Customer Reviews
Excellent 
2007-05-25
Easiest version of linux I have found to install and use. Community support is extensive and easy to use. Works as good as my PC w/twice the RAM and 4 times the CPU. (For regular home office and internet applications).
Best Linux out there 2007-05-13
If you want to learn Linux or get out of the Microsoft expensive products. This Linux flavor can help you save money and enjoy a PC. It has everything you need and is very easy to set up . M
My cd had only 314 bytes 
2007-03-12
It didn't install, when I checked the cd, it had only 314 bytes. I guess I got a defective cd. So, if you can do something for me, I'll be grateful. I didn't realize it until now, sorry.
Really Linux for humans 2007-03-04
I have been using Ubuntu since 2005, and the 6.06 is the best Linux operating system available. This version comes with long term support (LTS9, that means, you have support for three years in your desktop and five for server. This disc is included in the Official Ubuntu Book, and I would recommend to buy the book, but there is a lot of documentation in the Internet.
With Ubuntu you will have in less than 1 hour a full desktop system with an office suite (word-processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation), web browsing, instant messaging and e-mail. If you need more applications, you will find nearly 20,000 applications at two-clicks distance. No DRM, virus, trojans or spyware included ;-)
Great FREE operating system! 
2007-01-15
I'm a big believer in Ubuntu after tolerating one too many Microsoft updates and never ending add-ons.
When my laptop OS needed a rebuild, I didn't want to suffer through whatever Vista promises (not much), then buy a bunch more virus, firewall and spyware updates, and still run the risk of betting it all on the next Windows ME. Niether did I want to pay through the nose for an Apple, one that, in all likelihood, six months later wouldn't be "cool" anymore and would have few replaceable or upgradable parts. Apple takes planned obsolescence to a whole new level and laughs at you while they do it - no thanks. Been there done that. Ubuntu let me have the best of both worlds - keep a laptop I already have and like, plus gain an operating system with no built-in PMS.
As with other Linux based systems, there is a learing curve, though not nearly what it used to be. You don't have to be a programmer to use it, and you can probably wipe the hard drive clean on your current computer, install this system and be up and running in less than a day. There are hundreds of linux-based versions of whatever you currently use with your Microsoft machine, whether it's DVD ripping, bittorrent streaming, office software, scanner software, you name it. With a search engine and several online forums, you can get your questions answered along the way very easily.
I installed Ubuntu on my HP laptop and everything works just fine, except for a small LED indicating when my wireless is turned on (the wireless itself works flawlessy). I started with version 5.10, then upgraded to 6.06 this past fall. There is an even beta version out now (6.10), but I'm sticking with 6.06 for now.
When you install this operating system from the disc (I burned one that installed just fine), you not only get the OS, but much of the software I mentioned before, including OpenOffice, a free substitute for Microsoft Office. OpenOffice is impressive, especially for free. I must admit thoguh, MS Office is better - but only just barely. Evolution comes with a calendar, but it is not nearly as developed as the one in Outlook. The formatting in MS Word is also much more adjustable than that of Open Office. Open Office can save documents in MS Word format. I've been able to us an MS machine using XP to open these documents created with Open Office - provided they were saved properly.
Occasionally there are peripherals which will not work without adapting the Windows driver to work with Ubuntu (use a program called nsdiswrapper - I've never done this). One potential problem with desktop systems will probably be video drivers. Ubuntu will probably work with just about any monitor, but the driver is probably a very general, one size fits all version, as I noticed problems with scrolling on my desktop with Ubuntu, which runs 6.10.
As I understand it, most video drivers are proprietary, so people who write Unbuntu and other Linux versions are essentially guessing at what works best when they create a driver. The end result is that the driver(s) available will work, but may prove frustrating. This is one major setback with Ubuntu. The system is so close to being a perfect replacement for Microsoft (and, dare I say it, Apple), that it's only a matter of time.
The only other possible negative is gaming - if you like to play PC games, there are a few available on Ubuntu, but nothing like the selection for Windows. I'm not sure how easy it is to adapt a PC game to work on Ubuntu, or if it's even possible at all. I know there is (free) software available to play Playstation and Nintendo games, however.
If you want to give this system a try on an old desktop or laptop, go for it and have fun. One thing to remember, though - this OS is available FREE! I don't know why you're here looking to buy something you can get from Ubuntu for nothing - zero - nada! Ask them for five copies and give a few to your friends!
great 2007-01-11
The differences from windows take a bit to get used to, but, not needing to deal with windows update breaking, and other XP problems is a really nice change. I haven't messed around with some of the more advanced stuff yet, but, so far, it's been a great experience.
I definitely reccomend getting a pre-made disc. I tried the download, and had nothing but headaches getting a good burn that would install properly. the pre-made disc had none of those problems, and worked great. I can probably blame my burner, or my computer, or Sony DRM, but... I'm sure I'm not the only one with that problem. All in all VERY worth the small price tag.
Purchase Ubuntu OS 6.06 2007-01-11
Great product. Ubuntu 6.06 is a Linux OS, less crashes and BSOD, I haven't any thus far. Try the Live CD, you can boot straight from the CD without altering your present OS. Even in a MS Window environment, no damage or altering of the Window OS
Amazon is also a great place to purchase items. Great service and quick shipping. I love it !!!!! Give them a serious try
Thumb up guys.
edwin
Outstanding product 2007-01-09
I purchased this item to become more familiar with how Linux would work on my machine.
For someone who has the same desire, this is the perfect way to do it.It allows you to fun most functions of Linux without actually installing it on your system.
Best of all is the price.
Total Waste Of Time 2007-01-06
I did not like this product at all. I found it to be very difficult to use and it cause my system to freeze up every time I tried to use it. I would NOT recommend it. I highly doubt if it will EVER come close to replacing Windows.
Promising distro but nowhere near the best out there 
2006-11-12
Ubuntu shows promise but is over hyped and is not ready to compete with the best distro out there: SuSE. Despite its claim to be newbie friendly, it is not. Yes, it is better then XP or Vista. Much better, but really what isn't?
The installation is fairly easy, almost too easy. That may sound wrong but bear with me. Very few options are given, no real package or boot choice and the use of a single password is disconcerting. It feels like an XP install and that is not a good thing. You have to pick your extra packages after install and a newbie might not be aware of that. It decides for you what you need, very unLinux-like. If you are keeping windows on your machine, you are not given a choice of your default boot OS. You can also do that after install, but how is a newbie supposed to know how and where to do that?
Or even that he can? Ubuntu doesn't use a traditional root/user system, and by default the administrator password is the same as your log-in. So if an attacker can get into your user account, he can easily gain root access. It is possible to seperate them but it is not something a novice will want to do on a single user system, so they are stuck with this odd decision. The only good thing about it is that a user can't log into a root account and much things up. But is this trade-off worth it, especially given that warnings about being in root can easily be given?
The best part of Ubuntu doesn't even come with it, you have to find out about it from 3rd parties: EasyUbuntu. It takes care of some tasks of which a few can be annoying to get working. Although getting DVD's to play is fairly easy, and better distros allow you to choose an up to date version of Java and other packages that this tool helps with.
Another annoyance and newbie unfriendly "feature" is that if you are running a dual boot system you can't access any windows partitions by default. Granted, it is easy to make them visible, but you have to do a search online to find out how. This is not something you want to see in a Linux distro that is touting "ease of use".
The choice of Gnome as the default desktop is not a very good one. It is not quite as polished as KDE, which has better apps. Yes, you can run most KDE apps in Gnome, but again you have to install alot of extra libraries that a newbie won't know how to do given the poor installation routine. Even after that, SuperKaramba doesn't seem to work in Gnome and is far superior to gDesklets. Even though it is a toy, XGL is one good reason to run Gnome, since getting it to work in KDE can be a headache, but Ubuntu doesn't play nice with XGL. Not that this is a major problem since XGL has no real practical use, but can be fun. If you must use Ubuntu, use Kubuntu.
Given all these problems, it has promise. In the next 2-3 years it might really earn its title as most popular. As it stands, it is still unpolished and not deserving of its hype. I fear it will scare too many people that are sick of the games and shoddy programming of Microsoft away for good. Also, do not order the disk here, you can download it for free or order a free disk straight from the fine people at Ubuntu.It is also often available as a DVD in many Linux magazines.
If you want to try Linux, I suggest SuSE. Not only does it have the most packages and hardware compatibility, but it is actually easy to use(the only headache is getting DVD's to play, but simple directions online get it working in 5 minutes), and is produced by a company that knows each package inside and out. They are a professional software engineering company and don't just bundle packages together and throw it out the door.
