Ubuntu LiveCD: Try it, you’ll be hooked

Dapper Ubuntu icons

Ubuntu Linux 6.06 Beta was released just a couple of days ago (April 20). Windows or Mac users who might tentatively want to try out a Linux distro should check out the LiveCD download. This allows you to boot up from CD without changing your PC, so you can give Ubuntu a test-drive. Rather cleverly, the LiveCD also gives the option of creating a more permanent installation if you grow to like it.

This is vaguely reminiscent of a car salesman quickly whipping out the contract – sweeping in to close the deal at the earliest opportunity. Behind the strained smile you can almost hear him thinking: "Just commit, already!".

But the saving grace for Ubuntu, of course, is that it’s totally free; but not just that, there’s a whole feeling of unconditional altruism surrounging the distribution. This "feel" ranges from the care and attention that have gone into their caramelized desktop theme for GNOME 2.14 (complete with a professional-looking custom icon set) to their offer to ship you an installation CD for free.

(Keep in mind that this 6.06 is still beta software, so install at your own risk!)

About the Author

Matt Stephens is a senior architect, programmer and project leader based in Central London. He co-wrote Agile Development with ICONIX Process, Extreme Programming Refactored, and Use Case Driven Object Modeling with UML - Theory and Practice.