One big thing Microsoft, Apple, and all CTOs can learn from Ubuntu

[Michael Haney]

On Mon, Apr 12, 2010 at 11:11 PM, Fred A. Miller <fmiller at lightlink.com> wrote:
> Ubuntu has earned a reputation as the most user-friendly version of
> Linux on the planet, but I would argue that the secret of success for
> Canonical <http://www.canonical.com/> (the company behind Ubuntu) is not
> really about a great UI or an extensive hardware compatibility list.
>
> What Canonical does really well is to methodically produce incremental
> upgrades to its OS. It is transparent about its goals and plans, and it
> releases its software on schedule. In fact, this incremental approach is
> Ubuntu’s most potent competitive weapon against rivals Microsoft Windows
> and Mac OS X. It is also an approach that CTOs and other IT leaders who
> produce software, Web sites, and other product-based Web services can
> learn from.
>
> http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=32985&tag=nl.e539
>

That can also be a double-edged sword also.  A friend of mine, who is
a programmer and a Mac user, made the point that Ubuntu's release
cycles are too close together.  A new version comes out every 6
months, and that's rather fast.  Most Mom & Pop users won't want to
upgrade their computers that quickly.  Once they get a new OS it
usually takes them about that long to really get used to it, then BOOM
a new version is suddenly out.  There is also the problem that
installing a new version of Ubuntu on top of an older version to
upgrade it isn't always a painless experience.  When you can upgrade
Ubuntu as smoothly and as painlessly as you can Mac OS X or Windows
then maybe.  I've seen a LOT of complaints about upgrades over
existing installs without reformatting going bad on the Ubuntu Support
lists.  Most average, non-techie users won't want to reformat their
systems each time they install a new release of Ubuntu.

While Canonical's 6 month release cycle means that Ubuntu can stay in
step with advancing software technology, but there is a price that is
paid for updating that fast.

-- 
Michael "TheZorch" Haney
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for it in the endeavor of science. " ~ Carl Sagan

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