monitor (yes, it's luxurious, but it actually costed me 25% of a 19 inches CRT monitor 7 years ago), any GUI gimmicks like global menu, HUD, hiding scrollbar, etc. just to save a dozen of pixels is just ridiculous.
RE: What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
You do realize of course that you can always choose at log-in time, your choice of the new Unity, or your preferable old Gnome / Gnome "classic", do you?
You can even choose KDE if you want (provided you install it on top of Ubuntu).
Just logout and then log in again.
(I admit that the default skinny scrollbar is an annoyance)
RE: What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
RE: What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?
Who knows? They keep overhauling the UI. Maybe someday something will stick, but I doubt the new HUD will.
"Now, Ubuntu is getting ready to switch its interface again to an even more entry-level user friendly interface: Head-Up Display (HUD)."
It's a fancy search engine with suggestions. Or a King's Quest game, if you're not already familiar with the application. Time to play "Guess the right word to use your app!!"
Basically, it takes the problem the Office ribbon was supposed to fix and makes it 100 times worse.
There's nothing even remotely "entry-level user friendly" about the HUD.
The GUI became popular for a good reason: It's easily discoverable and usable. People don't want to search - they just want everything to be there, ready to be clicked. Nobody wants to learn hundreds of text commands to use an app, sorry. And they certainly don't want to re-learn them for every new app, either.
If this were truly the future of UIs, then Windows and MacOS would have never been invented. iPhones would have never become popular, either. GUIs are the future, not search engines.
Sorry, the HUD is absurd. A search engine is a last resort, not a primary interface. Especially not for a graphical UI.