To be honest, I have not had a chance to actually try Ubuntu Linux, but I have heard good things about it. Definitely a distro of the people, which is great I suppose. But ease of use has always been a lot more important with me than Linux principles. Guess that I why I am a Simply Mepis user.

The Zulu word ubuntu roughly translates to “community” or “humanity to others,” but a more accurate meaning is, “I am because we are; we are because I am.” Not coincidentally, the Linux distribution Ubuntu seeks to bring this philosophy of selflessness to software development. To me, it best encapsulates what’s wonderful about open-source software (OSS) development and seems to rise above the politics that often tarnish that movement. Ubuntu is my favorite Linux distribution, and if you’re curious about life on the Other Side, I can’t think of a better place to start.

As I wrote in Alt.Windows, Part 2: Windows Alternatives You Should Consider (March 30), Linux might be a bit untamed when compared with commercial offerings such as Windows and Macintosh OS X, but it’s getting better. In some ways, the biggest obstacle that’s holding Linux back is choice: There are so many Linux distributions to choose from, it’s hard to know where to begin.

On a similar note, a few years ago, most Linux distributions were all about heft: The distribution makers threw in every conceivable option, utility, and application, almost as if to silence critics who might complain about the lack of available software for the system. However, that approach leads to a complicated OS. Therefore, modern Linux distributions such as Ubuntu are taking a different tact. Instead of giving you everything but the kitchen sink, Ubuntu delivers only the very best utilities and applications, and rarely will you find two or more instances of the same type of application.

Ubuntu is based on the GNOME desktop environment, which happens to be my favorite. (The other major Linux desktop environment, KDE, is too flashy for my tastes.) In Ubuntu 5.04, the latest version as of this writing, GNOME takes on a Mac-like aura, with a main system menu that’s always available on the top of the screen. And you’ll find precious few of those busy UI bits. [Read the rest]