Ubuntu has become increasing popular amongst many Linux users, especially users trying Linux for the first time. Just why is Ubuntu so popular? I’ll explore some of its features and distributions this month, including Kubuntu and Edubuntu, and try to find out.
Ubuntu
Ubuntu, according to their website, is “Linux for Human Beings”. Ubuntu, an ancient African word meaning “humanity to others”, is a community designed Linux distribution based on Debian that is designed to be as user-friendly as possible.
Ubuntu is a community designed Linux distribution that is designed to be as user-friendly as possible
Default Ubuntu Gnome desktop with the Nautilus file managerUbuntu is quickly becoming the defacto standard in user-friendly distributions. Since it is Debian, apt will allow you to pull from a huge repository of Debian-ready applications and have them installed within minutes.
Ubuntu is also easily customizable, allowing you to completely change the look of the Gnome desktop in just a few clicks.
Ubuntu has become so wide-spread that variations of the operating system for KDE and Educational uses have emerged (Kubuntu and Edubuntu, respectively) based on the same components.
UbuntuLinux.orgUbuntuLinux.org is the official home of Ubuntu, providing downloads, documentation, support and various community documents and forums. This is the center of all things Ubuntu and should be the first stop for those interested in the operating system.
UbuntuLinux.org also provides links to other Ubuntu sites, as well as allowing you to order free Ubuntu CDs. You can also visit the shop to buy Ubuntu branded hats, stickers, mugs and dog t-shirts (you’ll want man’s best friend advertising your favorite operating system too, right?).
Kubuntu
Kubuntu provides the same Ubuntu simplicity and community to KDE fans. Kubuntu is released at or around the same time as Ubuntu, so updates are released near-simultaneously with Ubuntu. Kubuntu also uses the same source and binary packages as Ubuntu, hence making the two interoperable.
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Kubuntu shares Ubuntu’s view on a community distribution and the similarity between the two sites (and distributions) is immediately apparent.
Kubuntu.orgKubuntu.org is Kubuntu’s official home; it’s designed almost exactly like UbuntuLinux.org, except that it is shaded with blue rather then orange. Like UbuntuLinux.org, it’s the “hub” for all things Kubuntu: including forums, support, wiki, documentation and downloads.
Overall, Kubuntu is the “Ubuntu” for anyone who wants KDE’s tools and power in their desktop enviroment.
Kubuntu is the “Ubuntu” for anyone who wants KDE’s tools and power
Edubuntu
Edubuntu is also based on Ubuntu, but it contains a mix of Gnome and KDE tools and is designed for (as its name implies) an educational environment. Edubuntu is also released with Ubuntu, and uses the same Debian packages as Ubuntu and Kubuntu.
Edubuntu is designed for (as its name implies) an educational environment
Edubuntu’s default Gnome desktopEdubuntu’s motto is “Linux for Young Human Beings”, and Edubuntu carries this thought though the entire operating system.
Edubuntu includes OpenOffice, the KDE Edutainment Suite, GCompris, Tux4Kids and the Schooltool calendar; all of this with a customized Gnome desktop.
Conclusion
With all its features, versions and usability, Ubuntu might just be a fad worth checking out. Each of these Ubuntu-based system’s installers fit on a single 700MB CD and will install on almost any computer. Downloads for the CD’s images are available on the website for the distro you want.
Ubuntu and its variants can also be downloaded as live CDs that you can try before you install, so there’s no excuse not to try out the next new Linux fad!
Comments
Comments from old system
From: Rory Griffin
Url:
Date: 2006-01-24
Subject: What is this?
This isn't an article with substance. On a scale from 1-10 I would give this a 0!
I think there are links to the three web pages the article speaks of. Those front pages there are more inticing than the article you just read.
Very bad. Boo.
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From: Tony Mobily (SUBSCRIBER!)
Url: http://www.mobily.com
Date: 2006-01-25
Subject: Well...
Hello,
True, the article could have much more "substance".
However, it was meant to be a very short article about Ubuntu. There are loads of people out there who don't actually know that Edubuntu, Kumuntu etc. even exist...!
We will talk about Ubuntu more in the future. And yes, we'll do our best to publish interesting material!
Merc.
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From: Dave Guard (SUBSCRIBER!)
Url: www.freesoftwaremagazine.com
Date: 2006-01-25
Subject: I think you missed the links
Rory Griffin says:
"I think there are links to the three web pages the article speaks of."
Have a look at each heading--they are also links. Each of the covered websites have links provided.
This article is supposed to be a brief run down of the sites you should look at if you are thinking of using Ubuntu or if you are interested in finding out more about Ubuntu.
I think it achieves this goal well.
Thanks for reading
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From: Derek
Url:
Date: 2006-01-24
Subject: Where's the beef?
You started off by saying you will explore what makes Ubuntu popular so I was expecting some insight as to why I should try it, but instead, you have only provided some screen shots and talked about 2 other Ubuntu-based distribution.
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From: John Doe
Url:
Date: 2006-01-24
Subject: There is better than Ubuntu
Kubuntu is nice, but an even better KDE based distro is at www.pclinuxonline.com.
You want a finished distro with everything self-configured, this is it.
Word of mouth is the only thing makes Ubuntu/Kubuntu more popular. Once more peoplw starting finding PCLinuxOS, it definetally rise to the top.
It was started by Texstar who years and years ago was the one making those incredible updates for Mandrake.
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From: Ryan
Url:
Date: 2006-01-24
Subject: Thats all?
I think I could have found out all that information from the Ubuntu website. Where are the comparisons to other Debian based distributions, other Education based distributions. Why would someone want to use Ubuntu? That its Debian based and user friendly seems to hardly differentiate it from Linspire or other all-in-one desktop systems.
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From: Joe Anon
Url:
Date: 2006-01-25
Subject: Needs _some_ details. Anything.
I'm sorry but I have to agree. There is essential nothing of interest here. This is like someone passing you in the street and saying, "Hey you should check out ...(something)" , and not telling you why you should, or what is different or interesting about it. Even if it is to just let people know it exists.
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From: Tony Mobily (SUBSCRIBER!)
Url: http://www.mobily.com
Date: 2006-01-26
Subject: OK!
Hello,
OK. We'll keep your suggestion in mind for the next newsletters!
Merc.
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From: Nicolas
Url:
Date: 2006-01-25
Subject: Save
Make some people save some bandwidth and remove this "article"
from the internet. You will also be saving some hard drive
space. This is the worst article that I've ever read in the
10 years that I've been getting online.
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From: Tony Mobily (SUBSCRIBER!)
Url: http://www.mobily.com
Date: 2006-01-26
Subject: It's a newsletter!
Hi,
We have published more than 250 articles. Some of them are bound to be disliked by some readers - sorry about that.
Please do remember that it was only a simple newsletter. A "real" article (published in issue 10) about a Linux distribution is for example:
http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/free_issues/issue_10/jump_to_debian
I hope you'll enjoy our magazine!
Merc.
PCLinuxOS is a Better Desktop
Ubuntu is a great distro. But I find PCLinuxOS better. May be Ubuntu has become this much popular because of some really good patronage and media attention.