RE: Why I am leaving Ubuntu (at least for now) after 7 years
I still run Ubuntu on my laptop that didn't get reformatted since I graduated (like 6 years ago). I don't use it much, but it still runs pretty good. I think its Ubuntu 12. Not 100% sure. I've never liked Unity though and always used some underground desktop environments (currently using i3).
From my experience, the #1 argument for using Ubuntu is compatibility. It will compile any project from github without any change, it seems most developers use it to test their linux versions and build their makefiles around it.
On my desktop I've been using arch or arch-based distros though because I don't like canonical and their views on things. As you mentioned in your article, what's the point of making Unity? What's the point of making an alternative to systemd? The linux world is pretty small and we should stick together, instead of running around like headless chickens. Also they seem to be pretty capitalistic and it seems they don't really believe in open source, at least not in the GNU/Stallman way.
Also, the general idea is that Ubuntu is very 'noob friendly', however I never managed to convert any of my friends or work mates to linux with ubuntu, they'd always go back to microsoft windows shortly after. However I've had good results with manjaro, and just explaining them how to make use of pacman and yaourt seems to do the trick for most people.
Glad to see fellow linux users around, you are now followed.
You bring up some good points. One of the things I've always loved about Linux is that the underlying system doesn't usually matter. As long as things are POSIX compatible, they seem to run fine. But, at least for a while, it seemed that Canonical really wanted to break away from the Linux ecosystem. Do you remember when they didn't even want to call themselves 'Linux' anymore? They just wanted to be known as 'Ubuntu'. I know that's a small thing to some but it signaled something very had to me.
As for their stance on free software, I'm 'alright' with them being somewhat captialistic. In fact, I even support proprietary software on Linux in some cases, But that software should still be as universal as possible. It shouldn't run on Ubuntu. It should run on Linux. Why lock me into a distro? Isn't that as bad as Microsoft at that point?
Lastly, I have to agree with your n00b friendly statement. While Ubuntu is a popular distro, Manjaro and other Arch based distro's seem to sit much better with new users long term. I'm not really sure why that is nor can I really blame Ubuntu for that but I've always found it weird.
Thanks for the follow!