8
2009
10 Reasons why Ubuntu is a BIG Failure in India
An article by 
Till today I have never been able to spread Ubuntu among my friends successfully.(I live in Bangalore and all my friends are Bangaloreans and Bangalore is known as the IT Capital of India.)Even though I installed Ubuntu for all my friends none of them actually used Ubuntu for more than a week.Some of them removed Ubuntu and flatly refused to use it again in future.Some of them used it occasionally to download stuff from torrents and to clean infected USB Drives.Based on their feedback ,I figured out why people(especially of India) are not too keen on using Ubuntu even if it is installed on their computers.
1)GRUB Boot Loader does not have an Aesthetic Appeal.
Ugly Grub
After installing Ubuntu ,we are presented with a Grub menu which displays about 5 options.The 1st option to load Ubuntu and the last option to load Windows.This menu has a black ground with white text.This menu does not have an aesthetic appeal and does not create a good first impression.Even though Grub supports eye-candy like custom background and coloured text,Ubuntu developers have chosen to ignore the Grub Menu.With a little effort ,the Grub Menu can be easily enhanced visually .
2)Login Screen-Users are required to type in their username.
Ubuntu Login Screen
The default login screen in Ubuntu requires the user to enter his Username and Password.Many people find this irritating.The login screen should display a list of Usernames by default.An average user will not try to find out how to change the behaviour of the Login screen.Instead he will simply say that Ubuntu is not good and will refuseto use it.So it is upto the Ubuntu developers to change the default behaviour of the Login Screen.
3)Desktop-The Refresh option is missing!
Ubuntu Desktop Right Click Menu
What does an average Indian user do when the desktop loads in Windows?He rights clicks on the desktop and refreshes the desktop about 5-6 times or until he is satisfied.This is a ritual performed by most Indian Users after switching on the computer and just before shutting down the computer.
When this average user tries to perform his ‘Refresh’ ritual in Ubuntu,he is in for a rude shock.The Ubuntu Desktop does not have a Refresh Option or any other simliar option like Reload in the Right Click Menu.
So I advice Ubuntu Developers to include to a Refresh or a Reload option in the right click menu on the Desktop and in the Nautilus File Manager.The option should be equivalent of pressing Ctrl+R.As of now ,pressing Ctrl+R refreshes the Desktop in Ubuntu.
4)Default Login Sound.
The default login sound in Ubuntu is not good.It has been the same sound for many versions of Ubuntu.The Ubuntu Developers should spend some time on selecting a better Login Sound.
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5)Default Wallpaper.
There are only 2 or 3 default wallpapers in Ubuntu.Ubuntu Developers should add some more visually appealing wallpapers related to nature,wildlife,people etc.
6)Default Audio driver is weak.
Quality of Sound in Ubuntu is never as good as it is in Windows.I don’t know what Ubuntu Developers can do about this,but this is one of the main reasons why people refuse to watch movies in Ubuntu.The sound effects are absent.
7)Totem Movie Player sucks
Totem Sucks
That’s the general opinion of many users.VLC Media Player or Mplayer would have been a better choice as the Default Media Player.
8)Right Click-Send To :Options are missing.
The right click menu should have a Send To option with options to send files to the Home Folder or Removable Disk or a blank CD etc
9)Silverlight-Moonlight.
People in India are crazy about Cricket.The Indian Premier League live videos are being streamed at livevideo.iplt20.com using Microsoft Silverlight Technology.Ubuntu fails here.Inspite of installing Moonlight – Open source alternative for SilverLight,live videos cannot be viewed in Ubuntu.The development of Moonloght is way behind Silverlight.
Ubuntu Developers should include Moonlight by default.Even if Live streaming is not possible,other SilverLight Enabled Sites can be viewed using Moonlight.In current Ubuntu version none of the Silverlight Enabled sites can be viewed.
10)Safely Remove USB Drive or Unmount Volume
Many people do not know how to Safey Remove their Usb Drives in Ubuntu.They are not aware of the Unmount Volume option in the Right Click Menu.So they simply pull it out.This leads to loss of data if writing process has not been completed.
So the Ubuntu Developers should rename the Unmount Option for USB Drives to Safey Remove USB Drive.An icon should also be displayed in the taskbar to Safely Remove USB Drive.
I hope Ubuntu Developers ,GNome Developers and other Linux Developers read this and make changes in their Linux Distribution.Hopefully by the next Ubuntu Release,I should be able to spread it successfully among my friends.
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About the Author: Bharat Balegere
Bharat Balegere is a 27 year old blogger from Bengaluru. He is a technology enthusiast and loves tinkering with computers and usb drives.
Hello,
I agree with some of your points like wallpaper,sound effects,silvermoonlightand may be grub look and feel.But all this things can be improved and neccessarily not a failure in india beacuse a few install on your friends computer does not constitute the whole INDIA.
Ubuntu linux is not Windows.so safely remove hardware,sent to etc option suggesstion is rubbish.
Surely you live in Bangalore and Bangalore is known as the IT Capital of India but it seems you don’t know even the full form of IT.Please, I request you not to post this type of RUBBISH Articles whic is a shame not only to INDIA but also Bangaloreans.
ur right dude….you have done a wonderful job by explaning that
People use windows because it’s free. Ask them to pay for the license of OS and every application they are using on it. They will switch to some linux distro, if not ubuntu.
And btw I want fast booting of my machine and dont want to see aesthetically beautiful grub for hours.
Agree with Vikas Mohan. This is rubbish! I am a Bangalorean and many of my friends use Ubuntu. This post looks like a comparison b/w Ubuntu and Windows which is unfair because Ubuntu is way cooler and has a shorter release cycle and offers peace of mind at no cost. BTW those who are interested in playing games on Linux should check “wine”. After this you might uninstall Windows ;) (No offense to Windows lovers, Windows is a great OS but is ridiculously overpriced!)
This is a LOL! ^_^
The formula is simple as this my friend:
Linux (in general) != Windows && Linux != MacOS
Pick your choice of OS!
i agree with most of the posts here:
1. There’s a setting to tweak this – you can have “press esc to see the menu”, or just shut your eyes?
2. Security. Its been mentioned.
3. Seriously, what? Can someone explain this? The “satisfaction” answer above is good, I kind of see that. But surely it just wastes time?
4. If its been the same for all versions, couldn’t it be considered a trademark or such? Same as the windows one.
5. Download a new one! I don’t expect to choose my wallpaper from the ones that come with windows, because they’re all horrible! Apart from the brown theme, the ubuntu ones actually look alright.
6. Rubbish – check the (amazing) support forums at ubuntuforums.org for posts related to this, as it could well be a hardware config problem with your card. I know lots of people that have no trouble at all.
7. true, but if you don’t like it just install mplayer! It takes hardly any time at all!
8. Its not windows, but you can add these yourself: google “nautilus scripts”
9. Silverlight is proprietary software that you have to install seperately in windows anyway, so why should it be any different in linux?
10. Hell, I just pull my usb stick out anyway. As long as your not writing stuff to the drive, its (normally) okay. But right-click -> unmount is hardly a big step is it?
I hope you learn that Linux is Not Windows! Seriously, the number of posts I read that are “10 reasons why linux isn’t ready for the desktop” is horrendous. Linux != Windows. Its different. Would you complain if you started using a Mac and didn’t know where stuff was? Somehow I don’t think so… Hell, they don’t even have a right mouse button “by default”…
Hi,
The most valuable gift of Linux (any flavor) is the freedom it provides you to customize the OS the way you want. Point 3 is pointless but I consider it as good timepass when you ‘ve got nothing else to do (not much to do in windows anyway) and your boss won’t let you play solitaire.
Just to inform you. I just added “Refresh Desktop” option in my Debian box. You can similarlity add “Send to” or any other option you want. You are in control. No one is stopping you. Point 1 about the aesthetic looks of GRUB. If you don’t like it change it. Add a pic of Jenna if you like.
You are gonna rant like this for the rest of your life because you don’t know how to use Linux. It’s like having a Ferrari(Linux) and don’t know how to drive(a noob) so you call a cab (Windows)
And what give you the right to represent everybody in India or Bangalore for that matter????
1) Are you saying that people don’t use XP too, ‘coz the XP bootloader has the EXACT SAME COLORS.
2) Down to personal preferences. But if really want the people you introduce Ubuntu to stick with it maybe you can change the default GDM login to one with a face browser.
3) Are you SERIOUS??????? Or were (maybe still are) one of those kids who say “I will go home with my bat if I am given out”
4&5) Visit ubuntuforums, ubuntu brainstroms etc. I partially agree with you on these but I personally don’t stick with the default wallpaper of any distro. Then again it’s my choice and bound to differ from others. That is why there is a “choose wallpaper” in every distro/de/wm.
6) No issues with that on the various types of hardware I have installed Linux on, maybe you have been unlucky with the hardware you have. If it is just the ‘loudness’ and not the musicality you refer to then try cranking up the PCM in addition the master volume.
7) ABSOLUTELY AGREE.
8) Would be a good feature. Some filetypes have it already, would be nice if it was implemented consistently.
9)Would be interisting to know what Microsoft’s sales pitch was to BCCI.Anyway this is not something that I can reasonably comment on.
10) “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose….” –Shakespeare
There is a panel applet which does exactly that in XFCE, not sure but amybe in Gnome too. Would be nice to have it enabled by default like KDE4 though.
And just because Ubuntu ( or Fedora or any other distro) is not a resounding success does in no way mean it is a ‘BIG’ failure. History shows that Windows too had it hard up untill before Win95 and Win98.
You should change the title of the post to something less inflamatory. That is if your intensions are good and not just to get people to visit your blog.
I only have something to say on the first 3:
1) I agree with you, plenty of other distros have nice grub splash screens. MINT is a good example, and actually might be a better fit for your friends then ubuntu is.
2)I both agree and disagree. As others pointed out, having the username on screen is a security risk… HOWEVER: ubuntu has as one of its startup options a “Recovery Mode” which requires no password. Using this mode, a malicious user could not only find a valid user name (ls /home), but also change the password for that username, or just create a new account. So while the arguments against you are valid in general, they are not sound in the case of ubuntu.
3) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! Explain what this is all about. It doesnt make any sense. Why do they do this? Clearly they need to be informed that this is pointless… on any operating system. I really want to know what the idea behind this is though.
Hi! I am from Muzaffarpur, Bihar. One of the most underprivileged parts of India, and I have friends from almost all parts of India.
I am a proud Ubuntu user and I have converted many of my friends from ‘Windows lover’ to ‘Ubuntu admirer’. One of my friends gave up Windows just because it used to crash frequently. I don’t know how you have mentioned it as a ‘big failure’. Better, I would suggest a term as ’emerging success’ for it.
The other replies have almost printed up what I would have liked to comment for your post. Well, personally I agree with ‘only’ the number 6 of the reasons in your post.
i think your friends are either dumb or you don’t even know what are the real things one should see while reviewing an operating system. I mean like the default sound and wallpaper stuff.Theese are last thing one should see while checking out an OS. The basic thing is stability of the system and ease of use. In this both departments Ubuntu is much better than windows.
It seems that all you except from ubuntu is to be a copy of windows with different name………
Your post is ridiculous.
Changing a few wallpapers and menu options isn’t going to result in mass linux adoption in India.
Indians don’t use linux because they’re comfortable with Windows. They see no reason to change. And I doubt pushy linux zealots like you do the case for linux any good.
Do you know what is Human Computer Interface and how it works?
Some of your points are just an excuse for being lazy.
Refresh in right click, do you understand what is refresh or why is it necessary?
Few points are there but they are getting rectified upstream and in other distros.
Good luck and learn to adapt.
i think fedora rocks
http://www.techveno.com/fedora-11-wins/
Even i faced similar issues , staying in Bangalore i also installed ubuntu to many of my friends but then ended up switching back to windows :(
But then , when they we infected by virus {very bad ones }. I showed them the advantage of linux , now atleast 50% are using it :).
The basic questions i asked them was :
1.What do you do in windows?
2.What you are not able to do in Ubuntu ?
Told them you would normally , listen to music , browse and do some word processing and coding …
Everything can be done here.
One of them wanted to stick on to the toy TurboC for DOS , i installed it on DosBox to prove everything can be done here also , finally i have succeeded
@hemanth.hm
1.What do you do in windows?
>> mostly gaming
2.What you are not able to do in Ubuntu?
>> can’t game :-D
@bharat
linux sucks…only if you don’t know how to use it! ;-)
Who said no gaming in Ubuntu ?
You have three options :
1. playonlinux
2. playdeb
3. wine
I just installed GTA latest version at my friends place , and the end of the day i have quit playing long back :P
hey hemanth… i couldnt install .exe files using wine…it tries to extract but shows some errors….i tried by using the command “wine file.exe” in terminal…wat else can i do for that problem…
An interesting post. I agree, if thre is anywhere in India that Ubuntu shuld be lapped up, its Bangalore, no argument! I wonder how representative your sample group is though.
Firstly, Ubuntu/linux in general is just different. It does things in a different way to windows and is not a drop-in replacement for it. I have no idea for example what this refreshing of the desktop is all about. I’d be very curious to hear what the origins and purpose of this ritual are. There are plenty of europeans who also have tried it for a week, been unable to get over that its not windows and given up. Same goes for wallpaper etc. there are thousands of wallpapers available on gnome-look, some gnome-specific, some ubuntu specific. (Perhaps Canonical chose not to waste space on the CD by including wallpaper…). None of the ‘problems’ you identify seem to me would be terribly difficult to overcome for a technically curious user.
Secondly, I don’t see what this is telling us what are the unique challenges about Ubuntu adoption in India. There are plenty of Europeans, Americans, etc who also have tried it for a week, been unable to get over that its not Windows, and given up, unless you suggesting that in general, Indian users are significantly more impatient than other users.
in windows execution of codes has higher priority than display. thus some time when your codes consumes most of your cpu power and ram, your display is not allowed to refresh (bcoz as i stated above). (This you may have seen when you exeucte some heavy program say Photoshop CS4 on Pentium IV 1.0Ghz i.e. on slow systems). many times after code execution windows refreshes your screen but sometime unable to do so or you can say forgets to do so. in that case this refresh button helps you to refresh your screen display…..
The processor will scan through the cache memory again & prompt the latest modifications or changes you have made to your computer.
Bharat,
I’m from Bangalore too and I think you have been talking to the wrong people. I run Ubuntu on my desktop at home, mainly used by my wife. She loves it and she’s not well-versed in computers. The first thing she remarked was “No antivirus!”. A friend of mine has it installed for his parents in Orissa and they love it!
I think generalizing something, without a proper statistical sampling, is bad. India is not your friends or mine. If you are going to publish something like this, please spend the time in making a proper effort at collecting data. Use a proper user survey or better a focus group that draws people from various fields with varying computer knowledge and exposure.
A broad demographic term like India cannot be used without comparative data from other countries. Are you saying that Ubuntu in another country has different features that are less cumbersome to users from those countries? or that people living in Bangalore should somehow have in-born skills to use it, that you found lacking in your friends?
Please also change the title to “10 Reasons why Ubuntu is a BIG Failure with my friends”.
Thanks and Regards,
Ulhas
i have been using ubuntu since the last 1 1/2 years and i have had monumental achievements in comparison to microsoft.
see, linux was initially not for people who didnt care about what was in the background as a process as long as things were working.
and lemme assert that a refresh option is never required in ubuntu…simply becos the windows stops responding often, and thats why u need to refresh…!!!
same applies to other issues…
In most of your complaint, You want to Ubuntu be an FreeWindows. But the fact is: Ubuntu is Ubuntu and only Ubuntu, even if they some times quotes some features from Mac and Windows, But this doesn’t change that fact since Mac and Window also picked some cool stuff from Ubuntu.
A good practice that you try to get familiar with Ubuntu and not compare it with any other OS since this is a waste ogf time.
Tell me about a single feature which Windows or MAC copied from UBUNTU ??
All he want to say is that, make Ubuntu easy to use for normal peoples!!
Dude, these are the most ridiculous reasons i’ve ever heard in my life…. lmao . Unix is not 4 everyone.
Hey … You know what..you can rename your post to “10 reasons why your friends don’t use Linux”
Damn, that’s some noob article! (sorry for the sincerity)
WoW, boot loader is black and white, and does not look good..”
Damn dude, is this affecting your system performance or such? Why that hell do you want a “pretty” bootloader!? Just to say : “Look, my bootloader has some nice colors, but my machine sucks anyway?” Please….
Another stupid point, is the Desktop refresh “ritual”. WTF dude? Learn how to use your OS properly first (winnie), then, just then, you might learn something and maybe be a little more argumentative about some particular aspect.
And come on, who the f*ck “(ab)use” the desktop refresh, and dont survive without that stupid thing? “OHHH i don’t do any decent shit with my machine, but it can refresh it’s desktop.” Please…
Like said before, Linux is Linux, and Windows is Windows, so, don’t bring your nasty winnie frustrations to the POSIX world dude, and go read and learn something before doing the “bad talk” about something.
And i don’t want to believe that “most” of india users thinks that way, because, the real one’s, just don’t!
Props to all.
let me tell you one thing…..not only in India but in the whole world only computer science students use Linux till when it was in there course or either the developer of linux only use it at there labs only…..
and i think you know very well that first impression is the last impression !! you can’t sell a PC having a linux installed on it to a customer who is paying $1000 for it…
looks are also as much needed as the other features!!
that is not true……….there are loads of people (me included) who have been using ubuntu not because our course says so……i have even got many of my friends who are not in computer science to appreciate ubuntu and i am sure they will continue to use it
The data about this good topic is really hot so, because of it the custom writing service would present not very expensive written essay and we buy an essay.
hi all,
Thanks for this post Agni!!
these are not only the reason that people do not use linux but there are hell a lot of reason that why people do not use it…..
the guys here favoring linux also knows that Linux is an incomplete GUI OS. It’s good if you are using it for shell scripting…..and remaining part of it is not more than garbage….
97% people in the world who have a PC, use Windows OS. can i ask you all, why ?
Windows is easy to use and a complete GUI OS. someone here put two questions that what linux can’t do that Windows can do…..
There are hell a lot of things that a Linux can’t do….
You just plug a device of yours in Windows and it will work like a charm, you do not need any shit of extra files. you just insert a mobile phone or digital camera it just work like as it was a part of Windows. Linux will kick your ass if ever try to sync any of your multimedia device in it…
Try Windows 7, you all forget about anything else. PowerShell v2.0 is the most powerful shell ever developed. It’s more powerful than that of linux shell editors….
Windows 95 had much better Multimedia capabilities than that of your latest Linux version…
the looks of a Linux is yaakkkk…. Gnome shell sucks very badly and KDE is too bloat too use…It discomforts peoples…
the discussion ends here that even Linux is an open source OS….but even though the whole world prefers Windows OS…
because it is best and works like a charm….
and why you people compare the latest version of Linux with Windows XP, compare it with Windows 7……It will kick everyone’s ASS….there are million of computer devices which are not compatible with Linux and none of a single PC manufacturer prefer Linux…..Linux Sucks very badly and it is the truth!!
Linux is only use by Pirates for there illegal activities and to harm other users of the community!!
I don’t agree with you on certain points.Linux is not used only by Pirates.
Secondly Linux does have a good gui.
Take a look at linux mint.It covers almost all the drawbacks mentioned in this post.
I feel you are too narrow minded.Maybe you should explore all the different flavours of Linux out there in the internet.
that’s the point which i want to explain that there are hell lot of Linux out there in the market, anybody who know shell programming develop its own Linux, admins of an normal technews website http://www.neowin.net are developing there own Linux, what the hack ??
Windows gives you all you want in one package…..unlike Linux if you want to enjoy UI, then move to Linux minty, if You want to use any other feature move to another kind of linux….what you need is that you have to install 20 types of linux’s to fulfill all your PC requirements….this is really disgusting!!
A 4 year old kid can use Windows easily but a 24 year old won’t able to use Linux properly!!
Lol..
Dude.. You are just a jerkass.. Rotfl..
You are talking about pirates?? More than 50% of the windows os installed are pirated version..
But linux.?? 0%.. Cos its open source. You either dont know what pirate means or dont know what open source means. Either ways, STFW..
GUI??
You must be kidding.. I use gnome. And I have all the fucking shit that you have in mac (Finder, global menu, window preview, etc etc.. ) and you know what. I challenge , tell me any feature that you have in Windows 7, I can bring an equivalent and FASTER than windows 7 with my linux.
And no body wants you to install diff distros, for diff stuffs. LOL..
What you need is right attitude to learn and explore things in ur linux. Windows comes as one package, because all those buggy softwares are made by microsoft. (3rd party softwaresy ou need to install by urself)
Its the same with linux, those softwares incl source code, which have good name come under the repository. The entire idea of linux is that, it gives you FREEDOM to develop whatever you want, change whatever you want.
Of course, you wont have a smooth ride, for all softwares, but 99% you can solve your problem because linux has heavy support. Dont say, your windows has no probs. I will kick right on your face.
And remember one thing, 99% of the world’s supercomputers run on linux, cos for faster machines, you need faster os, and any day, my linux is much fucking faster than your shitty windows and great thing is that I can “customize” my kernel, but windows you cant.
Bottom line, with windows, you can just use whatever is given to you.
But in linux, you can use whatever is give, at the same time, u can change/add whatever you want.
To the author of this post, none of your points are valid. Reasons have been already stated before.
if you write about entire country with your 10 fucking noob friends, then look at the number of people who disagree with your views. Ratio wise, definitely, Windows is a great loser. Just dont blindly write some shit stuff. Do some research.
Hail Linux, Suck Winodws!!
hey sucker.Mac is on 9% of world’s DESKTOP computers and linux on 7% so windows is on 90% of world’s DESKTOP computers.Maybe you will regret saying this when your computer gets a BSoD.
I’m just Sliding in on the windows percentage part of this comment, and the reply’s below it:
Windows is installed as default on many machines for one main reason = Vendor Lock-in.
Microsoft has either made a deal or forced OEM’s to put windows on there systems, they either pay (bribe) the oem’s or threaten to raise the price on a per-pc/per install basis.
I’d like to note, im not a fan-boy – I’m just stating fact
Guy Nitin, you screwed yourself up big time by bringing out a discussion on what are actually technically strongest points of Linux and in process have also shown your ignorance and now see the answers ? see my answers with
hi all,
Thanks for this post Agni!!
these are not only the reason that people do not use linux but there are hell a lot of reason that why people do not use it…..
the guys here favoring linux also knows that Linux is an incomplete GUI OS. It’s good if you are using it for shell scripting…..and remaining part of it is not more than garbage….
97% people in the world who have a PC, use Windows OS. can i ask you all, why ?
Oh really ! can you back up your claim with some facts please ! not those bigoted surveys sponsored my Microsoft themselves ! but surveys done by any genuine neutral agency ??
Windows is easy to use and a complete GUI OS. someone here put two questions that what linux can’t do that Windows can do…..
There are hell a lot of things that a Linux can’t do….
instead of saying hell a lot of things a hell a lot of times why dont you mention a few of those hell a lot things here, probably you dont even know those
You just plug a device of yours in Windows and it will work like a charm, you do not need any shit of extra files. you just insert a mobile phone or digital camera it just work like as it was a part of Windows. Linux will kick your ass if ever try to sync any of your multimedia device in it…
oh really ? In which age are you living ! hot plugging in linux is the most comprehensive ever check your facts. and do you any device called ‘lauterbach’ or ‘Multi-ice’ and do you know if these devices work in linux of windows better ?
Try Windows 7, you all forget about anything else. PowerShell v2.0 is the most powerful shell ever developed. It’s more powerful than that of linux shell editors….
Here is where you have burnt your a$$. so does your power shell know how to put a process to background ???? Or do you know what is called Job control ???? does your power shell know the process states ??? does your power shell know how to suspend a process or stop a process ?? does your power shell know what is ‘zombie’ state. Does you power shell know what a ‘|’ operator can do. does your power shell know to use ‘xargs’ command. Even the strongest supporters of windows have never taken on linux in this area and you see to be a crusader for windows here. do you know there is a directory called ‘/etc/init.d’ and do you how powerful shell scripts are written there ?? does your power shell can do even 1 % of those ?? does you power shell know how to use shared librabries ? is your power shell an interpreter ? is it a turing machine ?? can your power shell do the job of s turing machine ?? how many executable formats does your power shell know ??? do you know what is an executable format ??? still there are many more questions to be asked, first find answers to above questions
Windows 95 had much better Multimedia capabilities than that of your latest Linux version…
Seriously !!! how many codecs does windows support out of box without paying for royalities, there are so many codecs supported in linux for which you dont even have to take a licence , did you know that ???
and do you what is a set-top-box ??? FYI it is a box that decodes multimedia content !!! and do you know 100% of all set-top-boxes are shipped on linux ?? yes it is 100 %
how many mp3/mp4 players in the market do you know are made of windows ??? so do you know now what you know ??? and what you dont know ??
the looks of a Linux is yaakkkk…. Gnome shell sucks very badly and KDE is too bloat too use…It discomforts peoples…
this comment is apt for windows
the discussion ends here that even Linux is an open source OS….but even though the whole world prefers Windows OS…
because it is best and works like a charm….
and why you people compare the latest version of Linux with Windows XP, compare it with Windows 7……It will kick everyone’s ASS….there are million of computer devices which are not compatible with Linux and none of a single PC manufacturer prefer Linux…..Linux Sucks very badly and it is the truth!!
becoz win 7 is not even comparable, are you sure everything works in win 7, not even half of the things that were working in win xp are anymore working in win7. plus it has bugs not seen before.
Linux is only use by Pirates for there illegal activities and to harm other users of the community!!
illegal ?? do you know the definition for legal ???
Read more: http://agnipulse.com/2009/05/10-reasons-why-ubuntu-is-a-big-failure-in-india/#i
I use Ubuntu 11.10 so i’ll use it to reply and compare with Win 7
1. Linux is an incomplete GUI OS :
Ridiculous. Ubuntu 11.10 comes complete where as MS OS (Win 7) comes with a skeleton OS. Win 7 requires you to install shit load of drivers, antivirus, office applications, VLC, Firewall etc before it becomes usable. And you pay for everything. First for OS, then for all the applications. Ubuntu comes neatly with all devices enables and office suite installed, antivirus is redundant and all the other applications are installed via software center in one click and are absolutely FREE.
2. Plug and Play devices :
All of them work for me. I advise you to ditch you 5 year old system and buy a new PC and then we will talk. Heck my father bought some shady chinese cellphone and even that one Ubuntu detected in seconds (didn’t work in Win 7)
3. Windows 95 had much better Multimedia capabilities than that of your latest Linux version…
Are you living under a rock or something? Seriously try Ubuntu 11.10 you will be pleasantly surprised.
4.looks of a Linux is yaakkkk
Aesthetics is not what linux users are looking for. But even then if you know how to use linux windows doesn’t even come close. Try Unity in 11.10, install compiz-fusion and see the magic.
5.Gnome shell sucks very badly and KDE is too bloat too use
Seriously man!! lolz
6.why you people compare the latest version of Linux with Windows XP, compare it with Windows 7……It will kick everyone’s ASS
If you are taking about dx11 enabled games or MS only application its true. This is because of monopoly that MS has in OS market. For every thing else Ubuntu 11.10 will kick Win 7’s ass to the dark side of the moon. I have Win 7 dual boot with Ubuntu (I paid for my Win 7). even then haven’t logged in win7 for past 2 months. you get the idea!!
I am following your blog, for a long time. Because, your blog is including, useful and necessary information. Your blog is in my browser’ s bookmarks.
Good jobs.
Have you tried YLMF yet? Very Windows like version of Ubuntu with Wine?
Windows comes as one package, because all those buggy softwares are made by microsoft. (3rd party softwaresy ou need to install by urself)
Its the same with linux, those softwares incl source code, which have good name come under the repository.
Why do u have to repost something which I have already said? And, plz dont do a blind copy-paste..
Even the accidental typo is copied.. Lol..
I am Indian but in the US. The main reason people in India don’t want to switch to ubuntu is because in most People in India are already getting cheap pirated versions of windows. Why take the time to get used to ubuntu if you can get windows for very cheap or free in India. The reason in the US people use Ubuntu is because it’s free compared to the $300 for windows and people in the US don’t support piracy.
-Rikin
I can sum up this article and most of the comments here in a few lines:
Linux is NOT windows.
Windows is NOT Linux.
You get what you pay for and/or you pay for nothing
and if you don’t want to tweak Linux to your liking…don’t use it.
Gratulations man, radio sunshine live discussed about your blog on 4 am. Header was your blog post 10 Reasons why Ubuntu is a BIG Failure in India | AgniPulse. Well work. bye
Well, these are some of the most stupid reasons I’ve ever heard…
1) I mean the Grub menu doesn’t have an image? So what?
How much time do you spend choosing which OS to run?
2)About the login screen that ask for username…This was done for security purposes.
3)The Refresh Option is missing?
Have you ever tried hitting “F5”?
4)A better login sound? What? Do you want some hip-hop music?
C’mon, i mean that sound plays for a few seconds….
5)Wallpapers?
Are you kidding me?
As far as I’m concerned….Most of the Indians have hundreds of wallpapers…
6)Totem Sucks…..Ok…Install VLC….Who’s stopping you?
You what the problem is?
People are unwilling to change…They’ve been using Windows for a long time and now they are used to it…They can pay huge money for the Windows but they’ll never use Ubuntu(I mean it’s free…..And they believe that you can’t get good things for free….)
Really!! Ubuntu is great… it is lightweight and can load up really fast. People in india should not be worrying about it as much
Cool tips but I don’t agree with all the Points mentioned there ………
Firstly : Instead of Microsoft’s Silverlight you could have used Adobe Flash For streaming videos which is simple and is just click of a button.
Second :As of refresh option mentioned there is no need to refresh,as Ubuntu and all other linux versions are stable. stastable stable
The user cannot decide whether to choose silverlight or flash.It depends on the website they are visiting.If that website uses silverlight then what can the user do?
well if ubuntu was to include all the feature you made us count, would’t it be better to use windows itself. Ubuntu has its own features and we need to learn them. If you want to use Ubuntu or Lunix just forget about windows and the features it offers.
1. I feel that in this discussion, we are missing woods for the trees
2. The reasons for the non popularity of Linux/open source operating systems are many; chief among them, I feel, is that these OSs are ‘orphaned’ (a layman has no technical support for use as a desktop). I am very sure that in Bangalore (and Mumbai and Pune) the no. of people who can install Windows on your desktop and download applications reqd. by you is more than the no of ‘pan – beedi shops’ in the city. Try installing linux and its applications and you will run round in circles. Solaris was developed in Bangalore as I know, but there is no support; you download/ install at your own risk.
3. These OSs were developed for servers and are designed for multiuser, multitasking role, the cost of memory was very high and the OS had to be – and are- therefore ‘slim’ (unlike say windows 7 which is about 20 GB, as I understand). The system administrators were ‘fluent’ in the use of commandline. This legacy is the strength and weakness of open source OSs when used as desktop OS. Windows on the other hand, was designed as a desktop OS aimed at the population at large.
4. A normal lay user would not like to be bothered with the long rituals for downloading an application. There are thousands of ‘repositories’ for windows based applications and all you need to download is an ability to click the mouse when prompted.
5. To drive a car very skillfully, you need not be an automobile engineer; but to use open source OSs, you have to be well acquainted with the innards of the system.
6. Unless support for non IT users of Linux/open source OSs is adequate, these OSs cannot become part of mainstream.
7. In my own case, I had to remove Ubuntu 7.04 because when I tried to download an application, the OS started rebooting and after searching for someone who could remedy this malady, (by running in the rescue mode), I just reformatted the drive with the XP of the dual boot. Even after knowing the reason, I could not fix the OS.
8. Now I want to load Ubuntu 9.04 – or equivalent (the highest that my PC will take) but I cannot download it from any site nor get a CD. Support is withdrawn. It will be disingenuous to say that I cannot get XP also now as these commercial OSs stand on a different footing.
9. Unless support for desktop administration in open source is improved, these OSs will not be able to hold their own against windows in spite of their proven superiority and sorry to say, all those using words like ‘shit’….. are working against the cause of open source.
The main problem is the following.
1) Most of the people in India uses Internet through GPRS via Nokia mobile phones. But Nokia PC suit is not available.
2) Most of people is using Microsoft Office package. Open office is good but lacks somewhat behind office 2007.
3) The most important reason is Windows is also free in India like linux. Most of the people use pirated versions. So nobody want to do overload on studying linux.
You can run Office 2007 using WINE or Codegear’s Crossover software.
Dude, thats the exact reason why ubuntu (or in this case any linux distro) is preferred only by advanced users and not those idiots who use a PC just to play games or listen to music and watch movies (which is unfortunately what people in India use a computer for), and thats the exact reason why windows is preferred over Linux, because people do not want to OVERLOAD their brains with using Linux.
But let me tell you guys, a PC is not just for entertainment, its a powerful tool for developers and programmers, and so i advice everyone to end the monopoly of windows and start using Linux.
dude!!!
do you know that the kerala govt. has ordered all the schools and colleges in the state to use open source software like ubuntu and edubuntu!!!
this is NOT because ubuntu is a failure……it just means ubuntu is an EMERGING winner among the OS wars of today…..!!!!
just because you live in the IT capital of India means u should ridicule ubuntu….
you should know that the worlds top 500 supercomputers run linux!!!!
that might be enough for you to start admiring what ubuntu has to offer!!!
u are right. if some features can be added to ubuntu it can be comparable or even can surpass the windows operating system .
If Ubuntu wikk copy most of the features of windows then there is no point of using ubuntu, if you want features of windows and ubuntu then use Zorin OS.
by the way ubuntu has refresh feature like windows, f5
I’m still big fan of ubuntu :D :D
Hai i am Ratheesh sadan.I am in Kerala using UBUNTU last 1 year i was installed ubuntu other 3 machines i asked them ”how do you feel it” Answer much much better thy all are average user. I have no idea about windows or ubuntu or anything other os, before I was buying a pc with ubuntu and windows, after one month am removed windows then i know how to install ubuntu in pc, add and remove programs. This is SHAME:(U R live in Bangalore and all UR friends are Bangaloreans and Bangalore is known as the IT Capital of India.) DONT REPEAT IT………………. UBUNTU IS FREEWARE OS NO NEED ANTIVIRUS FASTER. windows 7 was installed in my brothers lenovo lap it makes problems regularly, windows 7 reinstalled 3,4 times each time Rs 500/, After ubuntu installation he is stress free. SO LOVE IT………………..
HAI am Ratheesh Sadan posting some useful things:ubuntu tweak,wineHQ,compiz config settings manager and lot more
please remove this non sense article, its very badly written :(
Linux is not a window
Dear Bharat Balagere,
though this may be very late for reply, still felt replying to you (though you are still living or not !!).
It is better that you do not use Linux at all. In fact you are worse than all proprietory companies FUD. If you do not know anything about Ubuntu, just go and find articles that says “All courts are now being directed to use Ubuntu – in fact mass conversion of around 20,000 computers”, and so many others.
Still, when thinking aloud, this post is hilarious and can be made as a joke. I was (and still) thinking that I am the most dumbest fellow who is using Ubuntu, and now I can consciously say I am slightly better than ONE Person – atleast. I knew how to make Ubuntu (from 9.4 onwards – till 11.10) work for me, and enjoy every moment of it.
In fact many of the schools have become interested to install Ubuntu (and edubuntu too).
Thanks for making me a little proud.
The discussion appears to be between people who get Windows OS free (pirated) and those who use Ubuntu for various reasons including the fact that it is available without any monetary consideration. The comparison can be meaningful only between proprietary software paid for and free software.
All proprietary software companies have various patents and copyrights which give their software the distinguishing edge and features. They protect their patents and copyrights extremely zealously (witness the battle between Apple and Samsung in so many countries). Ubuntu and other open source software can be copied, modified and distributed freely and they do not come under the normal copyright laws.
Ubuntu is an African word meaning loosely ‘humanity for all’. If users of free software do not believe in the philosophy of free software, they will never be satisfied. Free software has workarounds for many patented features of various proprietary software. Some times the workaround is not worth the effort and users of Ubuntu can get Adobe reader and Flash player for Ubuntu.
The concept of applications centre (Apps centre) where you can download applications for the OS has been popularised by Apple and others are following suit closely. However, Ubuntu and other open source software have had repositories (Apps centres) for a very long time.
All the normal tasks for which people buy PCs can be equally well accomplished by open source software like Ubuntu/Debian, Fedora/CentOS/Suse linux/Red hat, BSD etc
As Shri Bharat Balegere has said about his friends:
‘Some of them used it occasionally to download stuff from torrents and to clean infected USB Drives’
This drives home atleast one point – that Ubuntu (and any linux distribution for that matter) would help get rid of viruses and other malware. Had his friends explored Ubuntu a little bit more, they would have come across many other capabilities/qualities not found in a commercial OS.
The reasons given for dislike of Ubuntu are:
1. GRUB Boot Loader does not have an Aesthetic Appeal.
The OS was designed to do it’s job efficiently – originally an OS for servers. Linux has been remarkably successfully adopted as a desktop OS. The so called aesthetic appeal is important for commercial software. The person or organisation giving you OS for free would put in effort to make it reliable not beautiful to behold.
2. Login Screen-Users are required to type in their username.
What about windows 7?
This is a basic precaution that no one else can access your files (every thing is a file in linux) ie what belongs to you.
I am just unable to make out what ‘evilgold’ wants to say.
‘Using this mode,(recovery mode) a malicious user could not only find a valid user name (ls /home), but also change the password for that username, or just create a new account.’
Pray how? The OS/ system is recovered, but you need to use username and password to enter it, even as root. If a malicious person is determined, she will skirt round the security anyway. How many changes in security settings can you make in recovery mode?
3. Desktop-The Refresh option is missing!
Why is ‘Refresh’ option required? To ensure that all the components of the OS are active. This requirement means that the OS/it’s components need to be activated after starting. Linux is so stable that no refresh is necessary.
4. Default Login Sound.
These ‘beauty aids’ are required by commercial OS as selling points. These cosmetics in no way can enhance the ability of the OS.
Those people who are willing to pay about Rs 12,000/- for a respectable version of Windows and Office 2010 do not pay for the cosmetics/appearances.
5. Default Wallpaper.
You can change the wall paper. There are thousands available on the net.
6. Default Audio driver is weak.
May be. But just visit the Ubuntu software centre and download any other audioplayer; there are quite a few.
7. Totem Movie Player sucks
May be. But just visit the Ubuntu software centre and download any other videoplayer; there are quite a few.
8. Right Click-Send To :Options are missing.
This is news to me because they exist.
9. Silverlight-Moonlight.
Microsoft did not develop Silverlight for charity. It was developed so that people are forced to purchase the software to watch the transmissions under this format, but people will still not appreciate the non- monopolistic nature of open source. By now the open source community would have found a work around. Just visit the Ubuntu software centre and checkup
10. Safely Remove USB Drive or Unmount Volume
It was available and is available. How can you have the wordings of a proprietary OS?
All I can say is that the friends of Shri Bharat Balegere want everything to be in .exe format and not pay for anything – two incompatibles. Nor are they willing to explore Ubuntu.
The main reason for the non popularity of Linux/open source operating systems is that these OSs do not have technical support for use as desktop OSs. Commercial OS firms tolerate some amount of piracy because it makes the people addicted to the OS.
Perhaps all this effort and discussion is akin to playing music to the buffaloes. Those who are awake but pretend to be sleeping can’t be woken up.
This post was made in 2009 and within two years, ie. 2011 all the issues you have mentioned has been resolved. (I think even windows is not able to fix its bug this fast. Even the Win 8 is having bugs carry forwarded from Vista) Its because Ubuntu an open source program. And it has more talented developers from around the world than Microsoft and Apple combined. Now I hope you will be able to promote Ubuntu among your friends. I bet they will love Ubuntu, with the new Unity and gnome 3 interface. Once you get Ubuntu installed. Don’t just use the defaults, keep exploring. Sky’s the limit for Ubuntu
And beware Ubuntu have the biggest HARDCORE FANS than windows and mac, So I think its better you delete or archive your opinions which are outdated. Other wise you might get some serious threats. Its because, ever since it was launched, the Microsoft Corporation is trying to spread rumors about Ubuntu and Linux in all the ways possible. Its because Linux operating systems are far more powerful than Windows, don’t believe? Ask guys at Google! And Linux is not advertised because its a non profit, open source program.
But trust me, if you start using Ubuntu with a bit affection (or even little bit of frustration against Windows OS, like happened to me) you will get addicted to it. It’s because the possibilities are unlimited with this OS.
“What does an average Indian user do when the desktop loads in Windows?He rights clicks on the desktop and refreshes the desktop about 5-6 times or until he is satisfied.This is a ritual performed by most Indian Users after switching on the computer and just before shutting down the computer.
When this average user tries to perform his ‘Refresh’ ritual in Ubuntu,he is in for a rude shock.The Ubuntu Desktop does not have a Refresh Option or any other simliar option like Reload in the Right Click Menu.”
lol that’s so funny and True !!! :-)
hi
i think u r a buisinesss minded one becouse you are trying to make ubuntu weak.
a friend says that this is a rubbish one
see the ubuntu 11.10 and say whether ubuntu is afailure it has been breaked the limitations of windows
lets rock n get free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
i don’t agree with above 10 points ,
i have been using ubuntu for last one year,
there is no such problems as pointed above
sandip
Hey Bharat,
At this time (current posting), its more than 1 and half year…
What do you think about using Ubuntu or any other posix based OS ?
Everything has changed now, (you should have witnessed).
You still have that option correcting that post of yours, because still you don’t have rights to post on behalf of whole India…
Please Change it.
It gives bad impression.
please.