Ubuntu
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'.
Features
Ubuntu is based on the free Linux kernel and a snapshot of the Debian program tree. It focuses on ease of use.
Ubuntu comes by default with many useful programs, including 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. It has an increasing number of device drivers which allow it to run on most computers.
While installing Ubuntu has traditionally required burning the program image to a CD-ROM, a program called Wubi allows people to install it from inside their current operating system, just like a normal program.
Since Microsoft Windows has the dominant market share, most computer viruses are written for Windows. Therefore, users of Linux operating systems like Ubuntu do not need antivirus software.
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[1], 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[2].
It is difficult to measure how many people use Ubuntu, because anyone can freely redistribute copies. However, it has become very popular for low-cost netbook computers.
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.
The standard version uses the GNOME desktop environment. Other official versions include "Kubuntu", which uses KDE and "Xubuntu", which uses XFCE.
This edition may also serve as an alternative who don't want an atheistic Linux distribution, which might leave out Bible software, parental controls, and other moral features. (Richard Stallman, one of the major Linux programmers, is an atheist and suspected communist.)
