***Disclaimer***

Disclaimer: The Wizard of 'OZ' makes no money from 'OZ' - The 'Other' Side of the Rainbow. 'OZ' is 100 % paid ad-free

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

The Wizard uses Ubuntu MATE - A "Free" alternative to Windows and MAC

Ubuntu MATE (ooboontoo mah-tay) is:  "...an implementation of the desktop metaphor made of a bundle of programs running on top of a computer operating system, which share a common graphical user interface (GUI). Desktop GUIs help the user to easily access and edit files."

Built on Ubuntu, a very stable and one of the most popular Linux distributions available, Ubuntu MATE is updated constantly, so security issues are fixed much more quickly than the operating system your computer came with. Great peace of mind! I recommend the Long Term Support (LTS) version of Ubuntu MATE that is 100% supported for 3 years (currently version 22.04. After which time you can upgrade to 24.04 LTS for free. LTS versions are produced every 2 years.). The number 22.04 refers to 2022 April, the year and month that the software is made available. 

Of course donations are welcome if you use and like Ubuntu MATE. I am a Patreon supporter of $3.50 per month. Just a little thanks I give for using this free and awesome software! It helps cover the costs of development of the software.

The Wizard's Ubuntu MATE desktop

If you want to try Ubuntu MATE, and you can fully boot it live from a USB thumb drive, just to run it without changing your current Windows or MAC installation, click here to download the live USB and explore or install from the same USB.

Tux - The Linux mascot
Embrace your inner penguin! (Tux the penguin is the Linux mascot)

You can customize just about everything as far as the look and feel of the desktop. The Wizard loves using a dock - easily chosen in the settings. The Wizard likes having a HUD (Heads-up Display)  - available with the "Super Key" and start typing the name of the app to launch. Much faster using the keyboard than point and click (though of course that is still available!). 

Make it look and act like a Windows desktop. Make it look and act like a MAC OS. Make it look like a combination of both or neither! Make it look like Linux! The choice is yours! Linux is not just for nerds anymore! Works right out of the box, don't have to change a thing if you don't want to. Free to explore all that Linux entails, all at your fingertips. You truly have to experience and play with the Live USB, customize to your heart's content. If you decide to install Ubuntu MATE, the button is right there on the desktop. If you decide it's not for you, simply log off your live session and remove the USB stick. Nothing has changed on your current system.

Literally thousands of free applications are available from various sources, but if you install them using MATE Boutique, all applications are guaranteed to work with Ubuntu MATE. Free of charge of course!

At No Cost!

You have nothing to lose! You will also pocket all those hard-earned dollars that you currently pay to Microsoft and Apple! Think what you could do with all that extra money! Tux the Linux mascot

Currently use Microsoft Office? Ubuntu MATE comes with Libre Office installing a word processor, spreadsheets, a slide making program for presentations, even a database program -- all compatible with the expensive MS Office suite at no cost!

For help, if required there is the Ubuntu MATE Community forums. Lots of help available there. Click here to visit the forums.

*By "Free" - I mean that the software is free to use, free to change and free to distribute as long as you agree any changes made are reflected in the license included in your version acknowledging what you modified, so not Free as in "free beer". That said, it costs absolutely nothing to use this Linux operating system. 

Ubuntu + MATE Desktop + Love = Ubuntu MATE

No comments: