Ubuntu Linux

Since it is my birthday, I thought that I would write on something that is important to me. So, I am going to write about Ubuntu Linux. I will start with some background on the word Ubuntu and on what Linux is. After that, I will discuss why Ubuntu Linux is so important. Lastly, I will try to provide a decent summary!

Ubuntu is less a word and more a concept. Wondering what I mean by that? Well, since the English language is so inefficient, we rarely see well contained concepts expressed by one word. Ubuntu, which is a Bantu language group word, means "humanity to others" or "I have value because of my community". In our world, we tend to view our community through how it supports our individualism. We don't see the importance of being a community member and actively contributing to it. If our community fails, we don't really care...it's someone else's fault. In the spirit of Ubuntu, we would see any community failure as just as much our fault as anyone else's.

Linux was started way back in 1991. Linux Torvalds wanted to develop an operating system that was based on Minix (a form of Unix). So, he, along with a large number of volunteers, developed the core, or kernel, and surrounded it with tools developed by the GNU Project. So, GNU/Linux (the more correct term) was developed into a viable alternative to the proprietary Unix brands and Microsoft's Windows. To those who are old enough to remember, Linux is very similar to DOS. If you add a graphical user interface (gui), such as Gnome, KDE, or XFCE, you have what amounts to the old Windows 3.1. Now, having said that, I will say that the GUIs that come or are generally available for Linux are much prettier than Windows 3.1. With a little tweaking, you can make it look way better than MacOSX or Windows XP/Vista. Plus, the kernel and it's tools are much more stable than anything that Microsoft has put out.

Now, Ubuntu Linux corrects two issues which have nagged Linux from the start...namely, installation of the system and installation of individual programs. When you download the ISO (which is the CD image that you need to burn to a CDR) and burn it, you pop the disc into your CDROM drive and reboot the computer. I won't go into great detail here, but you must have your computer set up to boot from the CDROM. Once you boot up into the Ubuntu disc, it will (eventually) bring you to a desktop that is very similar to Windows. You can now use any program that initially comes with the disc (there are nearly two full gigs of data on the disc). There are games, word processors, music players, etc for your use. This is very similar to the try before you buy, except you don't buy anything. If you want to install Ubuntu to your computer, there is an icon in the upper left hand corner that you can click on. You will be asked a few questions and then the installer takes over.

Once you have installed Ubuntu to your computer (in place of Windows), you might want to checkout some of the really cool programs that are freely available for download and installation. I won't go into great detail, but Ubuntu uses a program called Synaptic (found under System -> Administration). Synaptic is like a catalog of software with descriptions. If you find a program you want to install you click on it's check box and then hit the add button. If there is any additional software that needs to be installed, it will let you know. Very simple, overall.

While I have done a horrible job "selling" Ubuntu Linux, I will encourage you to check it out. You might find the experience much better than Windows. Then again, maybe not. Your mileage may vary.

Cheers