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Just Beginning
Introduction Is Ubuntu for You?* Which Ubuntu to pick?
Download and Burn Ubuntu
Install Software
Where's the Terminal? Next Steps Beyond the Basics Playing Around Troubleshooting * Off-site link |
Which *buntu to pick?
Introduction
If reading this page confuses you, however, just go with Ubuntu, the latest version (8.10 right now), the Desktop CD. You don't have to worry about these other options unless you're really curious.
Ubuntu uses a user interface (or desktop environment) called Gnome. Gnome is focused on simplicity and usability. Ubuntu includes a bunch of Gnome-native applications such as Rhythmbox (music player), Sound Juicer (CD player and ripper), Evolution (email client and calendar), and Gedit (text editor). You can find the full list of software packages in ubuntu-desktop here. Kubuntu uses the K Desktop Environment (also known as KDE). KDE is focused on including a lot of point-and-click configuration options immediately available to end users. Kubuntu includes a bunch of KDE-native applications such as AmaroK (music player), K3B (CD burning), Konqueror (web browser and file manager), and Kopete (instant messenger). You can find the full list of software packages in kubuntu-desktop here. Xubuntu uses the Xfce desktop environment, which is a lighter one than Gnome or KDE. In terms of its design principles, it has a bit of a balance—presenting in some ways more point-and-click configuration options than Gnome but also retaining some of the simplicity of Gnome. Its main appeal is its speed, though, and it's ideal for systems with 128 to 256 MB of RAM. Both Ubuntu and Kubuntu can run on 256 MB of RAM, but they're more ideal for 512 MB of RAM or more. Xfce includes Thunar (file manager), Thunderbird (email client), and Mousepad (text editor). You can find a full list of software packages in xubuntu-desktop here. Edubuntu uses the Gnome desktop environment but has a different set of default applications from Ubuntu. Its focus is on educational tools. It includes GPaint (an easy to use paint program), Atomix (a puzzle game for building molecules out of isolated atoms), and Xaos (a real-time interactive fractal zoomer). You can find a full list of software packages in edubuntu-desktop here. Mixing and matching *buntus is possible and often encouraged by the community. If you choose Ubuntu, you are not stuck with Ubuntu. If you choose Kubuntu, you are not stuck with Kubuntu. You can use Gnome-native applications in KDE and vice versa. You can use Gnome- and KDE-native applications in Xfce. You can install education-related programs in any desktop environment. You can install kubuntu-desktop on top of Ubuntu and choose which one you want to log into at the login screen. All four versions of Ubuntu (Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and Edubuntu) share the same software repositories and available applications. You are not locked into using one version just because it is the first version you installed. From now on, I'll be referring to all or any of the above versions as simply Ubuntu.
Releases come out around every six months with the latest (for that time) software available and usually some extra features and possibly some new artwork (splash screens/wallpaper).
If you have a special situation, you may want to use the Alternate CD instead of the Desktop CD. The Alternate CD allows you to install Ubuntu without also running a live session. This is ideal for people with less RAM (128 to 256 MB of RAM). It also allows you to do OEM installations and the installation of only a command-line system. The Alternate CD can also be used for upgrades from older versions to newer versions of Ubuntu—particularly handy for those who have a slower (or no) internet connection, since most upgrades happen with direct downloads from the Ubuntu software repositories instead of from a CD. The Server CD provides you all the tools you need to set up a server (including LAMP). It does not come with a GUI (graphical user interface), but you can add one later if you feel you really need one (most people recommend against using a GUI on a server). If you accidentally downloaded the Server CD and want a home desktop instead of a server, you can install a home desktop by typing sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start
You can order free CDs using Ubuntu's ShipIt service. The CDs ShipIt sends you are entirely cost-free, including postage. They may take a long while to get to you, around two months sometimes. Certain online vendors also sell Ubuntu DVDs and CDs. Some countries' Amazon.com sites, for example, sell Ubuntu DVDs. Best Buy also sells Boxed Ubuntu CDs with 60 days of professional support. Some hardware vendors sell Ubuntu (or other Linux distros) preinstalled, saving you the trouble of downloading Ubuntu, figuring out how to install it, and wondering whether or not it's compatible with your hardware. You can find a list of vendors here. At least in the United States, two popular Ubuntu vendor are ZaReason and System76. Dell has also start selling desktops and laptops with Ubuntu preinstalled on them. A full list of vendors selling preinstalled Linux is available at Lxer. Find a Linux User Group in your area and ask someone to install Ubuntu for you. LUGs often have what are called Installfests, where you can bring your computer and get free help installing Linux on your computer and troubleshooting problems. Linux users are very giving and willing to help new adopters of Linux.
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If you have suggestions or corrections for these tutorials, please post in this Ubuntu Forums thread or leave a comment on my blog. |
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