|
|
77.
|
|
|
\Index[Shuttleworth, Mark]{Shuttleworth} set out with clear intentions to address these weaknesses and create a system that was easy to use, completely free (see \chaplink{ch:learning-more} for the complete definition of ``free''), and could compete with other mainstream operating systems. With the \Index{Debian} system as a base, \Index[Shuttleworth, Mark]{Shuttleworth} began to build Ubuntu. Using his own funds at first, installation \acronym{CD}s were pressed and shipped worldwide at no cost to the end user. Ubuntu spread quickly, the size of the community rapidly increased, and it soon became the most popular Linux \gls{distribution} available.
|
|
|
type: document
|
|
|
|
|
(no translation yet)
|
|
|
|
Located in
./prologue/prologue.tex
:53
|
|
|
78.
|
|
|
With more people working on the project than ever before, Ubuntu continues to see improvement to its core features and hardware support, and has gained the attention of large organizations worldwide. For example, in 2007, \Index{Dell} began a collaboration with \Index{Canonical} to sell computers with Ubuntu preinstalled. Additionally, in 2005, the French Police began to transition their entire computer infrastructure to a variant of Ubuntu\dash a process which has reportedly saved them ``millions of euros'' in licensing fees for Microsoft Windows. By the year 2012, the French Police anticipates that all of their computers will be running Ubuntu. \Index{Canonical} profits from this arrangement by providing technical support and custom-built software.
|
|
|
type: document
|
|
|
|
|
(no translation yet)
|
|
|
|
Located in
./prologue/prologue.tex
:55
|
|
|
79.
|
|
|
\marginnote{For information on Ubuntu Server Edition, and how you can use it in your company, visit \url{http://www.ubuntu.com/server/features}.} While large organizations often find it useful to pay for support services, \Index[Shuttleworth, Mark]{Shuttleworth} has promised that the Ubuntu desktop system will always be free. As of 2010, Ubuntu is installed on nearly 2\% of the world's computers. This equates to millions of users worldwide, and is growing each year.
|
|
|
type: document
|
|
|
|
|
(no translation yet)
|
|
|
|
Located in
./prologue/prologue.tex
:59
|
|
|
80.
|
|
|
Ubuntu!history of|)
|
|
|
type: index{#1}
|
|
|
|
|
(no translation yet)
|
|
|
|
Located in
./frontmatter/prologue.tex
:68
|
|
|
83.
|
|
|
Ubuntu is built on the foundation of Linux, which is a member of the \Index{Unix} family. \Index{Unix} is one of the oldest types of operating systems and has provided reliability and security in professional applications for almost half a century. Many servers around the world that store data for popular websites (such as YouTube and Google) run some variant of a \Index{Unix} system. The Linux \Index{kernel} is best described as the core, or almost the brain, of the operating system.
|
|
|
type: document
|
|
|
|
|
(no translation yet)
|
|
|
|
Located in
./frontmatter/prologue.tex
:68
|
|
|
84.
|
|
|
The Linux \Index{kernel} is the shift manager of the operating system; it is responsible for allocating memory and processor time. It can also be thought of as the program which mangages any and all programs on the computer itself.
|
|
|
type: document
|
|
|
|
|
(no translation yet)
|
|
|
|
Located in
./prologue/prologue.tex
:65
|
|
|
85.
|
|
|
\marginnote{While modern graphical \glspl{desktop environment} have generally replaced early command-line interfaces, the command line can still be a quick and efficient way of performing many tasks. See \chaplink{ch:command-line} for more information, and \chaplink{ch:the-ubuntu-desktop} to learn more about \gls{GNOME} and other desktop environments.} Linux was designed from the ground up with security and hardware compatibility in mind, and is currently one of the most popular \Index{Unix}-based operating systems. One of the benefits of Linux is that it is incredibly flexible and can be configured to run on almost any device\dash from the smallest micro-computers and cellphones to larger super-computers. \Index{Unix} was entirely command line--based until graphical user interfaces (\glspl{GUI}) began to emerge in the early 1990s.
|
|
|
type: document
|
|
|
|
|
(no translation yet)
|
|
|
|
Located in
./prologue/prologue.tex
:69
|
|
|
86.
|
|
|
\marginnote{A \emph{desktop environment} is a sophisticated and integrated user interface that provides the basis for humans to interact with a computer using a monitor, keyboard and a mouse.} These early \acronym{GUI}s were difficult to configure and clunky at best, and generally only used by seasoned computer programmers. In the past decade, however, graphical user interfaces have come a long way in terms of usability, reliability, and appearance. Ubuntu is just one of many different Linux \emph{distributions}, \marginnote{To learn more about Linux distributions, see \chaplink{ch:learning-more}.} and uses one of the more popular graphical desktop environments called \acronym{GNOME}.
|
|
|
type: document
|
|
|
|
|
(no translation yet)
|
|
|
|
Located in
./prologue/prologue.tex
:73
|
|
|
89.
|
|
|
New users to Ubuntu may find that it takes some time to feel comfortable when trying a new operating system. You will no doubt notice many similarities to both Microsoft Windows and Mac \acronym{OS~X}, as well as some differences. Users coming from Mac \acronym{OS~X} are more likely to notice similarities due to the fact that both Mac \acronym{OS~X} and Ubuntu originated from \Index{Unix}.
|
|
|
type: document
|
|
|
|
|
(no translation yet)
|
|
|
|
Located in
./prologue/prologue.tex
:77
|
|
|
90.
|
|
|
\marginnote{A popular forum for Ubuntu discussion and support is the \Index{Ubuntu Forums}, \url{http://ubuntuforums.org}.} Before you decide whether or not Ubuntu is right for you, we suggest giving yourself some time to grow accustomed to the way things are done in Ubuntu. You should expect to find that some things are different from what you are used to. We also suggest taking the following into account:
|
|
|
type: document
|
|
|
|
|
(no translation yet)
|
|
|
|
Located in
./prologue/prologue.tex
:80
|
