Lubuntu, Sweet and Simple

'Tis a gift to be simple...

Most friends know that I've been using Ubuntu Linux for a good long while.  I like that it's free to own and distribute (along with much of the bundled software like Libre Office), easy to use, relatively virus-free, and it's a good conversation piece when talking about computers.  When I got my current laptop last Christmas, it had Windows 8...for about a week or so before I switched to Ubuntu.  It's not a perfect relationship, with occasional glitches, set backs (iPod not working, etc), and needs to completely reinstall Linux (usually due to a mistake on my part).  However, I digress, I'm really happy with it.

In the past few weeks, my Ubuntu had been acting funny (I had been running LTS 12.04.1).  Randomly, it would say there was an internal error and either nothing would happen or I'd have to reboot.  I looked up answers to this problem, but nothing was giving me the long term solution I was looking for.  Either out of impulse or whatever, I decided to switch to Lubuntu.

Lubuntu is Canonical's variety of Linux for those with low power machines, based on the LXDE platform.  My last laptop (with a 1.6 ghz processor and 2 gigs of RAM)  had it and ran it beautifully until it died, ultimately living a LOT longer than I or most people would expect.  It's not meant to be flashy like Ubuntu, but if you have an older computer and/or simple needs, Lubuntu is definitely a viable option.  It's giving life and purpose to outdated computers in the face of designed obsolescence.  It made me happy to feel that my old laptop could run circles around newer machines equipped with Windows 7 or 8.

It would seem like overkill to put an OS designed for low-end computers on a machine that's anything but low-end.  However, I know my needs and I feel that Lubuntu addresses those superbly.  While I'm not particularly big on Abiword or Gnumeric, Google Docs works fantastic in the Chromium web browser (then again, with most things related to productivity moving online, it seems all you need IS a web browser nowadays.  Just be sure to save to the hard drive once in a while in case of service outages).

Source: http://xkcd.com/934/

All the same, I love my Lubuntu because it's sweet, simple, and fast.  So far, I haven't had many problems with it (mainly iPod related), but I can see myself using this for a good, long time.  I don't "need" the biggest or baddest computer or OS.  Just give me something simple and I'll be content.