So I’ve done it… I’ve moved away from Ubuntu for my main desktop computer. The #1 reason for this was Photoshop – I’m using it more again, and Gimp just does not cut it. There were other little things- mostly related to flash and sound issues. I’m not ditching Ubuntu entirely, of course- my Ubuntu computer is now my always on file server/web server (for development), and I can still get to it through putty and VNC. I’m going to work on “greenifying” the system so it consumes less power. I’d also like to get some home automation stuff going eventually.
I miss a lot of little things about Ubuntu (multiple desktops, the ability to move toolbars around wherever, toolbar applets, the themes, THE TERMINAL, etc, etc.) but in the end, an OS is an OS, and I can still get things done. I’m sort of looking forward to Windows 7.
I briefly toyed with the idea of going to mac, but that was nixed fairly quickly: my mac mini doesn’t support multiple monitors and is pretty underpowered, and anything else is WAY out of my price range. I’ll be sticking with what I’ve got until it dies or becomes obsolete. The only thing I really liked about mac is the fact that it’s Unix like- and since I have the Ubuntu computer, that’s not as big a deal. Once I upgrade my Ethernet cables to take advantage of the new gigabit router, it should be even less of one- I’ll store my files on the Ubuntu computer anyway and manipulate them through putty.
For now, we’re in “make do with what we’ve got” mode, due tot he fact that the old house isn’t sold yet. Good thing “what we’ve got” is quite a lot. 
August 24, 2009
I am running Ubuntu as my web server right now and not much else. I used to use it as my media server, but I changed to Windows 7 RC so that I could get a feel for 7 it before it comes out. My desktop system is OS X. Yes it’s a little higher priced, but it is a UNIX system and I don’t like the lack of terminal in Windows. I also like using cocoa and objective c, and would like to get a few iPhone app ideas developed. I would use Ubuntu for my desktop system if not for things like Photoshop as you mentioned and XCode. I must say that I do like Windows 7 so far. I may even have to stop using XP in my VMs. Cheers!
August 25, 2009
This is a very appropriate post for a blog called OS Agnostic
October 24, 2009
Well hello again. My second post. I understand your frustration with Ubuntu. But perhaps you may be a bit premature in ditching it because of your liking of Photoshop.
I am not sure if you know that Photoshop can be run on Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu or whatever flavor of Linux your like. (I like Chakra : look it up on Distrowatch.)
All you for Photoshop to work with linux is to install ‘Wine’.
http://www.winehq.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_(software)
PS : In case you want to play with Chakra here is the link.
http://chakra-project.org/
October 26, 2009
I have used Photoshop through wine (see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nirak/559140425/), but it doesn’t work right (slow, some of the filters/other features don’t work at all). And it is not only Photoshop – I depend on many Adobe applications, including Illustrator and InDesign. The drivers for my Wacom tablets never quite worked right, either. As a professional designer, it’s important to me that my tools work, without fighting with them for hours.
I am sad to have had to leave Ubuntu (at least in part) and I do miss it, but tools are important.