Community support is great. I can search up any problem and instantly find good results, which is not always true for other distros. I use it mostly at work and I want to minimize the time I spend fixing things. Plus, most programs will have out-of-box support (binaries, tests, install instructions, etc) for Ubuntu.
Compared to say arch, gentoo, lfs. ubuntu is easier to install, but I believe the point you wanted to make is that there are distros that are as easy if not easier to install than ubuntu
edit:
I see now that this might have sounded more condescending than I had intended, and for that I'm sorry.
The point I wanted to make was that there are both better and worse installers out there. Which is something I enjoy about linux and the different distros. You have the option to install something easy and just use your computer as you see fit, or you can tinker and learn different ways your computer can be set up.
You're comparing apples and reactors. Ubuntu is one of the easy to use distros by design. Distros like that try to keep config file changes and things like that from the user. When that fails, the falling height for users is higher, as they now have to deal with a complex problem. The other ones are designed to be simple and require you to handle potential breaking changes manually by default, which means you're taught to do these things and won't be clueless when things get hairy.
You shouldn't compare Ubuntu to Arch. Compare it to Mint, Fedora, Pop!_OS, …
That is the most bad faith example you could have picked. You know I meant distros like Pop OS Fedora, Linux Mint, etc. You picked the uncommon outliers which are the most user unfriendly ones possible.
you can't convince me that anyone is actually using lfs in 2023. tinkering with it maybe, and I can see someone doing alfs for specialized shit, but there's no way in hell anyone is actually using it as their regular daily driven os on their personal computer. it just doesn't make sense.
real people outside of the ubuntu space are using debian, fedora, manjaro, maybe something like pop os or mint. there's no barrier to entry, performance difference is negligible if present at all, and you don't have to spend a full day getting it ready
The only real difference I can think of is that Ubuntu's installer is actually really nice and had the dual boot install option, which I don't think any other distro has.
most distros that aren't like slackware/gentoo/arch/etc. install with calamares these days, it handles dual boot configs simply and without issue. even doing like debian netinst, I don't remember it having any trouble
In terms of ease of use, no. They're capable, but in Ubuntu it's literally as easy as choosing how much space do you want to leave for Windows and Ubuntu, then it handles all the partitioning for you.
I was unfortunately forced back onto it for my latest laptop due to hardware issues. I tried to get mint and other distros to work, but I ended up just being a Linux failure and swallowed the Ubuntu pill… it keeps bugging me to this day, but too critical of a system to mess with now :(
Hey you're on Linux and that's all that matters in the end. That being said, there's a bunch of Ubuntu derivatives you could swap to if you really care enough, but it's really not a big deal.
Historical attachment in my case, coupled with “I need my PC and don’t have the time or spare machine to toy around with other distros”.
Don’t get me wrong, I want to try others, but that’s not currently a feasible option. VMs are suboptimal when you’re trying to see how games perform under those distros.
I have no idea why people still use Ubuntu when all the news and talk about it has just been negative the last few years.
because it's so easy 🤷♂️
How is it easier then any other distro
Community support is great. I can search up any problem and instantly find good results, which is not always true for other distros. I use it mostly at work and I want to minimize the time I spend fixing things. Plus, most programs will have out-of-box support (binaries, tests, install instructions, etc) for Ubuntu.
Compared to say arch, gentoo, lfs. ubuntu is easier to install, but I believe the point you wanted to make is that there are distros that are as easy if not easier to install than ubuntu
edit: I see now that this might have sounded more condescending than I had intended, and for that I'm sorry.
The point I wanted to make was that there are both better and worse installers out there. Which is something I enjoy about linux and the different distros. You have the option to install something easy and just use your computer as you see fit, or you can tinker and learn different ways your computer can be set up.
What about compared to Linux Mint or Pop!_OS?
Pops is my daily driver now. It's great.
You're comparing apples and reactors. Ubuntu is one of the easy to use distros by design. Distros like that try to keep config file changes and things like that from the user. When that fails, the falling height for users is higher, as they now have to deal with a complex problem. The other ones are designed to be simple and require you to handle potential breaking changes manually by default, which means you're taught to do these things and won't be clueless when things get hairy.
You shouldn't compare Ubuntu to Arch. Compare it to Mint, Fedora, Pop!_OS, …
Honestly I think they can and should be compared, they're both distros after all.
They're targeting completely different demographics though, at least compare between distros that actually have the same goals.
I guess you could compare Honda Civic with Lamborighini Aventador, but would there be a point?
That is the most bad faith example you could have picked. You know I meant distros like Pop OS Fedora, Linux Mint, etc. You picked the uncommon outliers which are the most user unfriendly ones possible.
My intentions were never to be condescending, and I feel bad for sounding that way. I edited my comment in hopes to clear things up.
you can't convince me that anyone is actually using lfs in 2023. tinkering with it maybe, and I can see someone doing alfs for specialized shit, but there's no way in hell anyone is actually using it as their regular daily driven os on their personal computer. it just doesn't make sense.
real people outside of the ubuntu space are using debian, fedora, manjaro, maybe something like pop os or mint. there's no barrier to entry, performance difference is negligible if present at all, and you don't have to spend a full day getting it ready
The only real difference I can think of is that Ubuntu's installer is actually really nice and had the dual boot install option, which I don't think any other distro has.
most distros that aren't like slackware/gentoo/arch/etc. install with calamares these days, it handles dual boot configs simply and without issue. even doing like debian netinst, I don't remember it having any trouble
In terms of ease of use, no. They're capable, but in Ubuntu it's literally as easy as choosing how much space do you want to leave for Windows and Ubuntu, then it handles all the partitioning for you.
it's been years since I bothered with windows I'll admit, but I'm fairly certain calamares handles it all for you too
meh even arch has archinstall now. not as flashy as some others, but it will set you up with a fully functional desktop as well
Strawman
I legit have no idea how Mint or Pop is not the default by now.
Because they're both based on Ubuntu?
But don't push snaps as much
Yeah, but Ubuntu is based on Debian, but Debian isn't as popular (AFAIK at least)
I was unfortunately forced back onto it for my latest laptop due to hardware issues. I tried to get mint and other distros to work, but I ended up just being a Linux failure and swallowed the Ubuntu pill… it keeps bugging me to this day, but too critical of a system to mess with now :(
Hey you're on Linux and that's all that matters in the end. That being said, there's a bunch of Ubuntu derivatives you could swap to if you really care enough, but it's really not a big deal.
Historical attachment in my case, coupled with “I need my PC and don’t have the time or spare machine to toy around with other distros”.
Don’t get me wrong, I want to try others, but that’s not currently a feasible option. VMs are suboptimal when you’re trying to see how games perform under those distros.
Computer is a tool at the end of the day anyways, nothing wrong with that