The front banner makes it obvious that I am a recent convert to the upper echelons of the open source community courtesy my recent move from windows xp to Ubuntu Linux 7.10 code name Gutsy Gibbon. That's the charm of open source. The ultra cool code names and the aura of geekiness that it imparts to its beholder. Hardcore open sourcer's though might contest that Ubuntu is a mere sell out and falls short on the spirit part, by providing a GUI that's easy to use (what a shame!) but I couldn't care less about them. For me Ubuntu is the magical passageway to the dimly lit, flickering black and green realm of the famed unix/linux console and the amazing feats that can be achieved using it.
My prior experience with the console is limited to starting the C compiler from Unix way back during my schooling. I didn't realise the coolness of it all back then because I was more intent on getting my hands on that shiny new windows 95 machine my neighbour in the computer lab was using. You see windows 95 was all the rage when I was in school with its media players, games, screen savers and other hoopla and the fact that it was only available to a select few at least in my circle of friends. Windows might be losing its mojo nowadays getting its ass kicked in public thanks to the very bulky Vista, but I still think Microsoft started it all. Before windows a handful of people even knew what an operating system meant atleast in my part of the world. And suddenly people were talking of word and PowerPoint and excel and what not that windows had to offer. And that's what brings me to actual intent of this post. Today when I start my laptop to boot the earth coloured login screen for Ubuntu or when I use the task bar to quickly launch the pidgin instant messenger or when I open the open office word processor for writing a document I see the efficient implementations of these community projects but in the back of my mind I am still relating to the blue splash of the windows login screen, the oft crowded grey task bar on the bottom right corner and the ubiquitous Win Word. Windows brought all these ideas to the masses. And now Ubuntu and other such community projects are taking the same to the next level. They are developing the same idea to a different level of cool. This is like my personal RIP to windows. I will still use it in my office and for other assorted tasks at home but whenever I wanna feel cool (which is like 150% of the time) I will be heading for my Ubuntu powered lappie to respond back to me with enlightenment.
PS: I am in the office right now, so my dear XP don mind my foolishness! I love you.
