Number 284 - January 2007
Ibuntu, Ubuntu, We all Buntu
by Dan Hanson, Former APCUG President
July-September 2006


   If your group is anything like mine, a lot of the members have heard about Linux, Firefox, OpenOffice and other open source products but they haven't installed them and given them a try.

   One of the big concerns is they don't want to "mess up" their current system. Even with disk partitioning software and dual-boot options it can be scary to install new things, especially another operating system!, to your PC.

   Here's a great way to let your members try some of these open source apps without changing anything on their systems.

   Ubuntu is a distribution of Linux that is supported very well by the Ubuntu community.

   Ubuntu is an African word that means "humanity to others" or "I am what I am because of who we all are." As their web site says, "The Ubuntu distribution brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the software world."

   I've found it to be a very complete, well-supported distribution. Ubuntu is suitable for both desktop and server use. The current Ubuntu release supports PC (Intel x86), 64-bit PC (AMD64) and Power PC (Apple iBook and Powerbook, G4 and G5) architectures. So if you have a screaming new 64-bit PC, this could be fun to try.

   But here are the parts that will be of interest to your group and its members. You can go to their web site at and download the ISO CD image so you can burn as many CDs as you need. You can also choose the Ship It approach and have them send you a quantity of CDs for your group. You have to register for this option but it works like a charm and they haven't spammed me once.


   Once your members get the CDs they can, of course, install them on their systems. But the best thing is there is a CD that you can boot from and the Ubuntu distribution will load from the CD and work in RAM and never touch your hard drive! When you remove the CD and reboot your system will be exactly the same as before you tried it.

   This allows your members to try out a great distribution of Linux along with open source software such as:
  • Open Office 2.0 -like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access

  • The Gimp - like Photoshop

  • PDF creator

  • Mozilla Firefox browser - with tabbed browsing, etc.

  • Evolution (like Outlook) - calendar, contacts, e-mail, etc.

  • Media Player, Video Player, Camera support, etc

  • Hundreds of other apps

  • Lots of Games!

  • Assistive Technology features - screen magnifier, screen reader, on-screen keyboard, etc.


    •    After burning a CD I booted my system and within minutes was browsing the web via Firefox and testing some of the other, included, open source applications. When I was done, I shut down, removed the CD and my Windows XP system came up as usual.

       Extensive online documentation and support is available from both the Ubuntu and Linux community.

       Ubuntu Linux and the included open source apps would make a great meeting topic and your members could all take home a CD and try it themselves without worrying about messing up their system. Give it a try.
      Number 284 - January 2007