Ubuntu

Ubuntu is Linux Distribution based on Debian Linux. The aim is to release a new version of Ubuntu every six months, resulting in a more frequently updated system. Ubuntu's first release is on October 20, 2004. Ubuntu is currently funded by Canonical Ltd. On July 8, 2005, Mark Shuttleworth and Canonical Ltd announced the creation of the Ubuntu Foundation and provided an initial funding of US$10 million. The purpose of the foundation is to ensure the support and development for all future versions of Ubuntu. Mark Shuttleworth describes the foundation as an emergency fund in case Canonical's involvement ends.
 The Name
Ubuntu is a South African ethical ideology focusing on people's allegiances and relations with each other. The word comes from the Zulu and Xhosa languages. Ubuntu (pronounced "oo-boon-too") is seen as a traditional African concept, is regarded as one of the founding principles of the new republic of South Africa and is connected to the idea of an African Renaissance. A rough translation of the principle of Ubuntu is "humanity towards others". Another translation could be: "the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity". "A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed." --Archbishop Desmond Tutu
 The Philosophy
The Ubuntu Project is entirely commited on the GNU Free Software Philosophy - Everybody to be able to distribute , copy , modigy ( according to the needs ) and use the Software for FREE of charge!
 Live CD
The Live CD is a special version of Ubuntu that is built to run only off the CD without needing to be installed. This makes a great tool to test hardware, do system recovery or show new people Ubuntu. As of Ubuntu 6.06 (Dapper Drake), you can also install off the LiveCD. Canonical offers Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Edubuntu installation CDs at no cost, including paid postage for destinations in most countries around the world, via a service called ShipIt. Xubuntu is not offered due to lack of demand. After a request for CDs is made and approved, disks are sent via post. Delivery is estimated at six to ten weeks. There are also tricks and tips on "How to save your Live CD settings". There are two different guides, for Server editions and Desktop Editions. Minimum RAM Memory requements for booting up a Live CD is 512MB. The default desktop environment is GNOME. Wubi, which is included on the Live CD, allows the distribution to be installed on a virtual loop device. This requires no partitioning of a user's hard drive, allowing them to install Ubuntu to a file on their Windows drive. Wubi also makes use of the Migration Assistant to import users' settings. Wubi was initially developed as an independent project, and as such versions 7.04 and 7.10 were released separately from Ubuntu. Wubi was later merged with Ubuntu, and can be found in the Ubuntu Live CD as of the 8.04 release.
 System Requirements
The reccomended minimum requirements :
-- 700 MHz x86 processor
-- 384 MB of system memory (RAM)
-- 8 GB of disk space
-- Graphics card capable of 1024x768 resolution
-- Sound card
-- A network or Internet connection Of course if you want to get all the desktop effects you are going to need a bit better PC configuration.
 Installation
There are a cuople releases of Ubuntu installation CD. The minimal CD is about ~300MB , the regular one is 700MB and the Full DVD is ~4GB. Depending on your needs you have to choice to download it. After downloading the *.iso file , burn it to a CD. After that I would recommend to boot the Live CD , so you are going to be able to check , just in case for any imcompatibilities with your configuration. If see GNOME you are good to go. You can start a graphical installation by clicking twice on the "Install icon" on the Desktop. After that follow the guides, Answer all the questions for Language , country and so on .... When you get to the Hard Drive partitioning questions I can suggest for begginers to select "Automatic Partitioning. After that answer some more questions and your PC is all set. Reboot and boot into your new Ubuntu computer. More informations including screenshots of installation can be found on the Official Ubuntu Website. I will provide it at the end of the article. Other options is using Wubi. This powerfull tool is going to install Ubuntu in your Windows Hard Drive without making any changes to it.
 Available Packages
Ubuntu has a thousands of packages available , plenty of chioce for everything a person may need :
-- Administration Utilities
-- Base Utilities
-- Communication Programs
-- Development Software
-- Editors
-- Electronic Utilities
-- Games -- Graphics -> All you may need.
-- Ham Radio
-- Mail
-- Mathematics
-- Miscellaneous Utilities
-- Network
-- Other OS's and file systems ( Can run programs made for other OS and to use their libraries )
-- Perl
-- Python
-- Shells (Very friendly user interface for begginners )
-- Science
-- Sound
-- Text processing
-- Translations
-- Virtual Packages
-- Web Software ( Web Servers , Browsers and so on... ) And many many more .......
There are also plenty of book available at AMAZON.COM
 Latest Versions
-- Ubuntu - 7.10 with codename "Gutsy Gibbon" - released - 10-18-2007
-- Ubuntu - 8.04 with codename "Hardy Heron - released - 04-24-2008
-- Ubuntu - 8.10 with codename "Intrepid Ibex" - 10-30-2008
-- Ubuntu - 9.04 with codename "Jaunty Jackalope" - was released - 04-23-2009
-- Ubuntu - 9.10 with codename " Karmic Koala" - will be released - 10-2009
For more information visit the Official Website