Mythbusters - Is Linux hard to use?

Linux suffers a little bit of a perception problem. When most Windows or Mac users picture a Linux desktop they imagine something looking a little like this:

 
Big boring command lines and indecipherable text that only the nerdiest nerd could possibly interpret.


When in reality, recent versions of Linux actually look a lot more like this:

There is more to the story however and I think there are two possible drawbacks that everyone who's thinking about switching to Ubuntu needs to consider. 

1. You will have to use the terminal.

In spite of an excellent GUI if you want to get anything done you will find yourself using the command line occasionally. If you want to modify the system a lot, you will be using it very often. For the average user, this is normally to install software that hasn't been officially issued by the software center, to update package lists or less often, to use a program that doesn't have a graphical user interface. Unsurprisingly, this can be quite intimidating for the average Windows migrant who's used to everything being done via a straight-forward GUI.

2. A lot of programs simply won't work in Linux.

uBuntu is a constant victim of the lack of people using it. When people design commercial programs they're almost always designed with the Windows user in mind, Apple users as an afterthought and then, if we're lucky, they think of us.

These programmes are often beloved, for some people essential. For example, Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Fireworks, neither of which I've really found a suitable replacement for (GIMP does not compare I'm afraid) and if these are essential parts of your work then it's simply not worth the switch.

On the other hand...

1. The terminal isn't as bad as it looks.
I wouldn't describe myself as a particularly big geek but I've never had any great problem dealing with the terminal. There are only two or three main commands I ever really need to use (sudo apt-get install, sudo apt-get update).

2. There are loads of free alternatives available - most of which are easily accessible from the software centre.
There is a free alternative for just about every software component you can think of. Libre Office for Microsoft Office, Banshee for iTunes. 

In conclusion, I think the short answer is no, uBuntu is not hard to use - but it is harder than Windows.

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