I don't get this article. Comparing Linux distributions is a old game and debate not worth even having anymore. With LSB and as others have mentioned all programs run exactly the same on all distributions. What's the difference between installing Fedora, Gentoo, Ubuntu or Susu, and customizing it by installing your own dekstop etc? Nothing! All linux distributions are the exact same Linux.

The only difference is the package manager. Thats it. On a server side it makes since to care if you pay for vendor support, but for a dekstop it makes no difference. It boils down to do you like RPM or Debian (or portage in Gentoos case) packages better. Thats all.

The reason the author complains about Ubuntu is because they are driving an improved graphics performance in the desktop. Pioneering new features (enabling desktop effects etc). This is something that people want and is needed if you want to attract people from Mac OS and Windows (Vista/7). If the author had installed the same features on Suse or Fedora, he would have noticed his Intel drivers had problems with those distro's as well...because its Linux, not Ubuntu with the Intel driver problem.

I have used just about every major Linux distribution out there, and a couple years ago I switched to Ubuntu. Ubuntu just works, but mostly its the community. Ubuntu has such an incredible amount of support from a world wide community, it makes it a breeze to accomplish just about any task you may find yourself needing help with.

I wish Linux users would stop worrying about who has the biggest #$@@, and start comparing themselves to something really competitive, like doing things better and faster then Windows or Mac! I am tired of games not running, online streaming content (audio/video) partial working, and the lack of developed software such as beta versions of everthing from Skype to other apps. If you want Linux taken seriously by software developers, why not start unifying efforts to make "Linux" better. Instead of complaining about why some distro isn't as good as another.

Of course its terrible! I have been using Linux for years but I still use Google over many man pages. Take something simple for example like the "find" command. This is an essential and powerful tool, also easy to use. But I challenge you to find a new user who could figure out how to type in the command in its entirety and correctly perform a search using just the man pages. Its nearly impossible for them without any examples, and man pages almost NEVER have any examples to help with syntax.

Man pages are fast a quick to search, what we need are some examples in man pages as well. Also better online documentation would help. Like a Linux How To Wiki. This would be helpful because looking up several pages/forums online can be very time consuming and frustrating for new users (causing them to give up and quit using the OS).

Online Help: I know that when I need info on a topic, I now search wikipedia often by just going to Google and typing in "subject-to-search wiki". The top hit is always the Wikipedia page for my topic. I wish we has something like this for Linux, I would definitely use it, and add to it! While I know there are a lot of Linux Wiki's there I don't know of any that provide an all encompassing support of all linux functions. Also I don't know of an easy way to search for them from Google like I can Wikipedea.

This is actually great news! Very exciting. And the ability to reinstall your codecs is very useful, can't wait to give it a try!!! And for those who focus on ethics alone, I hate to tell you this, but Ubuntu is not an ethical OS. There other other FOSS software and versions of Linux that are focused on this philosophy. But Ubuntu is focused on what so many people want, a version of Linux that works. It tries to remain as free of proprietary formats as much as possible, but most people are rational enough to realize that ease of use (and realistic competition to Windows) will only come with a compromise. For example "IF" Linux became popular and mainstream in the future. I think most of us would still pay for video games, the DVD's we watch, or much (or some) of the music we listen too. The OS itself is free to use, the 3rd party codecs and some apps/games are not. And honestly, thats ok.