Ubuntu, Another OS for free, Oder your CD.

Ubuntu is a free OS that you can order a Cd free from Ubuntu or you can download their program. Ubuntu is a complete Linux-based operating system, freely available with both community and professional support.

Ubuntu includes more than 16,000 pieces of software

A Few ScreenShot links:-

The Desktop, It is a very nice and sleek style desktop.
http://www.ubuntu.com/htdocs/local/ubuntu-5.10-desktop.jpg

Searching for files or Browsering, Very nice and easy to navigate
http://www.ubuntu.com/htdocs/local/ubuntu-5.10-nautilus.jpg

A number of built-in themes to use.
http://www.ubuntu.com/htdocs/local/ubuntu-5.10-themes.jpg

A place to view all the hardware installed on your computer
http://www.ubuntu.com/htdocs/local/ubuntu-5.10-hwdb.jpg


Ubuntu comes pre-installed with servral software packages such as FireFox and OpenOffic.

I have used this software for just over a week and I can say that it is magnificent and is excellent.

When ordering I ask that you do not abuse the order system if you are aksing for a CD, only ask for what you can use of give out!

To get your copy goto
http://www.ubuntu.com/

Hope you like it!

Ubuntu sounds pretty cool, and judging from the screenshots on their website it looks pretty cool, too. I just requested some CD's for myself and a few friends.

I've been wanting to get into Linux and away from Windows for some time, and this looks like it might be the distro to finally get me to do it. Thanks for the tip!

Ubuntu is a really good distribution. I've loaded it on a couple of older computers that I had donated. It works quite well.

looks very cool. but I think I'll stick with my current XP

Doesn't really look like anything compared to Vista...

Out of all the Linux distros, Ubuntu is the best desktop solution I've found. If you're a Linux noobie, I think it's also a good place to start

As for the free CD's, I ordered about 10 a while ago. I never got them because I would have to pay customs, so I just left them at the post office

Ubuntu IMO is the best linux disto *that's free*
I heard they shipped CDs free..

Ubuntu IMO is the best linux disto *that's free*

All Linux distros are free.

I'm by no means new to linux, I've been using it for years now, but I do gotta say, Ubuntu is nice. I've got it installed on at least one desktop over here to play with and so far, it hasn't let me down.

Doesn't really look like anything compared to Vista

You can't compare something when you havn't tried it Throw on XGL and that blows anything MS can dish out with Vista anyday.

I really want to switch to linux. is this the best one?

Like I posted in the other linux thread, there is no such thing as the best one. You will have to download a bunch and try them to see which one you like best. However, Ubuntu is pretty good for beginners, try it out, you might like it.

You can find more at distrowatch.com

Just like riscphree said there really isn't a best distro. Someone experienced in linux who really wants as much control as possible will probably prefer slackware though someone new would most likely be completely lost with it. On the other hand Ubuntu is supposed to be friendy to new linux users so it's probably a good starting point.

Dont be deceived by the look of the Desktop.

KDE is riddled with Bugs (I think they are ex Microsoft guys ) and is a very heavy Desktop. Gnome is nice and clean by comparison and lightweight. Though Desktops are not a topic I am intersted in all that much and if your intersted you can find upteen different Destops for linux.

What counts is power at your finger tips.

I dont know about Ubunto but most linux disto's have been seriously getting to grips with making the user experience more computer friendly. I.E your not stuck hand editing config files by hand etc anymore.

That said there are many areas you will fall over on no matter which distro you choose. For instance the current media laws state that LInux cannot release codecs and such with its distro's so no matter which distro you get your not going to automagically be able to watch dvd's or play mp3's.

That should not be an issue though as whatever distro you choose will have a support forum where you can get an howto to get that stuff going on.

But the best advice I can give you is stop thinking about it and start doing it.

Ibbo

if I didnt use windows, I would be on a linux, I love the fact that it free

Free maybe, but hey... you get what you pay for.
Here's one of the reasons I don't use Linux... (this is Ubuntu btw):

"Your kernel was built with "gcc" version "3.4.5", while you are trying to use "/usr/bin/gcc" version "4.0.2". This configuration is not supported and VMWare Tools cannot work in such configuration. Please either recompile your kernel with "/usr/bin/gcc" version "4.0.2", or restart ./vmware-config-tools.pl with CC environment variable pointing to the "gcc" version "3.4.5".

yeh i recieved my cd the other day, it's really i have to say but i still prefer my xp

- i feel that i have more control over the operating system (if you know what i mean), and everytime i just ''look'' at linux desktop (it's very nice) i feel that everything is like hidden away behind 3D shaped icons, whilst with xp i get the feeling i'm like in the drivers seat, got my hands all over the steering wheel, real in control like..

anyways it's prob just me being weird... but i like my xp for now

Minaki I think it comes down to what the user wants from their operating system. If I saw a line like that at first I would be frustrated, but shortly thereafter I would teach myself how to recomplile the kernal and anything else that it would take to make it work.

Eventually I'd figure it out and come away with a much better understanding of linux and operating systems in general. That extra knowledge would allow me to later customize the OS to suit my needs more.

I agree that using Linux isn't as easy as using Windows or a Mac, but I don't think that's always the point of an operating system. And many linux ditros have been getting easier and easier to use. It won't surprise me if in the near future they are just as if not easier to use.

Most of the frustrations like compiling software, lack of hardware drivers, hard to customize settings etc are in the past. Advanced distros auto-detect hardware, don't force you to compile software, and have control panels much like you'd find with Windows. Distros like SuSE for example have a control panel where you can download and install software in a single click. You don't even need to open a web browser and download an installer, it does it all for you.

For the average home user that needs to install a browser, an email client, a chat client etc. Linux isn't difficult (of course there'll still be a learning curve). If you're a power user, then you'll benifit from the extra knowlege anyway.

The only problem with Linux is the lack of software that Windows users are used to.

All true. Linux has reached the point where the average user can just dive right in and get things working right away. There is the ocassional thing where being a power user will come in handy, but those things are tyically only the things power users would want to do anyway. There's certainly a learning curve, but that would also be true of a switch from Windows to Mac. Maybe the learning curve is a little more when switching to Linux, but not that much more.

As for the software it's true, but there are many equivalents to the Windows software such as open office or star office instead of MS office, or using the GIMP as a Photoshop substitute. The beauty of open software though is that new programs and improvements to existing software seem to come at a much quicker pace than in the proprietary world.

I always laugh at the illogical assumption people make that because we have to pay for Windows it must, By definition, Be better. Obviously this is untrue.

I have used both windows and Linux and i have come to the conclusion that when it comes to reliability there is littlle difference. But when you look at things like the time it takes for critical flaws to be patched the Linuxs couple of days beats the microsofts 2 weeks creating the patch, one week compatibility testing and then the time it takes for the next months update cycle to come round.
And when you also add ontop of that how linux is not only free, but also open source, It definately beats windows.

There is no argument that makes windows a better operating system other than people admiting that they don't know enough about computers to be able to use Linux, and feel happier using microsoft "my first computer" user friendly interface... When i use windows now i feel as though bill gates is sitting there holding my hand.

On the topic of MS patches: MS needs to be very careful when they release a patch. They have millions of people using their software, and a chunk of those people are huge businesses. They can't release a patch that will cause some systems to fail. Many large companies use a "patch day" (ie. MS, Oracle) to kinda let the sysadmins know when patches will come out and give them time to prepare and test.

There is always a disagreement about bugs/security when talking opensource vs closedsource application development. There are many factors to consider.

MS has its place in the world, just like everything else does. I don't think it's particularly bad or good, I just wish people knew their choices a bit better. Mention Linux to a computer newbie and he either has no clue what you're talking about or he thinks its a hacker OS

It's true that there are many opensource alternatives for Linux for apps you can find on Windows, but not many of them actually compare IMHO. I tried to use GIMP over Photoshop for a while and couldn't do it. And I would actually prefer to us MS Office over OpenOffice. If there was more of a commercial application market in Linux, I think it would go a long way. Not everything has to be opensource!