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| − | Ubuntu is a community-developed, free, [[Linux]]-based operating system. The word "Ubuntu" means '[[Humanity]] to others', or 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. | + | Ubuntu is a community-developed, free, [[Linux]]-based operating system. The name, which comes from an [[African]] [[philosophy]], means '[[Humanity]] to others', or 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. |
| | [[Image:Gnomesword large.png|right|thumb|250px|Screenshot of Ubuntu [[Christian]] Edition.]] | | [[Image:Gnomesword large.png|right|thumb|250px|Screenshot of Ubuntu [[Christian]] Edition.]] |
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| | + | ==Features== |
| | + | Ubuntu is based on the [[free software|free]] [[Linux]] [[kernel]] and a snapshot of the Debian program tree. It focuses on ease of use. |
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| | + | Ubuntu comes by default with many useful programs, including [[OpenOffice.org|OpenOffice]], [[Bluetooth]], [[Mozilla Firefox]], and (new in version 9.10) [[Ubuntu One]], a free online data backup service. Ubuntu also offers users the Ubuntu Software Center, which allows them to easily download many free programs, ranging from [[solitaire]] games to [[Integrated Development Environments]]. |
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| | + | While installing Ubuntu has traditionally required burning the program image to a [[CD-ROM]], a program called [http://wubi-installer.org Wubi] allows people to install it from inside their current operating system, just like a normal program. |
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| | + | Since [[Microsoft Windows]] has the dominant market share, most [[computer virus|computer viruses]] are written for Windows. Therefore, users of [[Linux]] operating systems like Ubuntu do not need [[antivirus]] software. |
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| | + | ==History== |
| | + | Ubuntu is written by Canonical Ltd., a company owned by [[Mark Shuttleworth]], a South African billionaire who invented [[SSL]]. The first version, called Warty Warthog<ref>https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WartyWarthog</ref>, was released in October 2004. Since then, Canonical has released a new version of Ubuntu every six months. The current version, Karmic Koala, can be downloaded for free from the Ubuntu website<ref>http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download</ref>. |
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| | + | ==Ubuntu Christian Edition== |
| | Ubuntu [[Christian]] Edition, an enhanced free version of Ubuntu, offers many features for devout Christians. The Christian Edition includes parental controls and a rich selection of [[Bible]] [[software]]. It also comes with office and productivity software, financial management programs, and inspiring Christian artwork. | | Ubuntu [[Christian]] Edition, an enhanced free version of Ubuntu, offers many features for devout Christians. The Christian Edition includes parental controls and a rich selection of [[Bible]] [[software]]. It also comes with office and productivity software, financial management programs, and inspiring Christian artwork. |
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| | The standard version uses the [[GNOME Desktop|GNOME desktop]] environment. Other official versions include "Kubuntu", which uses [[KDE]] and "Xubuntu", which uses [[XFCE]]. | | The standard version uses the [[GNOME Desktop|GNOME desktop]] environment. Other official versions include "Kubuntu", which uses [[KDE]] and "Xubuntu", which uses [[XFCE]]. |
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| − | ==External Links== | + | ==References== |
| | + | {{reflist}} |
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| | + | * [http://www.ubuntu.com/ Official Site] |
| | * [http://ubuntuce.com/ Ubuntu Christian Edition] | | * [http://ubuntuce.com/ Ubuntu Christian Edition] |
| − | * [http://www.ubuntu.com/ Official Site] | + | * [http://wubi-installer.org/ Wubi installer] |
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| | [[Category:Computer Science]] | | [[Category:Computer Science]] |