Rambles and Riff Raff about all this and that

Ubuntu vs. That Other OS

Published by Esteban Glas on November 27th, 2007 | This post lacks all category except for: Linux, ThinkPad Tips

Before I turned in one of the R50e’s I decided to do some testing. I had the “feeling” that Ubuntu was superior to that other OS in many ways, yet I wanted to back my words with some real life data. The most impressive difference was obtained on power-up. I was smart enough to capture it on Video:


Both machines have the same exact specs, both have been used for the same time (to be fair I have tweaked the OS on the left quite a bit to optimize it). Ubuntu is already idle by the time the video ends; while the other PC takes 30 seconds more than what I’ve uploaded to idle the hard drive.

Then I went for a Battery endurance test. I left both PCs running, but the results where somewhat disappointing. Battery life (screen always on, machine unused) was 2:42:12 and 2:43:28 from left to right, but, quite honestly the difference can be attributed to battery condition.

I need to do a similar head to head with a ThinkPad that has more advanced power options to see if there is an improvement on either way. Quite honestly I thought Ubuntu was going to beat the hell out of te other one in this Item as well, since I had been able to work longer far from a power source with the Linux machine. I guess this was either me wanting it to be that way or (quite possibly) that Linux and programs running on it require less resources and that disk cache is faster and better thought (due to that Cache partition one sets up, remember?).

Final test was starting up notes and SameTime (our internal IM system). Ubuntu runs Notes 8 ever Eclipse; the other OS runs 7. Notes 8 and Sametime took 1:56.6 whereas notes 7 took 2:44.1. Time was measured from click on the icon to the moment when I was able to compose a new email.

The more I learn the more I’m convinced I need to use just one OS: Ubuntu.



  • RSmith
    And, Miguel... If you put OpenSuse on the left, and PCLinuxOS on the right, PCLinuxOS would win. Actually, you could put any other Linux on the left, PCLinuxOS still wins. :-P

    I'm baffled as to why the press seems to act as if Ubuntu is the second coming of Mac OS X. On a scale of 1-10 in ease of installation, setup, configuration, maintenance, and use, it scores a solid 7. However, there are many other Linux's out there that score much better. Why all the attention on Ubuntu? Is it their huge marketing campaign?

    But, as long as it's Linux and not "that other OS"...
  • me
    wow. what specs do they have? my first k6 466mhz and 128ram used to boot xp faster than that thinkpad. or it's a conspiracy against xp, i tell you!;-)
  • @David, you know I can help on that regard... just ping me

    @Miguel, I agree it is Linux and not Ubuntu, it just happens that I'm an Ubuntu user. If you read some of my older post you'll find out that I have tested many other Distros in the past, SUSE amongst them.
  • Miguel
    Take any Linux on the right and you'll get the same. Is not Ubuntu, it's Linux. Even more, If you put Ubuntu on the left and OpenSuse on the right, very probably Suse would win.
  • David Churbuck
    Wow. Excellent idea to catch that on film. I am running Gusty Ubuntu on an old Fujitsu Lifebook with a weak Transmeta Crusoe processor and the thing screams. Time to figure out the VPN Notes issues and see if I too can make the transition permanently
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