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We Recommend
The best Linux distribution I have ever used!
Normally for me the operating system is nothing special. All I want is a usable interface that does what I need when I want. After I get it set up I don't want to think about it. The OS should fade into the background and let the apps take center stage (also most of the software I use is OS agnostic, so the OS matters even less to me). Because of the way I feel, I will rarely talk about OSs. We all have our favorites and we really don't want some one screaming in our ears to change (and for the most part are unlikely to ever change). But, a week ago I installed what may very well be the best Linux distrobution yet. I was so impressed with the experience that I feel the need to share (so if you have no interest in Linux, feel free to just skip this post or flame me in the comments - whatever spins your nickle). Now, this is not a review (if you were looking for one and found this post, sorry) this is just my quick impression of Ubuntu 6.06 and a look at a few features that made me say "wow".
If you have thought about giving Linux a try, or are using Linux and are not happy with your current distro, I strongly suggest giving Ubuntu 6.06 LTS "Dapper Drake" a try (there is support for most processor types, so anyone - even Mac users - can give it a try). The best part is, that you can give "Dapper" a spin with out ditching your current OS. The desktop install disk is actually a live CD, that will let you test out Ubuntu 6.06 without installing or changing anything. This way you can both try out "Dapper" and make sure it more or less works with your hardware out of the box. (You just have to remember that the performance will be below what you would see if you install Ubuntu. The whole OS will be running off the CD and your RAM, so be a little open minded.) If you do decide to install "Dapper" there is an icon on the desktop that will launch the installer and walk you through the very simple installation (one of the easiest I have ever seen). The only "hard" part is choosing the hard drive partitioning, but if you have ever installed any OS you should be fine. Just read the on-screen prompts. (I do recommend backing up any important data first if you choose to install. I have been working with computers long enough to know not to work without backups.)
The live CD installer was the first thing that impressed me. It let me make sure that I didn't have any huge problems with my hardware (for example the Debian installer doesn't like the SATA hard disk in my laptop). While other distros have offered this before, they either couldn't install from their live CD version (so if you wanted to install, you had to download another disk or set of disks - which even on a fast Internet connection is a PITA) or they just lacked a feeling of being a complete desktop distro. The install its self is also very impressive (traditionally a hurdle for new Linux users). It didn't take all that long (while I didn't time it, the install didn't feel like it took forever - which is the case with some distributions) and was very simple. I think that modern Linux installers give too much choice to the user, which can be intimidating to someone new to Linux. Ubuntu shuns that and has a simple install that doesn't offer a lot of choice, but delivers a nice desktop package (that is easy enough to customize once the install is done - if you wish). Because the installer is also on a live CD, you can surf the web, IM, or play games while it runs. Which, at least to me, is a nice touch.
The second thing that impressed me is that it worked with my hardware out of the box, without fiddling. While some of you are probably saying, "so what, it should do that anyways", please let me take a moment to share with you about my laptop. I have a Toshiba M45 that I got a deal that I could not pass up on (i.e. a brief moment of gadget lust), so I didn't bother to check how Linux compatible it was. It has an Intel wireless card and a Sysconnect based 10/100 Ethernet card. Every Linux distribution I have tried on the laptop (5 total) has not worked (at first) with either card. The Intel has always needed special firmware from Intel and the Ethernet card required an obscure kernel module be compiled for it to work. (Alone neither is normally a problem but with no network at all, getting the files you need could be a pain.) With "Dapper", they both worked just fine out of the box. No fiddling. While I don't mind fiddling to get things working my way, 99.99% of the world does (and having to is a major deal breaker for them). The hardware support (and detection) on "Dapper" is phenomenal. If Ubuntu was able to work with my hardware (the Ethernet card is not all that common), then it should work with any hardware that can work with Linux. Hardware support has always been one of the main issues keeping Linux from being Joe and Jane Internet User's OS of choice, and I feel that Ubuntu has made a great leap in closing the hardware support gap with Windows (sorry Mac users, but I am ignoring you on this one since you all run on pretty much the same cookie cutter hardware, making hardware support a non-issue).
Now I won't bore you with ranting about the rest of the Ubuntu experience. Yes, software installs easily. Yes, there are plenty of software options. Yes, the OS updates itself painlessly. But those are all things that an OS should do. If you want an in depth review, just use search box in the upper left of the page, type in Ubuntu Reviews, and click search. You will be up to your elbows in reviews that are more than adequate (which is why I chose not to make this post a full blown review). I will, however, share one last parting impression I got from Ubuntu 6.06: It's ready for my parents. My parents are no computer gurus (but they are computer literate) and up until "Dapper" I knew that Linux just wasn't ready for the average user. With "Dapper's" great hardware support and friendly live CD installer, combined the excellent package management and superb user experience from Ubuntu's previous versions, it is finally to a point that I would feel comfortable recommending it as the best choice of Linux distributions for my parents. Ubuntu still has a little bit more improvement to make before it is ready for the general public (which, sad to say, is at best barely computer literate), but it is close. So, if you are interested in Linux, or looking for a new distribution, give Ubuntu 6.06 LTS a try. I think you'll be impressed, I know I was.
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Ubuntu is great and Dapper Drake makes it even better!I upgraded to Dapper and was pleasantly surprised to find that my system is much more responsive than with Breezy. Firefox seems especially snappier. I really like the new GNOME deskbar applet too.-Marc
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