Years ago(I started around 2008 or 2009 I think), Ubuntu was different because it Just Worked. It came with lots of drivers, easy defaults, and guis for everything. You could easily dual-boot it with Windows(there was a windows executable that would get it done without burning a CD or dealing with an iso), and could be installed on just about any computer at the time.

Nowadays, lots of distros are just as easy(Debian, fedora, Linux mint), come with all drivers, work on basically all systems, and don't spy on you. Ubuntu isn't as easy to dual-boot windows now too. There's basically no advantage to Ubuntu now except community.