Free Operating System on CD
Are you thinking of upgrading your operating system? Do you still use Windows XP? Well one option you definitely must consider is using the Linux based operating system called Ubuntu.
Ubuntu is fast becoming a very good alternative to Microsoft Windows. In its latest version it has undeniable become as good or even better than Windows in almost all aspects. For the first time top-tier computer suppliers like Dell, HP and Lenovo are offering it to customers who might not be happy with the Microsoft standard.
Ubuntu means "Humanity towards others" and is sponsored by Canonical Ltd, started by South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth, founder of the Ubuntu project.
The Ubuntu Logo and Desktop
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Widespread familiarity with open source programs like Firefox and OpenOffice has fueled much of the adoption. Other projects, like Wikipedia, have brought open source into the mainstream and shown just how effective community driven projects can be.
Still young, Ubuntu is already the most popular Linux derivative with around 30% of the desktop Linux market. Its focus on simplicity, community and long-term support has made it a firm favorite with old and new users alike.
Ubuntu focusus on usability and current features. It as a very fast development cycle with a new version released every six months. Te version number is derived from the year, followed by the month of release. Canonical Ltd, which coordinates the development of Ubuntu, supports each new release for a minimum of 18 months. There are also long term releases which have guaranteed support for over 4 years. There are a number of different flavours of Ubuntu. For example Edubuntu is aimed at children and comes with a suite of learning applications pre-installed. Other official releases are Kubuntu, which uses the KDE desktop environment; Xubuntu, which is aimed at slightly older machines and Gobuntu, which only includes software released under an open source license
Getting Ubuntu
You can download Ubuntu from www.ubuntu.com or visit http://shipit.ubuntu.com to have it shipped to you for free. If you are downloading you will have to burn the ISO file to a CD. You can use Nero or any other CD-burning proggram to do this. After creating the install disc, place it in the CD-tray and reboot. Ubuntu should load automatically.
