by John Huetteman

Created on: September 07, 2009

Ubuntu is an open source community developed operating system which was launched in 2004 by its commercial sponsor Canonical Ltd., a global organization committed to open source software products and communities and is headquartered in Europe. The operating system is based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel used by the Linux family of Unix-like operating systems. For comparison, running the Ubuntu operating system appears very much like running any of the Windows family of operating systems from Microsoft Corporation. Unlike Microsoft's corporate and profit-oriented nature and the Windows operating system price tag, Ubuntu is based on very different philosophies:

"Every computer user should have the freedom to download, run, copy, distribute, share, study, change and improve their software for any purpose, without paying licensing fees.

Every computer user should be able to use their software in the language of their choice.

Every computer user should be given every opportunity to use software, even if they work under a disability."

Ubuntu is also "free software." Free software is where a user has the freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software where four essential freedoms can be identified:

"The freedom to run the program, for any purpose;

The freedom to study how the program works and to change the program (Access to the source code must be available);

The freedom to redistribute copies; and

The freedom to make improvements to the program and release those improvements (and modified versions in general) to the public (Again, access to the source code must be available)."

The most important thing about Ubuntu in a philosophical context is that upon installation and use it grants those rights of software freedom on the people. Those freedoms have enabled Ubuntu community to grow.

Purchasing the Ubuntu 9.04, the current release candidate, for Linux Desktop Edition CD/DVD is a good alternative to downloading it via the Ubuntu website, although the download is completely free. Downloading Ubuntu, however, is not a great option for users who are not familiar or are not comfortable with how to burn an .ISO image to a disc, who have slow Internet connection speeds, who do not have the time to create installation discs or who will not follow instructions and verify the integrity of the disc post download. If you take some time, however, to learn how to burn an .ISO image, chances are, you already have the software on your current

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