Ubuntu vs XP: one web designer's experience

I LOVE the idea behind Ubuntu and Linux in general. For a great many people, all of their computing needs can be handled by Ubuntu. It would probably be a good idea for my mom, who needs to browse, read/send emails, do some basic VOIP and play some simple games. It would certainly save me the hassle of reformatting her computer and reinstalling XP annually, especially after 'someone else messes up' her computer.

However, web designers like myself have some issues to deal with - namely the specific software required for work. While there are Linux equivalents for Photoshop (the Gimp) or Illustrator (Inkscape), they are different and have a learning curve. It may not be worth the time to learn two different programs that perform the same essential functions.

The biggest problem is that shedding Photoshop or Illustrator completely is impossible unless you have no need to collaborate with others. I work with people who regularly send me Photoshop and Illustrator files and I collaborate on websites using Dreamweaver. The latter may be a textbook case of bloatware, but the check in/out procedure is used by a lot of companies, especially when the various collaborators are spread out across the world.

With great reluctance, I've come to the conclusion that I must return to Windows. There are some things about Ubuntu that I will really miss, but for the sake of productivity, XP is a much better choice for me. Over the next few posts I'll go into details about my experience.