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Computer consumers in the United States are getting increasingly sick and tired of expensive software to run on their expensive hardware. Typically, these consumers are only familiar with operating systems such as Microsoft Windows or Mac OS. However, even fewer are aware of another operating system called Linux.
Recently, there has been an explosion of different "flavors" of Linux operating systems, each with their own unique look, feel, and behavior. All are free and come with one rule: to openly share and distribute all changes. This simple rule has led to the creation and distribution of the most popular open source operating system.
In the rare event that a run-of -the-mill user has heard of Linux, they typically are concerned with the amount of computer programming knowledge needed and experience required to get the system running. The user need not worry any longer!
Ubuntu (oo-boon-too) Linux is a young and fast developing Linux distribution. Ubuntu is a Swahili word meaning "humanity to others." This distribution is by far the most user friendly version of the Linux operating system. With an installation image available for download on their website at just under 700MB, the operating system comes packed with office productivity software, multimedia software, Mozilla Firefox, instant messaging software, and games. The latest version, 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon, comes packed with eye candy features such as places (see image 1) and a cool desktop cube (image 2).
Aside from some very nice eye candy, this version of Linux comes prepackaged with productivity software for everyone, from the graphic designer to the businessperson to the engineer.
For the creative bunch, the GIMP photo editor is included in the installation package and is a free image editor comparable to Adobe Photoshop.
If office productivity is a requirement, Gutsy Gibbon, the latest version of Ubuntu, comes pre-packaged with Open Office 2.0: a free online suite that costs $375 less than the Microsoft Office Professional 2007 Suite. This office suite was built in pdf-printing and can save all documents in the same formats as Microsoft Word.
The installation of the operating requires no previous knowledge of software programming. Simply insert the disc into your drive and the installation is completely graphical. All the Ubuntu discs are LiveCD's, meaning that you can test drive the operating system off the CD without installing it first. This allows the user to see if they like the particular Linux distribution or if they would like to choose another.
A specially designed education version is packed with software that helps to encourage educational computer use in grammar schools and high schools. This suite is called Edubuntu.
With the outcry against Windows Vista, and the unwillingness for some companies and consumers to upgrade from Windows XP, hardware distributors, like Dell, have begun to offer Linux based computers. This past summer, Dell computer began selling laptops and desktops with Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn preinstalled, as an alternative to Windows Vista.
Don't be afraid to check out Linux. With an infinite amount of online resources and an incredibly user friendly environment, Ubuntu Linux allows users to experience free computing without all the messy terminal commands and coding required by other distributions.
Recently, there has been an explosion of different "flavors" of Linux operating systems, each with their own unique look, feel, and behavior. All are free and come with one rule: to openly share and distribute all changes. This simple rule has led to the creation and distribution of the most popular open source operating system.
In the rare event that a run-of -the-mill user has heard of Linux, they typically are concerned with the amount of computer programming knowledge needed and experience required to get the system running. The user need not worry any longer!
Ubuntu (oo-boon-too) Linux is a young and fast developing Linux distribution. Ubuntu is a Swahili word meaning "humanity to others." This distribution is by far the most user friendly version of the Linux operating system. With an installation image available for download on their website at just under 700MB, the operating system comes packed with office productivity software, multimedia software, Mozilla Firefox, instant messaging software, and games. The latest version, 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon, comes packed with eye candy features such as places (see image 1) and a cool desktop cube (image 2).
Aside from some very nice eye candy, this version of Linux comes prepackaged with productivity software for everyone, from the graphic designer to the businessperson to the engineer.
For the creative bunch, the GIMP photo editor is included in the installation package and is a free image editor comparable to Adobe Photoshop.
If office productivity is a requirement, Gutsy Gibbon, the latest version of Ubuntu, comes pre-packaged with Open Office 2.0: a free online suite that costs $375 less than the Microsoft Office Professional 2007 Suite. This office suite was built in pdf-printing and can save all documents in the same formats as Microsoft Word.
The installation of the operating requires no previous knowledge of software programming. Simply insert the disc into your drive and the installation is completely graphical. All the Ubuntu discs are LiveCD's, meaning that you can test drive the operating system off the CD without installing it first. This allows the user to see if they like the particular Linux distribution or if they would like to choose another.
A specially designed education version is packed with software that helps to encourage educational computer use in grammar schools and high schools. This suite is called Edubuntu.
With the outcry against Windows Vista, and the unwillingness for some companies and consumers to upgrade from Windows XP, hardware distributors, like Dell, have begun to offer Linux based computers. This past summer, Dell computer began selling laptops and desktops with Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn preinstalled, as an alternative to Windows Vista.
Don't be afraid to check out Linux. With an infinite amount of online resources and an incredibly user friendly environment, Ubuntu Linux allows users to experience free computing without all the messy terminal commands and coding required by other distributions.
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