Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth: We can surpass Apple in two years

Filed under: OS Updates, Macintosh, Linux

Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth: We can surpass Apple in two years

by Brad Linder Jul 23rd 2008

Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth has big dreams for Linux. That shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who's been following the progress of Ubuntu, which releases a major update every six months and keeps getting more and more user friendly. But user friendly is just the beginning. Shuttleworth wants Linux to be prettier too. In fact, he's calling on open source developers to make desktop Linux more attractive than OS X within 2 years.

Shuttleworth's remarks came yesterday at the O'Reilly Open Source Convention, or OSCON. Open source developers have been making great strides in this area recently. Many Linux distributions include support for Compiz desktop effects which add a bit of visual bling to the desktop experience while also making things like switching virtual desktops a bit easier. And the developers behidn the KDE desktop environment have scrapped the Windows-like interface of KDE 3 and replaced it with a whole new paradigm in KDE 4 -- we're note entirely convinced that KDE 4 is easier to use than KDE 3, but it's certainly prettier.

On the other hand, it's a bit funny to hear Shuttleworth talk about making Linux more beautiful. After all, Ubuntu is frequently mocked for its default dull brown color scheme. But the operating system and its user interface are already extraordinarily customizable.

What do you think? Is it possible for desktop Linux to become as "beautiful," and user-friendly as OS X within 2 years? What would it take? And keep in mind, it's not like Apple is going to just sit still while Linux developers are working on the challenge. Who knows what the Mac OS will look like two years from now?

Tags: linux, mark-shuttleworth, os-x, ubuntu, user-interface

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Joe Merlino said 12:44PM on 7-23-2008

I appreciate the sentiment, but I have my doubts. Red Hat was saying much the same thing a few years ago, and then they more or less retreated into the server space. I suppose it's not impossible that Linux could eclipse Apple some day, but I kind of doubt it, and I think two years is a pipe dream.

DiRT said 12:44PM on 7-23-2008

I tried Ubuntu/Kubuntu but found openSUSE to be more user friendly and better at hardware detection. Plus, they still have PPC support to breathe life into an old Powerbook and iMac.

Tush said 12:44PM on 7-23-2008

I like the earthy theme, it sets it apart. It makes people realize that it's something different. If it used the standard blues and greys that other OS's use, a lot of people wouldn't notice it.

Brian! said 1:10PM on 7-23-2008

After seeing the sheer number of interface mods that people have created for Startdock to customize Windows... yea, it is completely possible to make Ubuntu look nicer than OS X - or any operating system.

Rather, what needs to really happen is taking the time to really consider usability. Much of the desktop and computer interface we have come to use is not really the best design, but rather what computers could do at the start.

And, of course, consistency. Every main OS app should follow a set of design guidelines so that the users can find what they are seeking in a predictable way. It has been a while since I have been on Unix, but I remember way too apps and interfaces appearing as though they belonged to different operating systems.

Finally, all of this does not matter one bit unless you can get application support. Even if Ubuntu is the coolest thing to use ever, no one is going to pick it up if the apps they use the most don't run on it.

DiRT said 1:10PM on 7-23-2008

This is why I still use Windows.

Stephen Antonucci said 1:28PM on 7-23-2008

Good luck with that.

MoiN said 1:55PM on 7-23-2008

You bet! :D

julian said 2:31PM on 7-23-2008

I agree that Ubuntu could be prettier than OSX.
However what makes OSX pretty is its simplicity.
I like Compiz but sometimes its just too much. As you mentioned, Apple is not going to just sit there, however since white leopard wont really bring any prettiness to OSX it could be feasible.

Tom said 2:45PM on 7-23-2008

Screw "looks", let me know when you can play audio in two applications at once in linux

kastonie said 3:00PM on 7-23-2008

im using ubuntu 8.04 right now and i just played 2 songs from 2 different applications at the same time....so.....i dont know what you are talking about man....

hybrid-kernel said 3:09PM on 7-23-2008

ever heard of pulse audio?

Iampriteshdesai said 3:40PM on 7-23-2008

I started using Ubuntu this April and I am loving it. I love its simplicity, I use Windows now only for gaming. Ubuntu still isn't perfect, but it is getting there. Ubuntu has a beautiful blue theme in it, try it, It is called glossy. I use that. The only problem is setting up the multimedia. Tom try downloading exaile and run two songs- one on Rhythmbox and other on Exaile. I have started a new blog on Ubuntu here:
http://helpforlinux.blogspot.com/

Tom said 9:37PM on 7-23-2008

Tell that to JWZ:
http://jwz.livejournal.com/494040.html

And if you ask who jwz is, look it up on wikipedia. It means something when jwz can't get sound to friggin' work right.

Matt T said 1:39PM on 7-24-2008

Well I dont know who jwz, but all i know is that sound worked perfectly for me out of the box, and I can play many sounds at once as expected, without me having to do any tweaking. Maybe you don't have PulseAudio running, or something is wrong with your hardware support? some hardware isn't supported in ubuntu/linux through no fault of ubuntu, but because the hardware manufacturers don't supply proper drivers for linux or the proper information for developers to make their own drivers. A quick post or search on the Ubuntu Forums will lead you to a solution.

maco said 5:09PM on 8-18-2008

Hey, take a look at the timestamp on JWZ's post. 3 years old! Come on.

Mohamed said 3:38PM on 7-23-2008

I agree that Ubuntu could be better looking than Os x and windows, but it's all about the application, and the ease of installing the apps.

Iampriteshdesai said 3:43PM on 7-23-2008

And Compiz is far better than Apple or Vista. The cube is SExy

Eric said 4:08PM on 7-23-2008

I can see a lot of the "looking better than OS X" coming out as "let's just copy things from OS X."

It's just like people have done before with Windows.

James Cole said 4:48PM on 7-23-2008

Prettier maybe, but what about usability and interaction design? It's exactly this sort of misguided focus that will keep desktop Linux in the sidelines.

Will said 4:54PM on 7-23-2008

Interesting that he stated it as can and not will surpass.

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