Hi all!
Today I’ll try to explain you why I’m now an Ubuntu enthusiast instead of an… Apple freak. I used to be a very Apple guy, who loved Apple even he hadn’t a Mac. But I still loved it. I used sometimes a friend’s Mac, and I liked it. I used Ubuntu 11.10 and I hated it, because Unity was buggy et all… But now I gave a new opportunity to Ubuntu 12.04 (in seven days we’ll have 12.10 with Unity 6, yay!) and I’m really surprised, so I don’t need Apple-fantasies anymore!
I’ll just try to let you see if Ubuntu is a best choice than Mac for you.
10. Ubuntu Software Center
For start, we have the great Ubuntu’s Software Center. Other package-manager GUIs have nothing to do with Software Center, basically it’s just like the Apple Mac App Store. Well, Mac App Store came after Software Center. Yes, Apple was a pioneer on using App Stores, but Ubuntu has been the first OS (at least that I know) using an App Store. It’s easy to search for software if you know its name, or just navigate in the categories. A lot of software is free, although some software isn’t. But the most used things on Linux (such as Emacs, LibreOffice, GIMP…) are free to use. Nothing that isn’t free on other systems isn’t on Ubuntu!
The Software Center (don’t worry about the language, my system is spanish)
9. Customizable
Some people says that Unity isn’t customizable. They aren’t wrong, Unity is less customizable than, in example, KDE or XFCE (XFCE is, in my opinion, the best thing if you want to customizate), but it’s customizable. I have installed a Mac OS X theme, although I preffer the Ubuntu default Ambiance. I also installed some Mac cursors and the Mac fonts. You can see how to do all this stuff here, but I’ll tell you, friend, that the font is Lucida Grande.
You also have lots of apps for customizating and theming. My favourites are MyUnity, wich is an easy-to-use GUI for configuring some Unity settings like themes, window animations, etc, and UbuntuTweaker, wich is the most complete tool. It even has a AppStore! You can configure fonts and to a, in my opinion, better customization. But it may be different for you, just try it -it’s free!
Just customizating the fonts on Ubuntu Tweak
8. It has Rhythmbox
Yes, it has. Rhythmbox -you’ll say-? Why do I want it? Well, folk. It’s a great media player, if not the best. It’s simple, it doesn’t eat too much memory, it has compatibility with Last.fm and Libre.fm, and access to the Ubuntu One Music Store (the equivalent to iTunes Store). But, read this, you aren’t dreaming: iTunes Store’s Podcasts will be on Rhythmbox in 12.10! Yes, yes! They will! At least, some people says it. If it’s true, it would be great.
Rhythmbox automatically puts all your ~/Music folder’s music into the library, but you can add all the songs you want, and play them in lists, loops, random mode… Also, it’s integrated on the Sound indicator on the Unity panel, so you can close Rhythmbox and the music will keep playing! Also, you’ll see Rhythmbox notifications, and you’ll can Play/Pause/Forward, etc. just in the Sound indicator. Easy, isn’t it?
Rhythmbox playing a song and showing Unity-integration
The Bousie 