Ubuntu Shipit is now open for requesting Ubuntu 6.06 CDs. You can also order Kubuntu and Edubuntu CDs for the first time too. (The login accounts are the same for these sites so you only have to register once.)

They are now shipping only a single CD for each distribution - the Desktop CD which is a LiveCD with a graphical installer.

If you need the text-mode installer - for example for the OEM installation or server installation - you will have to download it or get it from a Freedom Toaster (once 6.06 has released in early June).

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

• A new graphical installer is available on the live CD, allowing Ubuntu to be installed quickly and easily to your hard disk
• Faster system startup and login
• Simplified menu organization
• Graphical shutdown process
• Easy access to power management settings with GNOME Power Manager
• Improved support for video playback
• Optional NetworkManager for convenient roaming between different wireless and wired networks
• It is now possible to enable accessibility options from the very first boot screen of the live CD, and thereby use the accessibility features of Ubuntu during installation
• GNOME 2.14.1
• OpenOffice.org 2.0.2
• X.org 7.0 More

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.”

Jerome Gotango blogged this screenshot of the Ubuntu Server 6.06 Flight 6 installer boot options:

“Install a LAMP server” as an option right there in the boot menu will definitely make server deployment easy.

Ubuntu and LPI have announced the Ubuntu Professional Certification, using LPI’s LPIC-1 distro-neutral certification as a base. This exam will provide certification of skills on Ubuntu for system administrators.

The Ubuntu certification will consist of a single exam on top of LPI’s existing 101 and 102 exams. This will give candidates the advantage of an existing global standard, LPIC-1, plus the “Ubuntu Certified Professional” status. The exam is being developed by LPI’s product development team and Ubuntu community members from around the globe. The exam is expected to be completed in early May with the first paper exams being available in mid-May to qualified LPIC-1 candidates who are attending LinuxWorld Johannesburg.

While not at the same level as the RHCE since the LPIC-1 standard is for a junior system administrator, the Ubuntu Professional Certification is a great step forward in helping organisations adopt Ubuntu and Ubuntu-derived distributions such as Impi because they can have a measure of the skillset of their staff.

For entry level user training, there is the ICDL (International Computer Driving Licence).

PenguinLabs founder Morgan Collett holds an LPIC-1 certification and assisted with setting the Ubuntu Professional Certification exam.

The latest version of Ubuntu Linux has been released.

This new version, code-named “Breezy Badger”, or just “breezy”, is an excellent upgrade to the previous release, with newer versions of the operating system and included applications. You can obtain it by downloading a CD image (if you have an ADSL or diginet connection to the Internet) or get somebody who has it already to burn a CD for you. You can order free CDs to be sent to you - although this does take a few weeks.

Tectonic has a couple of reviews.

PenguinLabs offers hardware compatibility testing for Ubuntu, and this new release includes improved compatibility with more desktops, laptops and servers than before.