The state of the Linux desktop
In the final summary, I’m a fan of Fedora and Ubuntu, but for different reasons. Fedora, while unpolished, is a solid distro for adventurous Linux users and developers who want to be on the bleeding edge. Power users deserve a good distro that is usable and feature-complete without a lot of polish or distraction – and that’s what Fedora is.
Ubuntu is the flip side. It’s very polished, closing in on Apple in terms of usability and applications. It’s not quite there yet, but getting closer and certainly a persuasive distro for people switching from Windows. If you’re looking to get a friend started with Linux, don’t hesitate to begin with Ubuntu.

If you look at Fedora and Ubuntu separately, you might have a distorted view of the Linux desktop. That’s because they’re really part of the same ecosystem, and you have to understand one to get the other. Ubuntu is pushing to take the raw gems of open source and cut and polish them for end users who don’t necessarily share the open source ethos or technical skills of the traditional Linux user. To borrow a musical metaphor, Ubuntu is the indie band that’s landed a major label contract and spent ten weeks recording with Jeff Lynne to produce an album full of top-ten singles. It’s going to annoy some of the original fans, but bring in a boatload of new ones.
Fedora is the long-suffering indie band that keeps churning out fantastic but niche albums that few people buy. But the ones who do buy Fedora’s brand of indie tunes are the ones that by and large pick up their own instruments and pick out a few tunes. Some of them might even sit in or start their own bands. While the Ubuntu fans are grinding away at the local nightclub, the Fedora fans are plunking their guitars in the garage. Which distro should you choose? Well, did you come to play or did you come to dance?

John
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"The only Band is a Real Band"
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