Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Xubuntu all use a different desktop environment's: Gnome, KDE, and Xfce respectively. Which is superior is a source of debate in the Linux community. However, it seems Gnome and KDE are the most popular. No matter which version you choose, you will get a similar product in a different package.

Getting Ubuntu

You can get Ubuntu several ways:

For the desktop, Ubuntu works with three different CPU architectures: Intel x86, PowerPC, and AMD64. You generally want the x86 version because the PowerPC and AMD64 have less software and support in general. Any processor from AMD or Intel can run the x86 version, and while the AMD64 processors can run the 64 bit version, I don't recommend it.

Introduction

I'm a Windows user for life, and I've been using Windows since 3.1. Once in awhile I venture out to try Linux, I recently got interested in Ubuntu which is why I did this review. I originally installed Kubuntu, however for this review I will be using Ubuntu. While reading this review, please remember that regardless of what Ubuntu version you decide to install, the following holds true to any of them.

Installation

Ubuntu boots from the CD to give you a simple and easy interface for the installation. It also allows you to boot up into the operating system straight from the CD. So you can try it before you decide to use it, if you don't like it you can shut down the system, take the disc out and go back to your default operating system. If you decide to use it, it walks you through a simple installation process. It is going to be different for everyone, but Ubuntu detected all my hardware without any input from me at all. When I restarted my computer, Ubuntu was ready to go.

If you use Ubuntu, you might already know this, but Edgy Eft has brand new features which are sure to set it apart from the previous release (Dapper Drake).

Firefox 2 on gotfrag

Previously Ubuntu had only stuck with time test programs, they are now venturing out into beta programs. This includes Firefox 2, GAIM 2.0, OpenOffice 2.0.4, and many more.

All versions of Ubuntu upgraded their visual style, to make it much easier on the eyes.

Ubuntu and Kubuntu 6.10 from left to right

Ubuntu added even more languages for Ubuntu, to make sure no matter what language you speak, you can use it.

Several general improvements such as faster booting, increased performance, and better power management have made their way into Edgy. The reboot after the installation of Edgy took about one minute to fully boot into Ubuntu.

General Usage

Ubuntu allows you to hit the ground running. It comes prepackaged with high quality applications I'm sure most of you are familiar with, such as Firefox, GIMP, Open Office and hundreds more. You’re required to download very little in the way of programs. I only needed to download a few things like Flash or Java, which don't meet the Ubuntu philosophy and were not included in the default installation

Linux is safe for anybody to use. It’s very hard to shoot yourself in the foot, so to speak. In Linux, there is something called root access, which is required to delete important system files. When you try and delete a file that requires root access to delete, it is required you login and approve its deletion. This also makes it very difficult for viruses to affect Linux, since you will know if a virus would attempt to delete an important file.

There is one main thing that continues to scare new Ubuntu users away, the terminal. It’s still there, despite all the user friendliness, many people still find the terminal to be the easiest way to get work done. I'll admit I would not touch the terminal when I first started using it, but now I can't live without it

Update menu

Update icon

Package Manager

The package management system made Ubuntu even easier to use. The package manager is similar to the add/remove programs for windows, but it does much more. The package manager can search for install, uninstall, or update programs on Ubuntu. Installation of programs on Linux used to be very difficult, however the package manager simplified it down to point and click.

Updates for Ubuntu are delivered by checking out the upper right hand corner for this little icon, point your mouse over it to check on how many updates are available for your system. This number may be large, but don't worry. For one, the updates are small, rarely even above 500kb. Second, this update covers nearly every program included on Ubuntu, which is going to be a lot. Very few of these are critical updates and you don't need to worry about keeping up with them. Simply double click on the icon to access the update menu.

Despite the popular belief, games do exist for Linux. Some game developers port their games to Linux, such as id Software. They've ported nearly all of their games, such Quake 3, Quake 4, and Doom 3 to Linux. Many games based off of the open source Quake engines also run on Linux due to id Software's support of Linux, like Warsow. Even the developers of Serious Sam 2 have a Linux port in the works.

Say your game of choice doesn't have a Linux port, no matter. There is a program called WINE, which can run Windows applications and games on Linux. While not perfect, it can run some Windows games on Linux. The game working depends on how popular it is, Counter-Strike 1.6 and Source work well. Very few games run through WINE with no problems, so expect to have to follow some instructions to get them to work. Be warned, every new update wine has brings the chance of breaking whatever games previously had working fine

A community wiki was able to answer any question I had about Ubuntu. Although, since this is a new release it may take awhile for the wiki to be updated with problems people have.

See the next page for Alchemist’s experience using Ubuntu and a wrap up.