The Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Edubuntu Desktop CD has been rereleased in a new Beta 2 version:
The Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Edubuntu teams are proud to present a second Beta release of Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Edubuntu 6.06 LTS, codenamed “Dapper Drake”. This release corrects some serious flaws in the installer present on the Desktop CD in the first Beta release. Although the text-mode install CD also forms part of this release, it has not been modified since Beta 1.
From the release announcement for Ubuntu 6.06:
On the Desktop
Beta versions for the various flavours of Ubuntu 6.06 LTS have been announced.
Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (long-term support) will be the first Ubuntu release to be supported for three years on the desktop, and five years on the server.
Development of this LTS version has had the focus on stability. While previous versions of Ubuntu have been supported for 18 months, this version is targetted at those organisations that can’t upgrade operating systems every six months. More
Microsoft has urged UK PC vendors not to sell PCs without operating systems (namely, Windows). It is estimated that around 5% of PCs sold in the UK do not include an operating system.
Microsoft’s position on this is that base systems with no operating systems encourage software piracy - however this has been seen as an attempt to force those who want to run Linux and other free / open source operating systems to pay the “Microsoft tax” by having to buy Windows even though they will not use it.
Linux vendors and free software supporters, though, believe these base systems can play an important role in supporting the open source market. Some are concerned that Microsoft may be attempting to use its powerful position in the market to hamper competition.
The European branch of the Free Software Foundation hopes that PC vendors will not be swayed by Microsoft.
“We would be happy to see any kind of hardware being shipped without an operating system, or pre-installed with free software. Furthermore, we would be happy to get in contact with any hardware vendor who wants to free his customers this way,” said Joachim Jakobs, of the FSF Europe.
Perhaps Microsoft is not aware of this, but the Free Software and Open Source movements are also against software piracy. Rather use Linux than pirate Windows - it’s free and totally legal.
So vendors under this sort of pressure should simply bundle an Ubuntu CD with the system - a no-cost operating system which the customer can use, or not use if they prefer a different operating system…
MEPIS has announced the alpha1 release of SimplyMEPIS 6.0, based on Ubuntu “Dapper”. This was formerly based on Debian, but MEPIS have recently switched to Ubuntu.
The final release of SimplyMEPIS 6.0 will coincide with the release of Ubuntu 6.06 - around 1 June.
Warren Woodford, founder of MEPIS, commented on the work so far, “The MEPIS community has been very helpful with suggestions and the support from the Ubuntu Project has been great. By the time we’ve identified a problem, usually they have already fixed it! This gives us more time to work on integration and improvements. It was a big plus that Ubuntu recently decided to support KDE 3.5.2 for the current build cycle.”
