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What is Ubuntu

Canonical, a technology firms cosmonaut Mark Shuttleworth is sponsoring the development of several open source projects. Among these projects is Ubuntu, a complete suite of software for personal computers that handle everything from internal functions to word processing.

The package was named one of the Ubuntu core principles in South Africa, his native country. In the Zulu and Xhosa, means humanity towards others.
The basis of this project is Linux, the free operating system developed largely by volunteers and is widely used by businesses, governments and other organizations to operate servers, computers and core networks.

From the login screen you can see
Ubuntu stresses as compared to other operating systems

Gnome, the default Ubuntu desktop

Ubuntu has the intention of making this complex but powerful program, something easy to use by unskilled people. Hence the motto of the mission of the project: Linux for human beings.
Although the technology behind the program may be quite different, a computer running Ubuntu is very similar to one with Microsoft Windows. Users can surf the Internet with the popular Firefox browser, or edit documents or spreadsheets with OpenOffice.

Navigating the web with Firefox 2

The best office suite on Ubuntu

Instead of the blue world of Windows XP, Ubuntu is predominantly brown. Some quirky features show signs of its African origin, like the blast of trumpets that resonates when you open an application. Each new version of Ubuntu is known not only for its original name, but by a code name of an animal, such as Warty Warthog (the warthog) Breezy Badger (Badger unconcerned), or the latest version Feisty Fawn .

Growth of Ubuntu

Less than two years after its release, Ubuntu has been established as a favorite among the hundreds of different operating systems that operate with Linux. Ubuntu comes first in a list of popularity of different versions of Linux made by the DistroWatch website.

Ubuntu comes loaded with multimedia applications

Ubuntu: The Revolution

It is difficult to determine the exact figures, however, estimates that the number of computers running Ubuntu is 12 million and doubling every eight months. Unlike other major Linux projects, such as Linspire, Novell and Red Hat, Ubuntu is distributed completely free of charge. Users can download and use it without paying anything, and Shuttleworth's company, Canonical, will even send for free installation compact disc to anyone who requests it.

This is possible because of the large fortune of Shuttleworth. The employer received 575 million dollars from the sale of his internet company, Thawte Consulting, in 1999, and invests about 10 million a year in Ubuntu. It is unlikely that this generates money, at least not for several years.

Canonical sells support services for Ubuntu, but Shuttleworth has no idea when that will generate profits.

He completed the project because he believes he is at the forefront of a revolution. "It's a very high risk," he said. "There is a sensible business model. However, shaping the future digital platform is an incredibly interesting position to take. "

It has certainly created a powerful and effective package of desktop software. Besides its commitment to free her bizarre public image, Ubuntu has many attractive features and a considerable boost. However, to continue to grow at the current rate, will have to expand beyond the existing technology-based to cover people with no experience in Linux.

The consultant and author specializing in Linux, Tom Adelstein, believes that even in these times, it is difficult to use for some people.

Ubunto is a system for everyone, even for graphic designers

"From the standpoint of ease of use, I think Ubuntu is ahead of others. However, even this part of Linux, you need to have specific knowledge about computers to use it. Microsoft is still ahead in that direction. "

A key stage in Ubuntu's growth will persuade the manufacturers of personal computers to sell machines with Ubuntu already installed. Some manufacturers and distributed computers as Linspire Linux packages.

Small manufacturers of computers, competing in the lowest levels of the market are particularly interested in free software, because it helps them to cut their prices. Small companies contribute a third of the global market, according to research firm IDC, and Shuttleworth plans to visit Taiwan soon to begin negotiations with some of them.

The desktop computers of government and corporate sectors may also be a fertile ground for growth. A survey by research firm Forrester found that 30% of U.S. companies are considering changing the programs of some or all of its PCs to Linux.

Among the companies that are changing is Google, which has developed its own version of Ubuntu, called Goobuntu. Shuttleworth said he also is in talks with the government of the city of Munich to create a version of Ubuntu for them.

Other organizations will need more compelling reasons to adopt Ubuntu. Being free is certainly a plus and Linux advocates argue that security and power of Linux products are superior to Windows, although these issues are the focus of heated debate.

Shuttleworth has brought together a large group that shares your standards: developers.

Canonical has only 50 employees, but Ubuntu has made several hundred engineers to join as associated companies, as well as volunteers and students, who do most of the work of extending and improving the program.

The Ubuntu community has the reputation of being very friendly, which is important if you are paying. In addition, several developers who do not like the increasing commercialization of other Linux projects, they are attracted significantly Ubuntu's commitment to remain free.

However, to sell Ubuntu beyond the circle of initiates "geek" (as they are known to fans of the computers) will require a process of commercialization and mass education, and Shuttleworth's wealth does not compare to the budgets of Microsoft and Apple.

Shuttleworth expects the virtues of open operating system will sell for themselves.

"My gut tells me that free software is a major force in computers," he said. "Whether she has the strength of Apple Mac, which dominates between 3 and 5% market share. Or the information center for Linux (on servers), which is 50% and growing really fast-do not know ".

Because it has no serious business plan, it would be easy to Ubuntu qualify as an amateur game that will not transfer capricious geek fraternity. Can you really be a major challenge Feisty Fawn for a giant like Microsoft?

During his interview with the Financial Times, Shuttleworth sits with legs extended on the chair arm, like a hammock, which is not imaginary Larry Ellison, Oracle CEO making. However, it has an impressive record and certainly can not question his dedication. He is currently conducting a grueling three-week world tour in his private jet to promote Ubuntu and establish contacts in Croatia, Pakistan, India, China, Indonesia and Kenya.

Many believe that Shuttleworth seems to be enjoying himself much to be taken seriously. But before then, Linux has surprised many people, there is nothing more fun for a geek who head to an entire industry.

Article originally published in August 2006

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