Ubuntu 9.04 LTS “Jaunty Jackalope” – I am in love… well, at least serious infatuation.
Ubuntu? What the heck is Ubuntu?
Well, for those of you who don’t yet know, Ubuntu is the operating system analogue of “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” except that it’s even better than buying the world a Coke — it’s FREE!
Ubuntu is a free, open-source distribution of the Linux operating system. But what makes it really special is that it’s the first, and maybe only, Linux distribution that is this friendly, easy to use and familiar-feeling. Ubuntu uses the Gnome desktop user interface by default, which is very similar to the familiar Windows or Macintosh user-interfaces (desktop environments). Optionally, you can use the KDE desktop environment (called Kubuntu). Either one is well-developed and easy to transition to if you are familiar with Windows or Macintosh.
One of the nice advantages of running a Linux distribution is that they run very nicely on older or more conservative hardware platforms than other operating systems. Whereas, Windows or Macintosh now seem to demand dual-core processors, large hard drives and a couple giga-bytes of RAM to run properly these days, Ubuntu’s hardware requirements are far more conservative:
- 700 MHz x86 processor
- 384 MB of system memory (RAM)
- 8 GB of disk space
- Graphics card capable of 1024×768 resolution
- Sound card
- A network or Internet connection
So, you can see the opportunity for cost savings in putting together a very functional system.
But what about software? Can I use Word, Internet Explorer, Flash Player and all the other software that I currently do?
Well, no and yes. Unfortunately, a great deal of the software that you may be accustomed to using on your Windows or Macintosh computer may not be available for Linux. For instance, the ubiquitous Micorsoft Office applications are not available for Linux. However, all is not lost!
Thanks to an entire planet full of open-source developers who are determined to achieve and maintain validity for the Linux operating system as a viable platform, there are extremely capable and compatible software applications such at NeoOffice and OpenOffice!
These Microsoft Office alternatives both open and save documents in the Microsoft Office formats. Though they aren’t exactly the same in features and aesthetics as the Microsoft Office products, they are pleasingly full-featured and capable. For most of us, there is nothing missing in the features that we would notice.
Many other applications do have Linux versions, such as the Firefox web browser and Adobe Flash player. There are also a number of open-source alternatives to common programs that give you the same sorts of capabilities on the Linux platform that you’d expect elsewhere. And the installation process of the operating system, system updates and applications is easy!
The system installer is probably easier to use than the Windows system installer and is at least as easy as the Macintosh system installer. System updates are as well. Ubuntu’s Update Manager makes keeping the system and the applications up to date a breeze!
Installing new software is now surprisingly easy, too. You will find most available applications installable through the Synaptic Package Manager, which is sort of a free application store and installer all in one.
Some applications, like Skype, might require you to download and install a .deb package installer from the application website. It’s a snap… download, double-click and install!
For users who are more technical, such as web developers — unless you are a .NET developer — the Linux platform is excellent! Apache runs natively on Linux, HTML and XML are platform-independant and PHP, Ruby on Rails, Java and many more developement languages, environments and frameworks are native to Linux. There is no shortage of code editors for the Linux OS either.
There are also a number of open-source image editing applications. Probably the most well-know of these is Gimp, which is based on Photoshop. There IS a learning curve since these applications cannot (legally) directly copy the tool names and layout from apps such as Photoshop. However, with a little bit of effort to learn, these apps are very good.
Alternately, you can use something like the new (free) online version of Photoshop online. And that brings up an intersting point: many applications for the average user are now hosted online as opposed to being installed on the local computer. This goes a long way in freeing us from any particular operating system.
There are a number of deeply-technical advantages to the Linux operating system that are shared with the BSD system that Macintosh OS X is based on. Pluses here include system stability, efficient resource usage and system security.
Ubuntu is possibly the most altruistic effort at a globally-beneficial operating system to come along so far. Ubuntu is about sharing and about empowering everyone. It’s powerful, easy to use and accessible.
If you’re in the market for a new computer, an upgrade or even just something to play with, give Ubuntu a try. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how much you might like it.
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This entry was posted on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 9:28 am and is filed under Fun and Recreation, General, Gizmos, Web Development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
