Ubuntu is a widely used Linux distribution predominantly targeted at personal computers. Based on Debian GNU/Linux, Ubuntu concentrates on usability, regular releases, ease of installation, and freedom from legal restrictions. Ubuntu is sponsored by Canonical Ltd., a private company founded by South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth. The name of the distribution comes from the Zulu and Xhosa concept of ubuntu, which means “I am what I am because of who we all are”. Ubuntu’s slogan – “Linux for Human Beings”, encapsulates one of its main goals – making Linux more available and easy to use. The most recent version, Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn), was released on April 19, 2007. Version 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) is scheduled for release on October 18, 2007.

Distinctive Features

• Usability
  Ubuntu uses GNOME as its desktop environment, which is intended to provide a free, simple and intuitive interface while offering a full range of modern desktop applications.[10] While Ubuntu includes common productivity software including OpenOffice.org, the Mozilla Firefox web browser and the GIMP image editor, it aims to avoid overlap in its default feature set rather than providing many different choices of similar packages.

  After the initial Ubuntu installation, the user is greeted with an orange-brown desktop which contains no desktop icons by default. General desktop applications are located under the Applications menu, a desktop launcher menu in the top-left corner. Open windows can be viewed on the taskbar along the bottom of the screen. The default user interface in Ubuntu is characterized by shades of orange and brown, although the user retains the option to customize the look and behavior of the desktop in a variety of ways. Ubuntu is available in over 40 languages. It also allows users to submit additional translations by using the Rosetta Translation tool.

  Ubuntu's focus on usability includes the widespread use of the sudo tool, which allows users to carry out administrative tasks without initiating a potentially unsafe superuser session.

• Distribution

  Ubuntu ships as an ISO image that fits on a single CD or alternatively, in the case of the older version, Dapper Drake 6.06 LTS, and just released Feisty Fawn 7.04,[13] mailed free to anyone requesting them via Canonical's ShipIt service.[14] This is intended to reduce the amount of time it takes to download Ubuntu and the possibility of losing part of the installation software and/or to aid those users who are not comfortable/able to burn an ISO image to CD. Many Linux distributions necessitate the downloading of multiple ISO images and hours of installation process, while Ubuntu is one of the few distributions that can be installed quickly, and from a single CD. Additionally, all Ubuntu versions since 4.10 can be downloaded for free.

  Since version 6.06 LTS, Ubuntu's disc has served both as a Live CD and an install disc. This disc boots into a fully featured desktop, allowing the user to see whether his or her hardware is compatible and experiment with the applications available. The CD also allows the user to install Ubuntu to the hard disk using the Ubiquity application, and preserves documents created on the live desktop. An alternate install disc using the text-mode debian-installer is also available, aimed towards those with lower system specifications, towards administrators installing Ubuntu on many systems, and for complex disk partitioning.

  There are two types of releases: one for desktop and laptop computers and one for servers. The desktop and laptop version is available for x86 and x86-64 computers. The server edition is available for both platforms in addition to SPARC and does not ship as a Live CD (using the text-mode installer exclusively).

• Accessibility

  Ubuntu emphasizes accessibility and internationalisation, to reach as many people as possible. Since version 5.04, UTF-8 has been the default character encoding. High-visibility themes, screen-reading software, and an on-screen keyboard all come with Ubuntu.

  Canonical's Rosetta tool is a part of the Launchpad web-based application which allows Ubuntu users to contribute translations of Ubuntu software in a straightforward way.

• Ease of installation

  Ubuntu is installed using a live CD (or LiveDistro). Users boot their computer from the CD instead of the hard disk. When they are ready to install, they launch an installer which shepherds them through the process.

  The general steps of an Ubuntu installation are as follows:

  1. Boot from the install CD into a live session
  2. Select "Install"
  3. Select language
  4. Select timezone
  5. Choose the keyboard layout to use
  6. Choose method for disk partitioning
  7. Select "OK" to install

  Details of the installation process can be found on the Ubuntu site and at Easy Ubuntu Linux.

  After installation, Ubuntu also offers an automatic updating feature. With user permission, the system will find, retrieve, install, and configure software updates.

• Community

  Ubuntu places particular emphasis on community involvement with the development process.

  Ubuntu has a number of official web forums where discussion of the operating system is encouraged. Canonical hosts a number of mailing lists for the project and the developer mailing lists and Ubuntu's developer conferences remain open to users. Ubuntu's regular development conferences are open to the general public.

  Users are encouraged to make use of The Fridge, a community weblog intended to keep users informed with Ubuntu-related news.

  The Human user interface theme in Ubuntu is characterised by shades of brown and orange, with art intended to mimic African tribal imagery. Illustrations of human beings in global communities feature prominently in Ubuntu promotional artwork.

Although relatively new, Ubuntu has become a topic of much discussion in the Free/Open Source community. Greg Taylor on ReviewLinux.com gave it a rating of 10/10, writing:

Despite a few rough edges, I think Ubuntu is probably the closest of any Desktop-oriented distro to achieving the long sought after level of usability that will bring Linux to the mainstream. Things work well with little hassle, if they don't you can find a lot of help within the community, and the Ubuntu desktop is attractive and fast.

I anticipate that Ubuntu will become the mainstream Linux distribution globally. As the saying goes, though, only time will tell. However, if you do your due diligence on the company, the sponsor, the spirit of innovation and success of the Ubuntu people, you probably will come to the same conclusion. All the elements have gone into play for rapid success. As they say in my part of the country, this dog can hunt. In addition, it can point and win a show or two if need be.