The userbase of Linux operating systems is growing rapidly. More and more people are venturing away from Microsoft Windows and finding their way to open source operating systems. Just as more people are using them, more and more Linux distributions are available. According to DistroWatch, there are more than 400 Linux distributions available and active, with many versions for each, which in turn gives you thousands of options. With large PC manufacturers starting to offer Linux based operating systems as an option for a new computer, which operating system will come out on top and dominate this industry? Among the open source operating system crowd, there are 2 main contenders: Ubuntu and Fedora.

Ubuntu

First things first, the installation of Ubuntu was very simple and straightforward. No tricky, unfamiliar feats you must overcome. For the first time Linux user, Ubuntu is by far the easiest to start learning and also includes the most basic options which keep things simple. As you learn the operating system and desire additional features and options, they can be added separately which is great for those who are just new to the Linux scene. Most Ubuntu users are probably a little more computer literate than the average user but with a single disc install, anyone could set this operating system up. The set up process detects your hardware very well and things run smoothly. One of the driving forces to a Linux operating system is the unstable and hacker friendly Microsoft Windows. The biggest downside of Ubuntu is that there is no firewall on the system. There are solutions to work around this but this is one feature that should’ve been included. Another disappointment was the limited multimedia resources. You will probably have to look outside Ubuntu to find what you need in the multimedia department.

Fedora

This open source operating system has a strong history and has been a strong contender for awhile. Fedora has been the most consistent with stability issues which have plagued other open source operating systems. The recently added network tools are a great addition to this product and actually include eight tools into one easy to use interface. Your multimedia options are expanded somewhat but Fedora doesn’t provide any support for non open source programs that are really common among other users. The included Helix Player is fairly simple and provides a satisfactory replacement for the average multimedia user. Fedora also lacks some of the bells and whistles and human friendliness of other open source operating systems. The security options exceed those of Ubuntu, which is a strong point for Fedora.

Up to this point, Ubuntu appears to be taking the lead in the open source operating system world with a strong backing from Dell Computers. Both operating systems are fully functional and have surprisingly strong features. If you are new to Linux operating systems, Ubuntu is probably the way to go but Fedora users have no reason to jump ship quite yet.

The second largest PC manufacturer, Dell, announced that at the end of May they will begin selling desktops and laptops for consumers with Canonical’s latest Ubuntu version of Linux called “Feisty Fawn.” The announcement was made by Dell spokesman, Kent Cook. “Today, we are excited to tell you that Dell will begin offering Canonical’s latest version, Ubuntu 7.04, as an option on select Dell consumer models in the U.S. in the coming weeks.” If you are unfamiliar with these systems, Linux is a UNIX based freeware, open source, operating system. It has been around for many years but only widely known in the open source industry. Canonical Ltd, owned by Mark Shuttleworth, is a company that has used Linux’s open source nature and created a complete operating system. Ubuntu come from a South African concept which roughly translates to “humanity towards others.”

So what is the big fuss over Dell offering this operating system to its consumers? Linux is the first operating system to really make a run at Windows. Dell attempted to offer a Linux based desktop computer clear back in 1999 and laptops in 2000 but had very little success. In 2001, Dell discontinued this option due to very little demand. With little success, Dell even invested in a company called Eazel who focused on the Linux market. Since 2001, Linux and Ubuntu have grown to become very popular and potentially a serious competitor to Microsoft Windows. In 2006, over 160.5 million operating system licenses were registered. Windows has an amazing dominating 92% of these with Mac OS X being the next closest at 4.1%. Although nobody really expects a drastic swing in Microsoft’s operating system market share, Dell’s move to offer Canonical’s Ubuntu operating system is directed primarily towards Linux enthusiasts. Dell has also increased its forums to help users who opt for the Ubuntu operating system. Some analysts see this move to Linux as an attempt to regain some market share that Dell has been losing to the number one PC manufacturer, Hewlett Packard.

Right now, this new offering by Dell is directed just towards consumer PC users but the real power of Linux is demonstrated on servers. No servers are currently sold with the option of Linux but many owners choose to use Linux because of its amazing capabilities and strength. Many analysts and experts believe that it is just a matter of time before Ubuntu is also offered on servers. So far, Dell and Canonical have been very impressed with the welcoming of this new option on Dell computers. The financial details of this deal between Dell and Canonical were not disclosed but it obviously could be a serious breaking out point for Canonical if PC users choose to go with the Ubuntu operating system. While some of the more computer savvy, open source fans will choose Ubuntu over Microsoft Windows, it will be a long time before the average computer user and buyer choose anything over the very familiar Windows operating system.