In an article found on Arstechnica, located
here, they take a quick look at Ubuntu 8.04 alpha 5, a release that's supposed to bring many new improvements to the already feature packed distribution.
One of the exciting and promising features is the implementation of a Windows - based install, aptly titled Wubi. The idea is to be able to install Ubuntu
inside the Windows operating system.
What does this mean?Ubuntu Linux is much closer to significantly challenging Windows in terms of OS-share. Granted, using the Wubi installer does in fact require that the user has windows, but it makes it
much easier to try a taste of linux.
One the major issues in switching or testing out linux was the fact that partitions had to be created, incompatible filesystems, bootloader issues, and many other things. Now, theoretically that's been solved. After the bugs have been worked out, therein lies a feasible option for users unfamiliar with the GNU OS / Linux kernel package - to more easily test drive this new OS.
What's even better is uninstalling is as easy as removing Wubi from an application list in windows. So no more prolems with reinstalling the boot loader, no more
C:\> fixmbr, or any nonsense like that.
What's really important to note is that Ubuntu just became so much easier to test out. Another hurdle that weeds out the masses quickly from trying Ubuntu is that it's not as easy as putting a CD in windows and clicking install. No more fancy shmancy boot orders or hitting f12 to boot off of a CD...
Now it's as simple as pointing and clicking in windows. Ubuntu just became that much easier.
With its Windows integration, this update has the potential to significantly alter the playing field in terms of availability and ease of use for this operating system.
Becoming familiar with Ubunutu became simpler.
