The operating system is a software part of a computer that controls the entire computer and all the components it consists of. Most computers have the Windows operating system already pre-installed, but there are alternatives, and for most people Ubuntu would be the best free alternative. Ubuntu is a Linux distrubution, and comes in several editions. Ubuntu is the standard edition, and the one that would suit most people. Kubuntu and Xubuntu are sub-projects directed at the KDE and Xfce desktops enviroments. But if you don't know what that means, I suggest you just stick to the standard Ubuntu edition. Edubuntu is a edition adapted to suit children in the age from 6-18 years of age. You also have the newest edition, called Gobuntu, which is based entirely on free software.
If you have a old computer that you can't get started, or that is running so slowly that it is of no use to you anymore, why not revive it with Ubuntu. Very often, Ubuntu will run better than Windows, and since Ubuntu is completely free, what do you really have to loose? Many companies like Dell and Tesco have due to customer demands also started selling computers with Ubuntu pre-installed, in stead of Windows. In Ubuntu you get access to large amounts of free software for download within Ubuntu, in all categories. You can just download software when you need it, in uninstall it when you don't, to save harddisk space.
The files that you download from here are socalled .iso-files. They are snapshots of the Installation-CD that you run Ubuntu from. The .iso file has to be burnt to a CD using a CD-burning tool that can do this. If you have problems with this, see this page on how to do this correctly.
Click the button marked "Download" below to go to Ubuntus download page, where you can find out exactly how to install Ubuntu on your computer.
| Producer | Alternatives | ||
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| Specal requirements | None | ||
| Requirements | The software runs on all standard Windows PCs | ||
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