Reason 2:

100% free OS and programs.

Reason 3: Synaptic

Reason 4:

I bought a new motherboard and CPU right around when the new Ubuntu came out (9.10, Karmic Koala). So I just did a fresh install of the new Ubuntu 9.10. It immediately recognized my wifi card and my bluetooth adapter and automatically installed my drivers. No prompt or anything was needed. When I booted into the Operating System, my bluetooth adapter and my wifi were already working. As for my graphics card, it immediately recognized what type of graphics card (Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT) I was using and I just had to choose the "recommended" driver after going to 'System > Administratin > Hardware Drivers' and it installed it for me.

I dual-boot with Windows XP. In Windows XP, I actually had to acquire the drivers (either through the internet or from my backed up files) and install it manually. Nothing was automatic.

Even though I don't use it and never will because I don't want to learn how to use another OS:

No unbearably smug commercials.

Reason 5:

Hard drive space taken up by various Operating Systems

Windows XP: 4.2 gigs
Windows 7 32bit: 16 gigs
Windows 7 64bit: 20 gigs
Vista: 20 gigs
Vista Premium: 40 gigs


Mac OSX "Snow Leopard": 5 gigs


Ubuntu 8.10: 700 megs
Ubuntu 9.04: 700 megs
Ubuntu 9.10: 700 megs

Reason 6: LiveCD

Certain distributions of Linux, like Ubuntu, come with LiveCD. This means that you can boot into the computer with an operating system running straight off a CD that uses your RAM as well ... both RAM and hard drive space. It doesn't touch or affect anything on your computer and doesn't install anything onto your hard drive. No worries though, it'll install all the drivers and such you need for a working computer straight to your RAM. This is great for:

a.) Trying out a live and full operating system without installing it
b.) Fixing any issues or problems with your Windows, Ubuntu, Macintosh or any other OS (like if you can't boot into your OS because something is really messed up).
c.) You can use it just to access the many tools that Ubuntu comes with that may not be as easily accessible elsewhere. Like partition a drive.
d.) What I think is so awesome about it as well is you can install Ubuntu onto your hard drive while you use the LiveCD. You can be browsing, listening to music, working on a Word document, chatting etc all while your operating system is installing in the background.

All operating systems should have a LiveCD in my opinion.

Reason 7:

Almost no viruses.
No spyware.
No need for a firewall.
Almost impossible to hack.

Reason 8: Tabbed File Browser

Ever since Ubuntu 8.10, Intrepid Ibex, Ubuntu has had tabbed browsing in its file manager program, Nautilus. I can not live without it.

Reason 9:

Linux comes with a flawless partition manager tool, allowing you to set up data partitions, format individual partitions, organize a dual boot, etc, with very little danger to the portions of your hard drive not being messed with. This can all be done using a LiveCD while browsing the internet or playing video games.

Reason 10: Ubuntu Release Schedule

Ubuntu releases a new version every 6 months. These versions are supported for 18 months on the desktop or 3 years on the desktop if they're an LTS (Long Term Support) version. You don't have to wait 5 years or so for the newest version like in other operating systems. And you don't have to delete or reformat either. You can easily just choose to do a distribution update in Update Manager and let it update while you use your computer.

Notes: 9.10 Karmic Koala, is called 9.10 because '9' is the year it was released and '10' is the month it was released. Thus 8.04 was released on April 2008. I personally like all the cool sounding and sometimes weird code names. A few are Intrepid Ibex, Hardy Heron, Lucid Lynx and Gutsy Gibbon. Cid likes to call them Pokemon, because he is Cid.

This topic has actually made me interested in learning about this os. How friendly is it in regards to games?

It's... Not the greatest.

Reason 11: The userbase!