Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 LTS

What do you like best about the product?

I use Ubuntu for coding in Ruby, and it eases the debugging and installation of Ruby applications. It also makes working with tools like Docker easier. I love the integrated terminal and the control it gives over the OS. I like the freedom to change anything you want, unlike other operating systems. The terminal is a huge leap in improvement. The setup is easy and has gotten way easier over the years.

What do you dislike about the product?

I don't like that sometimes it has compatibility issues with some graphic cards, making connecting external displays a hassle at times.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

Ubuntu eases debugging and installation of Ruby applications, simplifies working with Docker, and gives integrated terminal control over the OS.

What do you like best about the product?

Ubuntu is free to download and use, and it’s known for its strong security. It works well for a wide range of needs, from everyday desktop computing to cloud computing. When issues come up, they’re often easy to resolve with help from community forums like Ask Ubuntu.

What do you dislike about the product?

I’ve sometimes run into bugs during major version upgrades. I’ve also had issues with some new releases that can break existing functionality.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

Ubuntu is completely free to download and install, which helps eliminate license costs. It comes with pre-installed applications like LibreOffice and Thunderbird, so it’s ready to use right away.

What do you like best about the product?

I really like how stable and reliable Ubuntu is for everyday use. It runs smoothly even on older machines, which is a huge plus.

What do you dislike about the product?

One downside I’ve noticed with Ubuntu is that some software and hardware aren’t always fully compatible out of the box. You sometimes have to spend extra time troubleshooting drivers, especially for things like printers or graphics cards.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

Ubuntu mainly solves the need for a reliable and cost-effective operating system, and that’s been a big benefit for me. Since it’s free and open-source, there’s no licensing cost, which makes the ROI excellent, especially when setting up multiple systems. In terms of integrations, Ubuntu works well with most development tools and open-source software, which makes it a great choice for coding and server-related tasks.

What do you like best about the product?

It’s probably the easiest Linux system to use, especially if you want something straightforward and user-friendly.

What do you dislike about the product?

I can’t think of a single feature of Ubuntu that I don’t like.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

I use Docker to deploy apps most of the time.

What do you like best about the product?

As a professional, I really value the predictability of the 5-year support cycle (extendable to 12 years with Pro), and the 2026 updates finally add some long-awaited polish.

On performance, the new Linux Kernel 7.0 combined with x86-64-v3 optimizations makes the OS feel incredibly snappy on modern hardware. For day-to-day work, that responsiveness is immediately noticeable.

In terms of modern tooling, the jump to GNOME 50 and the new Resources app (replacing the old System Monitor) make it much more visual and intuitive to manage heavy workloads.

On security, I appreciate the shift toward memory-safe core utilities (using Rust) and the seamless TPM-backed encryption. It gives me peace of mind without the “security tax” of constant pop-ups or slowdowns.

And when it comes to the ecosystem, whether it’s Docker, VS Code, or Python environments, Ubuntu still feels like the primary target for developers. If a tool exists for Linux, it’s basically guaranteed to work on Ubuntu first.

What do you dislike about the product?

Snap Preference: Snap performance has improved a lot in 2026, with faster startup and better compression. Even so, Canonical still tends to push Snaps over Flatpaks or native Debs in the App Center, which can feel polarizing if you prefer having more choice.

The "Pro" Nag: Ubuntu Pro may be free for personal use, but the occasional terminal "advertisements" for it during apt upgrades can come across as a bit intrusive, especially in a professional environment.

Legacy Hardware: Moving to a Wayland-only default and dropping support for older drivers (such as legacy NVIDIA or X11-only setups) helps future-proof the OS, but it can also be a real headache when you’re trying to maintain older workstation fleets.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

1. The “Security vs. Friction” trade-off
The problem: Traditional security often feels like a hurdle. Full-disk encryption usually means memorizing yet another long password, and core system tools (like sudo) have historically been prone to memory-safety vulnerabilities.
The benefit: Ubuntu 26.04 finally brings TPM-backed Full Disk Encryption to general availability. Your disk is secured by your hardware chip, so it unlocks automatically on boot without a passphrase, while still staying encrypted if the drive is stolen. On top of that, rewriting core utilities like sudo (now sudo-rs) in Rust has essentially “deleted” entire classes of memory-related security bugs. The result is a safer system without me having to change a single habit.

2. Modern hardware underutilization
The problem: A lot of Linux distros rely on “generic” packages that don’t take full advantage of modern CPUs (Intel 12th Gen+, AMD Zen 3+).
The benefit: Ubuntu now provides x86-64-v3 optimized package variants that squeeze more performance out of a modern processor. Kernel 7.0 and Mesa 26 also bring native support for the newest Intel Nova Lake and AMD Zen 6 chips. If you’re a gamer or a video editor, you’ll notice immediate frame-rate and rendering improvements that just weren’t there in 2024.

3. The “app fatigue” and permission sprawl
The problem: On traditional desktops, once you install an app, it often has the keys to the kingdom. It can access your files, camera, and mic without you really knowing.
The benefit: The new Security Center in 26.04 treats desktop apps more like smartphone apps. If a Snap app tries to access your microphone or a sensitive folder, you get a clear, granular prompt. It tackles the problem of “silent tracking” and gives you back real control over your privacy.

4. Technical debt in productivity
The problem: Older system tools like the veteran System Monitor or the Totem video player were starting to feel like relics from the 2010s—slow, clunky, and visually dated.
The benefit: Replacing those apps with Resources (a sleek, modern system monitor) and Showtime (a minimalist GTK4 video player) cuts down on visual clutter and makes everyday tasks feel more current. And by finally moving to a Wayland-only session and dropping X11 as the default, Ubuntu 26.04 addresses the “tearing” and “jitter” that plagued multi-monitor setups for years. Everything from window resizing to external displays now feels buttery smooth.