Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron

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Ubuntu Linux Facts:
  • Ubuntu is community based and commercially funded
  • Ubuntu has a strict schedule of a new release every six months.
  • Quoted from the website: "Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'Humanity to others', or 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. The Ubuntu distribution brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the software world."
  • Ubuntu is one of the most popular Linux distros in the world, partly due to new-user friendliness and its vast language database, which includes most African languages.

What I liked:
  • The LiveCD was easy to use (as was Ubuntu) and there were little warnings and popups for things that I was not supposed to mess with until I am not such a newb
  • I like the unique look..love it or hate it, Ubuntu is easily recognizable at a glance!
  • As a Debian derivative, the installer is mostly a graphical version of the Debian installer.
  • Has a nice, stable feel and most everything just works.
  • Ubuntu is a VERY newbie-friendly distro that will and does appeal to any techno-phobe.
  • Ubuntu probably has the most extensive Help Forums in all of Linux-dom. (Likely this is because it's where the newbs go but it feels good to google a "stupid newb" question and see it come up in the Ubuntu Help Forums (asked by 10 other newbs already!) Any question you can think of, someone has asked it in the Help Forum. I myself am a member of the Ubuntu Help Forums even though I don't use Ubuntu.

What I didn't like:
  • While I can appreciate the Windows-ish feel of Ubuntu (or at least understand why so many would flock to it) it is precisely that quality which turned me off. I prefer to not be reminded of Windows..ever.
  • Working in root is dangerous! Certainly, I know this..but to be denied root access by default is a pet peeve.
  • Advanced Linux users would likely find Ubuntu to be somewhat irritating due to some restrictiveness and the warnings that they wouldn't need.

Summary:
As I stated, I fully believe that Ubuntu is right up there with the best Linux distros for newbies, with a full-featured distro that guides every step of the way and a comprehensive support system. More advanced users will likely jump ship but it is great for newbs so I will give it a B+ for looks and an A- for newbie friendliness