Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETIt was October 2004, and I’d been using Red Hat Linux (way before it became Fedora) for years. I was fairly certain that would be my distribution until the world ended. I’d become comfortable with Red Hat. Sure, it had its quirks and was sometimes a bit more difficult than it needed to be (remember, it was over 20 years ago), but it was stable and I’d grown to know it well.But then a new distribution arrived on the scene… Ubuntu. Oddly enough, the first version to hit the market was 4.10, aka “Warty Warthog.” I’d not heard much about Ubuntu, but my curiosity was piqued, so I decided I would install it over Red Hat and see what was what. Since that moment, I’ve pretty much stuck with Ubuntu-based distributions for more than 20 years. Also: The easiest way to try out Ubuntu LinuxIn fact, other than testing, I can’t remember the last distribution I used that wasn’t based on Ubuntu. What makes Ubuntu so special that I’ve refused to even consider switching to another distro with a different base? Let me tell you.1. Reliable updatesOver the two decades I’ve been using Ubuntu-based distributions, I believe I’ve only experienced one issue where an update wasn’t successful, and the only reason that happened was because the OS I was updating had been dramatically customized to the point it was almost unrecognizable. With that upgrade, I did wind up having to scrap it and do a fresh installation, but again, that was one instance over a span of 21 years. Not a bad track record. Also: While Windows 10 users panic, Ubuntu makes extending support easy – here’s howOther than that, every upgrade I’ve executed on an Ubuntu-based distribution went off without a hitch. With Ubuntu (and Ubuntu-based distributions), I never hesitate to run upgrades (minor or major) because I know they’ll work. With that in mind, why would I ever want to switch to a different base? It’s that much of a no-brainer. 2. Ease of installation Ubuntu has, for a very long time, offered the best installation experience of all Linux distributions. This is especially true with the latest version of the installer. Not only is the latest installer incredibly simple to use, but it’s also one of the most elegantly designed. Many Linux installers still look as if they were designed in the early 2000s. Also: 5 of the easiest, quickest Linux distros to install – and I’ve tried them alSome might say that the look of the installer shouldn’t matter, but I disagree. The installer app is the first thing new users experience, and it should be something that not only makes them feel comfortable but also gives them the impression that Linux is just as modern as macOS and/or Windows. And, similar to the upgrades, I’ve never experienced an Ubuntu installation go sideways. 3. Hardware support Ubuntu (and Ubuntu-based distributions) has some of the best hardware support available. I can plug almost anything in, and it will be automatically recognized. Hardware support has become one of the big selling points for Ubuntu, and I’ve personally rarely experienced a situation where the distribution couldn’t recognize a peripheral or internal device. Yes, there have been instances where I’ve had to locate a driver for something, but the good thing about using Ubuntu is that, if a company has created a Linux driver for a device, you can be certain they’ve created one for Ubuntu. In fact, I’ve experienced some situations where Ubuntu was the only distribution a company developed for. Also: I’m a Linux power user, and the latest Ubuntu update put a smile on my faceI will say this: Fedora is a more cutting-edge distribution, which means it often gains support for newer hardware faster than Ubuntu, but the advantage it has over Ubuntu-based distributions is slim. 4. Software availability Similar to hardware support, I’ve run into situations where companies have developed ports of their software, but only for Ubuntu. Beyond that, Ubuntu has some of the largest software repositories of any distribution. On top of that, you get Snap out of the box (at least with some Ubuntu-based distributions), which means you have even more software available to install. Add Flatpak and AppImages, and the amount of software you can install is staggering. Also: The best Linux distributions for beginners: Expert tested and reviewedThat’s not to say that Ubuntu has more software than any other distribution. It would be next to impossible to calculate that because there are so many repositories (official and unofficial) for nearly every distribution available. But Ubuntu-based distributions get the edge because when third-party companies develop for Linux, you know they’ll release a version of their software for Ubuntu. More
