What is Ubuntu linux?

Ubuntu Linux is an operating system, like Microsoft Windows or Mac OSX, but with the huge difference of being totally free and Open Source. It can be installed on basically any PC, Mac, or notebook. It is owned by no company, as it is being developed by community of people all around the world.

Whether you use it at home, at school or at work Ubuntu contains all the applications you'll ever need, from word processing and email applications, to web server software and programming tools.

Ubuntu is and always will be free of charge. You do not pay any licensing fees. You can download, use and share Ubuntu with your friends, family, school or business for absolutely nothing.

The latest Ubuntu release brings the best of open source together on a platform that is here to stay with 3 years of free updates. With hundreds of improvements and the addition of the latest version of Firefox amongst other outstanding applications, more and more users are assessing why Ubuntu wins more and more converts with every release.

Productivity tools: Ubuntu supports all of your favourite web-based mail programs like Yahoo(TM) or Gmail (TM). But for the office, Evolution provides all the calendering, contacts and full function office email you need. Pidgin IM also puts you in instant touch with colleagues and integrates with your personal IM services simply and easily.

Browsing: Including Mozilla Firefox (Beta 5) - tested and stabilised for a platform. Faster, safer and themed for Ubuntu.

Photos: Upload from your camera or phone to F-Spot and manage, tag, share and sort your photos and upload easily to you favourite social networking sites.

Music and video: Plug in your PSP, iPod, MP3 player; share playlists with your friends; buy in the creative commons online music stores, stream more live radio and plug in more devices with UPnP.

Office applications: Word processing, spreadsheets and presentations can all be delivered through Open Office. And, they completely integrate with the proprietary office applications out there. The big difference is that they are free.

Accessibility: At the core of the Ubuntu philosophy is the belief that computing is for everyone and access should be free and complete whatever your economic or physical circumstances. Ubuntu is one of the most accessible desktop operating systems around.

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Who is using Ubuntu?

Check out who and why is using Ubuntu Linux. Read the stories below.

MysteryFCM, Nothing atm ..... got a broken arm/hand

I've been playing with Linux and Ubuntu on and off for a few years, and for now at least, constsantly come back to Windows as I find it a little too frustrating (well, that and I miss Outlook, along with the various programs and browser extensions I've written for Avant).

I've documented alot of my experiences both on forums, and in my old newsletter (I'll not link to them - just search for "MysteryFCM + Linux" ;o)), but more recently, I installed Ubuntu using Wubi, and whilst I don't use it often, it does give me the chance to play with it without having to load the live CD (pretty important considering my lappys CD drive is dead), and so far, thanks to help from Scotts Newsletter forums, I've been able to solve a couple issues, so may be moving it to a more permanent partition.

Sense Hofstede, Student

I was looking for a good operating system for my slow third hand computer, because Windows ran terribly slow on it. My brother tried Knoppix, which is a LiveCD that can also be installed on your harddisk. I tried Debian but I couldn't get out of the console. It turned out that the desktop wasn't installed, but I couldn't figure a way to get it working. That was probably because I lacked a lot of experience with Linux.
Then I found out that Ubuntu shipped free CDs! I immediately ordered a copy of Ubuntu 5.10, Breezy Badger. It installed quite well and I can't think of any big problems. I was really happy with this system, which worked really fast and good.
When I got a new computer, which should be able to run Windows quite well, I didn't buy a copy of Windows but kept using Ubuntu. I was completely into Ubuntu and already thought that it was better than Windows.
Now I'm still using it, got my father and brother to use it and am helping with Ubuntu. The community is just great and I'm glad to be a part of it. I'm still amazed that so many good programs are really free. Free as in beer and free as in speech.

Jo-Erlend Schinstad, Consultant

I had my first look at Linux in 1994, I think, on a computer party. I liked the idea, but I didn't give it another though until another party in 1998. That's when I started using it, but it was still very complicated stuff. It took me a week to get a window system up and running, and I everything was enjoyable pain to a technical person. Since then, I've been sort of a Linux dipsomaniac. I've tried all the distros, used them for a while, and hated them all. Well, I've actually never hated Ubuntu, but then, Ubuntu was the first distro that made me stay. I'm sure all the others have improved vastly too, because, you know; people share.

Everything about Ubuntu attracts me; the technology, the human ethical way of thinking, the communities respect of other peoples feelings and convictions, but most of all the separation between software and hardware. Applications can improve without the need to buy a new computer, which in this age is really important, not only for one self, but also to the environment. People do buy new computers though, and there is nothing wrong with that. It simply means that someone else can inherit the old one and make good use of it, for personal growth, fun, profit or whatever it is that they need a computer for; and they won't be left behind because of its age.

Ubuntu is not for everyone, but if you keep complaining about your computer, and don't at least try it, then your computer is not the real problem. Your habits as a consumer is, so stop complaining and live with your problems -- or try to sort them out. Ubuntu has solved all of my problems, computer-wise, and fixed a lot of problems I hadn't even considered before. All my hardware just works; no driver installs. All the software I need is installed by default; except some codecs, which are really easy to install. Granted, I'm not the most demanding user; I download videos and watch them, purchase and listen to music online. I use the web, mail, office stuff, accounting stuff, write some software, edit some videos... Normal stuff that people do, nothing fancy, but the feeling of having the system work for me instead of against me, is .. Well worth the money not spent.

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