No prob, Casio 👍
I've noticed a lot of interest for Ubuntu in this thread, so before I start with my information guide for Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy Eft, I thought I should begin with information on Ubuntu itself. Let's answer some common questions.
What the heck is up with the weird naming scheme?
Basically, it takes the form of "Adjective Animal." The current stable release is 6.06 Dapper Drake. Past releases have been: 4.10 Warty Warthog, 5.04 Hoary Hedgehog, and 5.10 Breezy Badger. Can anyone think of any funny/interesting names for future releases? (oh and let's keep it appropriate
)
How about the version numbers?
The current release is 6.06. The "6" indicates that the build was officially released in 2006, while the ".06" indicates which month it was released. This means that the first release of Ubuntu (4.10) was in October 2004 and the next release (6.10) will be October 2006.
How often do they release a new version?
Ubuntu is on a 6-month release cycle. Dapper Drake was postponed so there is only a 4 month wait until Edgy Eft.
What is Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and Edubuntu?
Kubuntu uses KDE (a desktop environment), Xubuntu uses XFCE (a lightweight desktop environment; better for older hardware), and Edubuntu includes many educational applications perfect for schools/learning environments. You can also download other desktop environments if you don't mind using the terminal.
I am about to download Ubuntu; What's the difference between the Desktop CD and Alternate CD?
The Desktop CD is a Live CD with an installer included. If you don't plan on installing Ubuntu on your hard drive, check it out anyways(make sure you have sufficient RAM, or it may be too slow). You can surf the internet and use the applications with the LiveCD, without installing anything on your hard drive. The Alternate CD is a text-only installer. Use this to install on computers with 192 MB of RAM or less. (Actually, I suggest using this if you have 256 MB of RAM or less, based on my experience)
I like Vista and OS X's "eye candy." Is there anything like these for Linux?
Yes. It's does not come with Dapper Drake, but you can download and install it. Want to see it in action? Check out
http://osvids.com. Click on "Dapper XGL" to see the video. The hardware requirements for these effects is not as strict as Vista's, but you must install some drivers for it to work properly.
How many CDs do I need to burn to install Ubuntu?
Just ONE. Unlike many popular distros such as Fedora Core 5 and SuSE 10.1 which require 4-5 CDs or a DVD, Ubuntu uses just one blank CD (700 MB capacity).
So what advantage does Ubuntu (or Linux in general) have over my current OS?
This is hard to answer, without becoming too opinionated or bias. If you're using XP and it does everything you want it to do, then you may not find many advantages of switching. But it never hurts to learn something new. Let's list some of the main advantages:
-Ubuntu is free. Many applications are also free. No hassle with product activation, no fear of losing your Restore CD, or anything like that.
-Spyware/Viruses are less likely. While no operating system is safe, I have not found the need to download a anti-spyware or anti-virus.
-Stability. This is debatable however, since I have never had stability issues with XP.
-"Fun factor." It's always fun learning something new and different.
-Help & Support. I'll take the Ubuntu Forums over the Microsoft Knowledge Base any day.
-If you're like me and have been using Firefox, The GIMP, Gaim and/or OpenOffice on Windows, then you'll feel right at home with Ubuntu.
Again, if you're a gamer or you're just simply content with XP or OS X, then maybe switching will serve little advantage. Also, Ubuntu is obviously not the only good distribution out there. Many prefer Fedora, SuSE, Mandriva, Symphony OS, or hundreds of other distros. I only chose Ubuntu because I feel its the most convenient/friendly for a beginning user. If you have any questions you'd like me to add to this post, just ask, and I'll
try to answer it.
So that was my introduction to Ubuntu. There's not much on Edgy Eft yet, mostly speculation, but expect more "eye candy" type of things. They say that with Dapper Drake being a success, they are willing to be more cutting edge with this version.