There is an Ubuntu for Everyone.

In my previous post, I named a few advantages of Linux and the very first one was: Linux is versatile.
Ubuntu epitomizes this fact and there is a variant of it for everyone(we will only consider Ubuntu and its derivatives recognized by Canonical for this post)[1].

Let us list the variants of Ubuntu that we will be exploring today: 

• Ubuntu- This is where it all began, Ubuntu uses the Gnome desktop environment but from the 11.04 release, instead of using the gnome-shell it uses Unity. 
• Kubuntu- Ubuntu with the K Desktop environment 
• Xubuntu- Ubuntu with the XFCE desktop environment 
• Lubuntu- Ubuntu that uses LXDE 
• Edubuntu- Ubuntu for education

Desktop environment in simple terms means the face of your computer or any electronic device on which you are reading my blog, the thing that you are using to interact with your device, get stuff done in a graphical way. The thing is, Linux doesn't comes with only one "face". Linux is versatile and so are the Desktop environments. The four of the most popular desktop environment in Linux are Gnome,KDE,Xfce and Lxde. 

Chrales has explained different desktop environments beautifully and you can check it here.

We shall know move onto examining each of the variants in brief.

Ubuntu: As mentioned above Ubuntu has always used the Gnome desktop environment since its inception and the current release Ubuntu 11.10 'Oneiric Ocelot' sports Gnome 3 with Unity-shell. So what is Unity you ask?

"Founded in 2010, the Unity project started by Mark Shuttleworth and Canonical has gone on to deliver a consistent user experience for desktop and netbook users alike. Putting great design at the heart of the project, Unity and its technologies such as Application indicators, System indicators, and Notify OSD, have strived to solve common problems in the Free Software desktop while optimizing the experience for touch, consistency and collaboration".[2]

The Unity in 11.10 release cycle is a great achievement, kudos to Mark and his team for that. With Unity one gets a coherent desktop experience. Everything is simple,splendid,sleek yet highly productive.

I have already posted in detail about Ubuntu in my previous post which you can check here. 
The recommended minimum requirements to run Ubuntu in the default Unity desktop are:
1 GHz x86 processor
1 GB of system memory (RAM)
15 GB of disk space
Graphics card capable of 1024x768 resolution(no problem if you don't have one as you will be running Unity2d instead of Unity3d and both work identically)[7]

Kubuntu: "Kubuntu is a community developed and supported project. Since its launch in October 2004, Kubuntu has become one of the most highly regarded Linux distributions with millions of users around the world".[3]

Kubuntu 11.10

Regarded as the most beautiful of the Ubuntu family of distros, with Kubuntu 11.10 you get the latest KDE 4.7(current version 4.7.3), the libreoffice office suite, Amarok as the default music player, Rekonq as its web browser, Kmail2 as its mail client, Kopete for your instant messaging  and other applications that a normal user may require while computing. Also there is the Muon Software Center through which you can install from the thousands of apps available. 

You can check its features here and download it from here.
The minimum system requirements for Kubuntu are:
1 GHz x86 processor

615 MB of system memory (RAM)
4.4 GB of disk space[7]

Xubuntu: "Xubuntu is a community developed operating system that is well-suited for laptops and desktops. Whether you use it at home, at school or at work Xubuntu contains all the applications you'll ever need, from word processing and email applications, to web server software and programming tools".[4]

Xubuntu 11.10

Xubuntu uses the Xfce desktop environment and is targeted at older computers with less system resource. Xubuntu 11.10 offers the latest Xfce 4.8, Firefox for web browsing, Thunderbird as your mail client, Abiword for all your word-processing needs, Gnumeric for the creation and manipulation of spreadsheets, gmusicbrowser to manage music, GIMP to create and edit images and lots more softwares. Also you have the Ubuntu Software Center to take care of any apps installations that you may need. 

You can check its features here and download it from here.
The minimum system requirements for Xubuntu are:
300 MHz x86 processor

256 MB of system memory (RAM)
4.4 GB of disk space[7]

Lubuntu: "The objective of the Lubuntu project is to create a variant of Ubuntu that is lighter, less resource hungry and more energy-efficient by using lightweight applications andLXDE, The Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment, as its default GUI. Lubuntu is targeted at "normal" PC and laptop users running on low-spec hardware. Members of the team take care of LXDE and other packages that are part of the Lubuntu install. Lubuntu received official recognition as a formal member of the Ubuntu family, commencing with Lubuntu 11.10".[5]

Lubuntu 11.10

Lubuntu offers a minimal yet elegant desktop experience with core philosophy of keeping the system lightweight yet in no way compromising on functionality.  

With Lubuntu 11.10 you get the Chromium as your default web browser, Pidgin as your instant messaging client, Sylpheed as your mail client, Transmission for your torrent downloading, Abiword as your word processor, Gnumeric for your spreadsheets, Audacious as your music player and lots more softwares. Now Lubuntu doesn't has a Software Center in the likes that I have mentioned above instead Synaptic Package Manager takes care of your application installations. But as we are on Linux, you can always have what you didn't get.

You can install the Lubuntu Software Center by checking these Five Handy Lubuntu Tips.

The minimum system requirements for Lubuntu are:
266 MHz Pentium processor
128 MB of system memory (RAM)
4.4 GB of disk space[7]

Edubuntu 11.10

Edubuntu: "Edubuntu is a grassroots movement, we aim to get Ubuntu into schools, homes and communities and make it easy for users to install and maintain their systems.

We are students, teachers, parents and hackers who believe that learning and knowledge should be available to everyone who wants to improve themselves and the world around them" [6]

Now Edubuntu as you could see from the screenshot looks pretty similar to Ubuntu which in fact it is. The goal of this distro is to put together a system that contains all the best free software available in education and make it easy to install and maintain. 
Check this video to have a better understanding of what Edubuntu has to offer:

Most of the software available on Edubunutu can be easily downloaded in any Ubuntu distribution. 
You can also try Edubuntu online without needing to download or install anything through WebLive.

You can download it from here.
note: The educational institutions, parents and kids across the globe are realizing the potential of Linux and choosing it instead of living in morbid fear of Microsoft by running a prohibited copy(a.k.a pirated copy) or shelling out great bucks to get something which basically offers nothing, then having to purchase an office suite to make it productive(and all of this can be used only on a single machine) and I didn't even mention the Antivirus.

So which one is your favorite?

If you have any comments/questions/suggestions please feel free to contact me via the comments section, Google+ or twitter. Also if you like what you have read, do share it with others.

References:

[1] http://www.ubuntu.com/project/about-ubuntu/derivatives
[2] http://unity.ubuntu.com/about/
[3] http://www.kubuntu.org/about-us

[4] http://www.xubuntu.org/about
[5] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Lubuntu
[6] http://edubuntu.org/about
[7] http://www.renewablepcs.com/about-linux/which-linux-distros-are-the-best

Liberate Yourself !

I have been using Ubuntu which is a GNU/Linux distribution for nearly eight months and now I find myself in an opportune position(had been busy with exams)to share it with everyone.
Few questions that may come to your mind. What is Ubuntu?, what is GNU/Linux?, what is a distribution?, why this title "Liberate Yourself"?.
Read on and you may find the answers to them and much more.
We all know that an Operating System is required to get the Computer working( you know it now if you didn't already) and like Microsoft Windows is an operating system so is GNU/Linux but unlike Windows it is "Free Software". Free is a relative word and has many different meanings but in this case Free stands for "FREEDOM".
"Free software” is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of “free” as in “free speech,” not as in “free beer"

Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it means that the program's users have the four essential freedoms:

• The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
• The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does your computing as you wish (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
• The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
• The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others (freedom 3). By doing this you can give the whole community a chance to benefit from your changes. Access to the source code is a precondition for this.[1]

You can read more about "Free Software" here. "Free Software" is also know as "Open-Source Software". Collectively and most widely they are known and used as "FOSS"(Free and Open-source Software). 
"GNU/Linux" is often(rather mostly) referred to as just "Linux" but it is very important to know and understand the "GNU" part.
So just how popular and important is Linux.
Check this:

 Chances are you must have already heard something about Linux in the lines of:

• Linux is hard
• Linux is a hacker tool
• Linux is for hardcore geeks 

I am sorry to disappoint you but these are not true.  
Linux is no harder to use than Windows and in many ways a better alternative to it. When it comes to hacking any OS can be used as a "Hacker tool". Linux is not just for hardcore geeks , Linux is for everyone.
Few(of the many)Advantages of Linux are:

• Linux is versatile. Most of the Linux distributions are free of cost like Ubuntu(which is the most popular and widely used Linux distro).        
• Linux is easy to install. I had only followed the installation instructions provided on the Ubuntu download page and then the installer itself when I installed Ubuntu for the first time. 
• Linux is very stable. And even if the system crashes(which is an off case)the whole system doesn't goes down.The Blue Screen Of Death that most Windows users will be familiar with is not a worry for the Linux users.   
• Linux is Virus free. I don't sit around wasting my time on running a resource hogging Antivirus Software for which a Windows users would actually pay for(and even then you can't be sure that you are 100% safe). 
• Linux doesn't slows down with usage and passage of time. Also there is no need to defragment your hard disks on it.
• Linux can breathe new life into old computers! If you have an older computer (especially Pentium III or later) laying around, you can install Linux and in essence have a new computer. In many cases Linux will run faster and you can do all of the basics such as browse the Internet, email, play games, and create and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. It should also be mentioned that Linux runs great on newer computers as well.
• Linux has applications galore.There is a wealth of applications available to Linux users, again most of them are Free of cost. Popular applications like Mozilla Firefox,Mozilla Thunderbird,Google Chrome(which initiated from the Chromium project),Vlc,Amarok,Audacity and many more come under the banner of FOSS. Also check these Linux Equivalents to Windows Software , 50 Open Source replacements for Really Expensive Software , Top 50 best Linux apps 2011.
• Linux is more than just a Software, Linux is a Community. A Community of varied Individuals from different walks of life, having different belief systems but have one thing in common. We All Choose To Be LIBERATED.      
• Linux has great support system. There is support available for any of your queries/problems on different levels through various mediums(Documentation,Forums,Tutorials,Live chat with fellow users and support providers on IRC channels and more)[2]. 
If you want to know about more advantages check these:

How You Know When It's Time to Switch to Linux
10 Reasons for Switching to Linux

From Windows to Linux.
Disadvantages of Linux are:

• Many Windows programs will not run in Linux. iTunes, Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer and many other Windows programs will not run natively in Linux. The good news is that there are decent ways around most of these problems. For example, music libraries can be managed with programs such as Amarok,Banshee, or Rhythmbox in Linux. Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome are outstanding Internet browsers which can be used in the place of Internet Explorer(The fact of the matter is even Windows Users don't use Internet Explorer). It is also possible to run some Windows apps in Linux using Wine, VirtualBox. LibreOffice is an excellent office suite which can be used in the place of Microsoft Office. Click here to learn more about Linux equivalents to software commonly used in Windows. There is also a way of installation known as  dual booting(which is recommended for new users) through which you can have both Windows and Ubuntu on the same computer, So you can still keep Windows as a second fiddle for those Windows Centric programs.
• There is a learning curve for people who are new to Linux. Despite this, most Linux distros, especially the major ones, are very intuitive and user-friendly. Also, the desktop environments in Linux are in many ways similar to Windows in their appearance. One thing which should be emphasized is that there is also a learning curve for Windows XP users who switch to Windows 7[2].

I find this video to be an excellent Epitomization of Linux:  

You are free to choose among the plethora of Linux distributions that are available but today I will be introducing Ubuntu.

Ubuntu Circle Of Friends.

Ubuntu is a "Super-fast, easy to use and free, the Ubuntu operating system powers millions of desktops, netbooks and servers around the world. Ubuntu does everything you need it to. It'll work with your existing PC files, printers, cameras and MP3 players. And it comes with thousands of free apps.".[3]
ubuntu |oǒ'boǒntoō|
Ubuntu is an ancient African word meaning 'humanity to others'. It also means 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. The Ubuntu operating system brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the world of computers.[4]

It was this core philosophy that had me captivated when I first found the Ubuntu website as this is also a part of my belief system.
Please go ahead and read more About Ubuntu and its Philosophy.   

Pronouncing Ubuntu is fairly easy but just in case you need help check here.

The latest Ubuntu release is Ubuntu 11.10 'Oneiric Ocelot'. 
Standard maintenance updates will be provided for Ubuntu 11.10 for 18 months, through April 2013. The next Long Term Support (LTS) version of the software will be Ubuntu 12.04, or “Precise Pangolin,” which is due in April.
The previous release, Ubuntu 11.04 'Natty Narwhal' has been listed as one of 2011's 'standout hardware, software or services' by PCWorld[5].     

Ubuntu on PCWorld list

Get an overview on 'What Makes Ubuntu 11.10 So Great?' 

Check the awesome Features of Ubuntu. Want to test drive it, take the online Ubuntu Tour and also get to know why Ubuntu 11.10 is the best Ubuntu yet.    
There is a great chance that by now you must be wondering, how on Earth such an amazing existence been lost upon you till now(as this is what We all have also felt). So without further delay lets move onto getting you to Ubuntu.
Please follow these Steps:

1. Go to the Ubuntu download page here.

That is it(yes I played with you just a little bit when I said steps ). Didn't I tell you earlier that Installation of Linux is easy and when it comes to Ubuntu nothing is easier than this. Every Information that you will need pertaining to trying and installing Ubuntu is provided there. 
Go Ahead Try Ubuntu and
Liberate Yourself!
If you have any comments/questions/suggestions please feel free to contact me via the comments section, Google+ or twitter. Also if you like what you have read, do share it with others.  

References: 
[1] http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
[2] http://www.renewablepcs.com/about-linux/advantages-of-using-linux
[3]  http://www.ubuntu.com/ubuntu
[3]  http://www.ubuntu.com/project/about-ubuntu
[4]  PCWorld| 100 Best products of 2011