twitter's Journal: Mark Shuttleworth Aims for Apple Like User Experience.

Datamation got Canonical Software backer, Mark Stuttleworth to lay out his perspective and plans for Ubuntu. There is a commitment to the GPL and to faithfully deliver free software from upstream groups but he is also supporting a mobile and netbook interface to rival Mac in the next two years.

we've increasingly been engaged in the definition of the desktop experience for some of these consumer electronics products, however, we're now in a position to actually start engaging with those upstreams and investing in that desktop experience. ... We see Apple as the gold standard of the user experience. ... we started to build out a team that will focus on the specific user experiences that your reader is probably referring to, and our goal, very simply, is to make sure the Free software ecosystem can deliver a Mac OS-like experience, or an experience that will compete with the Mac OS. ... the innovation inherent in the Free software process can deliver an experience that is comparable and in many ways superior.

There's good financial news to back that vision up. Their relationship with Dell has been profitable and there will be more. Many of Canonical's service businesses are starting to turn a profit as well.

Shuttleworth won't be selling users out for a fast buck anytime soon. He dismisses the Novel/M$ deal as harmful to free software and a sad attempt to retard new markets and technology. He describes proprietary drivers as a kludge and encourages vendors to go free if they want a piece of the clearly growing Linux market.

I found this article at the Virginia Tech Free Culture site. It was their question than got the Ubuntu interface answer.

Apple-like Experience?

[Leftist Troll]

I certainly hope not. I don't want to catch the HIV.