tomsam's Full Review: ValuSoft 71685 for PC, Mac, Linux (755142716851)
About Ubuntu:
Ubuntu is arguably the premier Linux distribution for the desktop. There are other excellent Linux distributions available, to be sure, and each have their own strengths. But Ubuntu has achieved a balance of functionality, flexibility, ease of use, and support that sets it apart from the crowd.
There are several varieties of Ubuntu available, each sharing the same core components but differing slightly in peripherals and Graphical User Interface (GUI). All Ubuntu based releases are identified by their release date (8.10 was released in October 2008) and by their nickname (8.10 is known as Intrepid Ibex). New releases occur on a six month schedule, with all standard releases being supported for eighteen months. Some releases are designated as Long Term Support (LTS) and are supported for three years. This gives users a great deal of latitude regarding system upgrades. Many choose to upgrade only when LTS releases are available, others choose to upgrade more often. The choice is yours. Since version 7.10 all upgrades can be done easily through the package manager (see below) and therefore do not require a complicated re-installation process.
Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/) is the “classic” distribution and certainly the most widely used. It features the Gnome GUI, which is quite intuitive but sometimes causes frustration for those moving from the Windows environment because its appearance and layout is unfamiliar to them. It is, however a very complete package and it has been my experience that it is the easiest for users with very little computer experience (and few preconceived notions) to use. At the time of this review the current version of Ubuntu is 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex). The Ubuntu website states that “Ubuntu is available for PC, 64-Bit PC and Intel based Mac architectures. At least 256 MB of RAM is required to run the alternate install CD (384MB of RAM is required to use the live CD based installer). Install requires at least 4 GB of disk space”.
Kubuntu (http://www.kubuntu.org/) is an official Ubuntu variation and is essentially the same operating system with a different GUI. Kubuntu uses the popular KDE interface that is favored by many users. I find the KDE interface to be a bit more flexible and I prefer many of the KDE-centric applications to there Gnome counterparts. For these reasons Kubuntu is my personal favorite when it comes to Linux distributions. I have also found the KDE interface to be a bit easier to adapt to for those accustomed to MS Windows. At the time of this review the current version of Kubuntu is 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex). Kubuntu is available for PC, 64-Bit and Mac architectures. Creating Kubuntu CD's requires 700MB media. Desktop install requires at least 256MB of RAM and 3GB of available hard drive space.
Edubuntu (http://www.edubuntu.org/) is an official variation of Ubuntu designed especially for use in schools. It uses the Gnome interface and includes applications, tools and themes specifically focused towards the needs of primary and secondary schools. Edubuntu is available for PC architectures. At the time of this review the current version of Kubuntu is 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex). Installation requires at least 2.5 GB of disk space, a CPU of at least 1 GHz, and 256 MB of RAM plus an additional 128 MB of RAM per thin client (e.g. a server driving two clients should have at least 512 MB RAM).
Xubuntu (http://xubuntu.org/) is a recognized derivative of Ubuntu that uses the Xfce user interface. Xubuntu uses less resources that the other variations of Ubuntu and is therefore ideal for older or less powerful hardware. I have installed Xubuntu on a Compaq laptop with a 433MHz processor and 256 megabytes of RAM and realized quite acceptable performance. Xubuntu is in no way a “stripped down” distribution. It includes pretty much everything the average user needs, including a complete office suite. Xubuntu is a great choice for those who want to breathe new life into an older computer for any reason. I use mine as a wireless music client in my garage/workshop. Version 8.10 is available at this writing. Xubuntu is available for PC, 64-Bit PC. The installation CD's require 128MB RAM to run, or 192MB RAM to install. Desktop install requires at least 1.5GB of free hard disk space.
Other recognized derivatives include:
Gobuntu is a purist/hobbyist/developer variation.
Mythbuntu is a media center/home theater variation that includes DVR functionality. You will need a TV tuner card to take full advantage of this distro.
Ubuntu Studio includes a suite of multimedia creation tools for professionals and enthusiasts (a musician I know tells me the packages in this distro rival the best commercially available software for multimedia creation and editing).
There are also server and mobile editions based on Ubuntu, but they are outside the scope of this review.
With the possible exception of Gobuntu, all of the above variations are easily customized. KDE can be added to Ubuntu and Gnome can be added to Kubuntu. All of the applications in Mythbuntu or Studio, for example, are available to add to any other distro.
Nuts and Bolts:
To keep things simple, I'll reference Ubuntu in the rest of the review, but unless otherwise noted the information applies to the other official variations as well.
Ubuntu is available for download free of charge, or you can request a CD from the website. The CD's are also free of charge and Canonical (Ubuntu's parent company) even pays the postage. The download can take some time, so be patient. Once the download is complete, burn the ISO image to a CD and you are ready to go.
The CD's are “Live”, which means that you can boot to them directly and try out Ubuntu without touching your hard drive, a nice feature for those who are simply curious to see what Linux is about. From the Live CD you have the option of installing Ubuntu to your hard drive. The process is very straightforward. You will be asked a few questions (your location, desired user name and password, language, etc.) and then the installation proper will proceed. You have the option of re-formatting the entire drive (all of your data will be lost) or resizing an existing partition and creating a new one for Ubuntu (if you want to dual boot with Windows, for example). If you do want to dual boot, make sure Windows is installed first and let Ubuntu make the adjustment as Windows does not really play nice with the other children, if you know what I mean.
The time required for installation varies from machine to machine. When finished, you'll be prompted to remove the CD and reboot. If you are Using Ubuntu alone you will see a log in screen. If you are dual booting you will see a screen that lists the boot options available to you. Choose Ubuntu and you will then be at the login screen.
If you have broadband service and DHCP is available, Ubuntu will connect automatically without any input form you. If you use dial-up have a fixed IP address, or a secure wireless connection you will need to do some set up. Fortunately, this is fairly straightforward and there is a wealth of information available to help you. It is on line, however, so if you are dealing with a more complex network connection make sure you have Internet access on another machine until you have everything up and running.
Once you're on line, the first thing to do is click on the Update Manager icon to run a system update. The Update Manager is one of the best features of Ubuntu. Unlike Windows, Ubuntu's Update Manager seeks out updates for every application that you have installed, and you will have plenty, even right out of the box. This initial update can take some time, but you can keep working while it is downloading. This will be one of the few updates that requires a re-boot.
Another great feature of Ubuntu is that it recognizes hardware that uses proprietary drivers and asks you if you want to use them. If you are a purist, click “no” and use the open source drivers that are packaged with Ubuntu. If you want optimum performance with say, an nVidia graphics card, choose yes and the driver will install automatically. No muss, no fuss.
The same is true for MP3 support. MP3 is a proprietary standard so support is not native in most Linux distributions. In Ubuntu, the first time you try to play an MP3 you are asked if you want to add MP3 support. Click “yes” and you are up and running. Couldn't be easier.
At this point you are pretty well up and running. You will be amazed to see how many applications are already at your fingertips, without costing you a penny.
Applications:
What can I say? While writing this review I checked my package manager (more about that later) and found that I had 1660 applications installed out of 26,211 that were available. Many of these are minor dependencies and libraries, but still, all of them were free (as in beer) and most were also free (as in speech). A remarkable achievement by any standard.
The average (or above average) user will find that the applications available in Ubuntu will meet or exceed there needs, and typically equal or surpass the performance of commercial alternatives. For example:
OpenOffice is a powerful office suite that can handle all of the MS Office file formats and several that MS Office cannot. I find it to be more user friendly than MS Office and it is free and open source.
The GIMP (Graphic Image Manipulation Program) rivals Adobe Photoshop in terms of functionality. I am a former Photoshop user and I have not yet encountered a task that I cannot replicate using The GIMP. The learning curve is steep, however.
Mozilla Firefox/Thunderbird/Lightning...browser/mail/calendar...open source, cross platform, beautiful.
GPG is the open source alternative to PGP, and is compatible with PGP encryption. It interfaces well with the native email clients in Ubuntu/Kubuntu as well as with Thunderbird. It is also available for Windows, as are many open source apps.
TrueCrypt...if you need it, its there.
Amarok/Banshee are simply the best music management applications on any platform, anywhere.
Picasa from Google is available for Ubuntu, as is Google Earth. The list goes on and on.
There are also many Windows applications (MS Office, IE7, many games) that can run in Linux using a program called WINE. There are also some that won't. Adobe Reader isa available for Linux, but the full versions are not. If you create interactive forms with Adobe Acrobat you will need to do so with Windows or Mac.
On fundimental difference between Linux and other OS's is the way in which applications are installed. In Ubuntu a package manager (Synaptic or Apt) allows you to search repositories for applications, by name or keyword, and install them easily. This is a very powerful feature. Simply type "Television", for example, into the search field in the package manager and you get a list of all available packages that relate to television tuners in any repository. Wow!
Security:
Linux is simply worlds ahead in terms of security. No more worries about trojans, viruses, spyware, malware, etc. This is a great advantage for the casual computer user. If you, or someone you know, only uses their computer for email, Internet, music, etc., run, don't walk to Ubuntu and sleep better at night.
Performance:
Ubuntu uses far less resources than Windows XP or Vista. As I write this I am running fifty (50) applications across four desktops on my AMD5000+ Dual Core (4 gigabyte memory) with no problem. Several of these are multimedia programs and the noise is really something, but I wanted to make a point. Ubuntu flies.
Candy:
Ubuntu offers a terrific set of desktop options and effects. I use four desktop on a rotating cube with wobble windows and so many more cool effects (fire and rain on the desktop, widgets, etc.) that it would be futile to try and list them all.
Support:
Second to none. The Ubuntu community is terrific. If you can Google you can find solutions to practically any issue you might have.
The bottom line:
Ubuntu, in all of its flavors, is a fantastic operating system. But, that is just the tip of the iceberg. The real power of Ubuntu, Linux and the Open Source revolution is the powerful alternative they offer to the pay-through-the-nose proprietary software monopoly. If you are adventurous, open minded, and or frustrated with the status quo, give Ubuntu a try. You won't be disappointed, and you may well be transformed.
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