UBUNTU 6.06 Beta Released Today

UBUNTU is one of the very good linux based Operating Systems, and has been around for about more than two years. Today beta version of next release of UBUNTU 6.06 (code named Dapper Drake) is released.

For those who don't know what I am talking about, the explanation is this.

When we use computers, we work on an operating system (OS). Microsoft (MS) Windows XP is a popular OS. We use many softwares that run on an OS. So, if you use MS Word, then you are using a MS software on MS OS. People use many softwares on an OS; for eg. MS Office (includes word, excel), instant messaging (yahoo, msn), media playing (Windows media player, winamp etc.)

There are other operating systems too which are lesser popular than windows, but have their own niche, like MacIntosh, Linux based (UBUNTU, Mandriva, Fedora Core, Red Hat), Sun, Oracle. Linux has been used for long, but was less popular as desktop system for personal use.

UBUNTU, a linux based OS was released a couple of years back and is completely free. It contains package of all the softwares you are ever going to need (true for most users). Free doesn't mean low quality though. It is on a better level than proposed release by Microsoft which is "Windows Vista."

The next verssion of UBUNTU will be released on June 1, 2006 and its testing version "beta" is released today, which I am sure will be very stable for normal desktop use. The link to the title will take you to the page where you can get more info about this release.

So why use another OS? Well, there are several advantages to that.

1. It is free. Until you use pirated software, MS windows XP cost more than $100 (mostly it comes packaged with new computer, and you pay hidden price), MS Office is more than $500, Adobe Acrobat writer is costly too, Adobe photoshop is also more than $500, antivirus softwares are costly, MS money is more than $30, and so on...

2. No spyware. Your computer will keep running at same speed even five years after.

3. Extremely low threat from viruses ( I don't even care to use any antivirus software on my UBUNTU machine)

4. Easiest way to install all software you want.

5. It doesn't ask you to restart your computer, after every update or every computer install.

6. You don't have to go to Start to shut down your computer ;).

7. You can get it in any language you want. It is available in all the European languages, most asian language, most Indian regional language (hindi, bengali, gujarati, tamil, malyalam.....)

The advantages are a lot, few of which I will list in later blogs :). I switched from a full windows user to a UBUNTU user at home, and am enjoying it. I am sure you will love it too.

Cheers
Anurag

Category: Technology