What is Ubuntu?

Ubuntu is a Linux operating system for desktops, laptops, and servers. It has consistently been rated among the most popular of the many Linux distributions. Ubuntu's goals include providing an up-to-date yet stable Linux distribution for the average user and having a strong focus on usability and ease of installation. It is a derivative of Debian, another popular distribution. Ubuntu is sponsored by Canonical Ltd.

The Ubuntu Desktop Edition contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more. Ubuntu has been described by business analysts as a viable alternative to proprietary operating systems, particularly Windows Vista and Windows XP; specifically, ease of use, stability, security, familiarity of user interface, and low cost are seen to be appealing to corporate IT managers.

Whats in the name?

The name of the distribution comes from the African concept of ubuntu which may be rendered roughly as "humanity toward others", "we are people because of other people", or "I am who I am because of who we all are",

Ubuntu Releases and Versions

Ubuntu releases new versions every six months, and supports those releases for 18 months with daily security fixes and patches to critical bugs. LTS (Long Term Support) releases, which occur every two years, are supported for 3 years for desktops

The most recent version, Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) was released on 29th October 2009. The most recent LTS (Long Term Support) version, Ubuntu 8.04 LTS (Hardy Heron), was released on 24 April 2008. The next version will be 10.04 (Lucid Lynx), scheduled for release in April 2010