Ubuntu Linux Help

I had an inspiring thought this morning! (Trust me… this is a rare event! Ha ha ha…) It occurred to me how vibrant a number of Ubuntu Linux flavours there must be. I’ve often been asked which is the best one to use, and responded based on my immediate quick thoughts. However, I’ve never actually sat down and written out something helpful to new (or existing) Linux users, listing them so they could follow-up at leisure, later. Maybe I should have written this when the blog originally launched? Either way, inspiration hits at the oddest times, during this video for example:

Below is what some of the flavours have to say about themselves. Ubuntu Linux truly is 32 flavours and then some. Can I make it to 32? I’m not sure but let’s try… Fluxbuntu:
Focus: Lightweight OS with higher performance for older PC’s.
http://fluxbuntu.org/js.html “Although there are a plethora of options available to an individual who wishes to harness a Linux / GNU environment, Fluxbuntu fills an extremely important niche. Fluxbuntu was created for the user who wishes to utilize the massively popular and versatile Ubuntu distribution base while minimizing the impact on their system’s resources. To this end, Fluxbuntu is a wise choice for anyone seeking a low profile operating system — from performance enthusiasts to people who need a lightweight operating system to breathe new life into an old computer.”

Linux Mint:
Focus: Integrated media codecs and user-freindly customization.
http://www.linuxmint.com/index.php

“Linux Mint is one of the surprise packages of the past year. Originally launched as a variant of Ubuntu with integrated media codecs, it has now developed into one of the most user-friendly distributions on the market - complete with a custom desktop and menus, several unique configuration tools, a web-based package installation interface, and a number of different editions. Perhaps most importantly, this is one project where the developers and users are in constant interaction, resulting in dramatic, user-driven improvements with every new release.”

nUbuntu:
Focus: Security.
http://nubuntu.org/

“The main goal of nUbuntu is to create a distribution which is derived from the Ubuntu distribution, and add packages related to security testing, and remove unneeded packages, such as Gnome, Openoffice.org, and Evolution. nUbuntu is the result of an idea two people had to create a new distribution for the learning experience. Many people ask, “What makes it better than X?”, or “Why should I use this over Y”. Our answer to this question is, we do not think about whether people are using it or not. We are more concerned about the learning process. If you want to try something with a clean interface, fast, and an excellent range of programs please don’t hesitate to download nUbuntu.”

Mythbuntu:
Focus: Standalone Myth TV based system.
http://www.mythbuntu.org/

“Mythbuntu is an Ubuntu derivative focused upon setting up a standalone MythTV system similar to Knoppmyth or Mythdora. Currently, it is a recognized as a community supported project by Canonical. Mythbuntu can be used to install a stand alone Frontend, Backend, or combination machines. Unlike similar projects, Mythbuntu keeps close ties with Ubuntu and all development is given back to the Ubuntu Community. This allows easy conversions from a standard desktop to a Mythbuntu machine and vice versa. The development cycle of Mythbuntu closely follows that of Ubuntu, releasing every six months shortly after Ubuntu releases.”

Ubuntu Ultimate:
Focus: Pre-installed applications, ready for use.
http://ubuntusoftware.info/ultimate/index.html

“Ubuntu Ultimate is Ubuntu (a Debian based distribution) with tons of additional software pre-installed and ready for use even in the live CD/DVD environment (try it before you install it). One of the hardest aspects of new users to linux are questions like; I used to use winamp to play my music in windows what do I use now? In Ubuntu you can’t currently play a mp3 with out first installing additional software. Ubuntu Ultimate will not only play your mp3’s but has multiple players such as but not limited to Amarok, XMMS, Totem & VLC player. unlike windows where the more software you install the slower it gets (also known as bloatware), Ubuntu Ultimate as well as any other linux distro overall performance remains the same.”

Protech ONE:
Focus: Security.
http://www.techm4sters.org/

“Protech is a specially designed Linux distribution for security technicians and programmers, although it can be used normally as your default desktop system. No more strange hardware bugs. Ubuntu’s engine allowed us to have a wide range of hardware working right out of the box. Graphics, network cards, audio, etc, are no longer a nightmare in Protech. Just plug it in… No more complicated instalations. With two easy clicks you can install your favourite package or you can use the in-built package-manager. Easy! Protech can run from anywhere in a Live environment from a CD or USB stick or it can easily be installed in your hard drive in a few minutes. Protech ONE comes with a great variety of the best security tools for your use.”

Edubuntu:
Focus: Schools and children’s education.
http://www.edubuntu.org/

“Edubuntu is a free/libre/ open source GNU/Linux operating system. And if that didn’t make any sense to you, we hope that it soon will. In simpler terms, Edubuntu is a free software system designed for school environments, and should be equally suitable for kids to use at home.
Edubuntu is based on the “ever-popular” Ubuntu operating system, and has many contributors, many being volunteers.”

OpenGEU 7.10:
Focus: Simplicity and power with a penchant for eye candy.
http://opengeu.intilinux.com/Home.html

“OpenGEU, previously known as Geubuntu, is a complete and fully functional operative system based on the popular Linux Distribution Ubuntu. OpenGEU, a project started and designed by the Italian artist Luca D.M. (aka TheDarkMaster), is perfect for any Desktop, Laptop PC or even for a Virtual Machine. OpenGEU mixes the power and simplicity of Ubuntu and parts of the Gnome Desktop with the wonder and astonishing eye-candy of Enlightenment DR17.”

gobuntu:
Focus: Strictly opensource. Always includes source and no license restrictions.
http://www.ubuntu.com/products/whatisubuntu/gobuntu

“Gobuntu is a GNU/Linux operating system, derived from Ubuntu, that endeavors to adhere to the Free Software Foundation’s four freedoms and intends to provide a base for other free software platforms to build upon with minimal modification required. It does this by only including open-source non-restricted software. This means there will be no firmware, drivers, applications, or content included in Gobuntu that does not include the full source or whose license does not provide the right to use, study, modify, and redistribute the body of work.”

Freespire:
Focus: Freedom of software choice. (Opensource or proprietary).
http://www.freespire.org/

“Freespire is a community-involved, Linux-based operating system that combines the best that free, open source software has to offer (community involved, freely distributed, open source code, etc.), but also provides users the choice of including proprietary codecs, drivers and applications as they see fit. With Freespire, the choice is yours as to what software is installed on your computer, with no limitations or restrictions placed on that choice. How you choose to maximize the performance of your computer is entirely up to you.”

Kubuntu:
Focus: KDE environment!
http://www.kubuntu.org/

“Kubuntu is a user friendly operating system based on KDE, the K Desktop Environment. With a predictable 6 month release cycle as part of the Ubuntu project, Kubuntu is the GNU/Linux distribution for everyone. Kubuntu includes more than 1,000 pieces of software, starting with Linux version 2.6.15 and KDE 3.5.2, and covering every standard desktop application from word processing and spreadsheet to Internet access applications, web server software, email software, programming languages and tools, and of course, several games.”

gOS:
Focus: Online/Internet enabled system. (Google).
http://thinkgos.com/

“Bring on Google and other wonderful applications. We recommend Google for just about everything… Gmail, Gtalk, Calendar, Maps, Docs and Spreadsheets, and more. We’d like to welcome you to the idea that Google already is your “operating system. Open source and other values. We thank the Ubuntu 7.10 community and Enlightenment community for their contribution to gOS and the world.”

xubuntu:
Focus: Older PC’s or high efficiency newer PC’s.
http://www.xubuntu.org/

“The aim of the Xubuntu community project is to provide a nice Ubuntu desktop experience (even on older hardware) by using Xfce4 as the desktop environment and GTK+ 2 applications wherever possible. Xubuntu is intended for users with less-powerful computers or those who seek a highly efficient desktop environment on faster systems.”

CrunchBang Linux:
Focus: Personal edition deployment.
http://crunchbang.org/projects/linux/

“CrunchBang Linux is like Ubuntu, only different. CrunchBang Linux is a good remastered Ubuntu Linux. CrunchBang Linux was developed for the personal use (of crunchbang.org) and the developer is currently running various builds on all of his systems, both at home and work. He didn’t develop CrunchBang Linux with the intention of releasing/distributing it, indeed it’s probably not fit for general consumption; however, He has decided to release it under the premise that someone may actually find it useful. If you do decide to download, please pay special attention to the disclaimer.”

VoiceBuntu:
Focus: Asterisk, VoIP services.
http://www.thin-k.ch/ubunterisk/

“VoiceBuntu is an ‘Ubuntu’ based live Linux distribution. It’s focus is on running asterisk with no installation needed. VoiceBuntu has integrated VoiceOne (http://www.voiceone.it/) for configuration convenience. To paraphrase, this is an Ubuntu based live Linux distribution that uses Asterisk and VoiceOne to provide VoIP service.”

Kiwi Linux:
Focus: Localization (Romanian, Hungarian).
http://kiwilinux.org/

“Kiwi is a free operating system based on Ubuntu Linux primarily targeted at users in Romania. The project comes on a single CD that can be used both as a live CD and for installing on the hard drive. Kiwi is a modified Ubuntu live CD for the i386 architecture. It includes Romanian and Hungarian localization, multimedia codecs, encrypted DVD support, Flash and Java plugins for Firefox, PPPoE GUI for accessing local internet services (Clicknet and RDS).”

Ubuntu Studio:
Focus: Multimedia creation, audio, video,etc.
http://ubuntustudio.org/

“Ubuntu Studio is a multimedia editing/creation flavor of Ubuntu. It’s built for the GNU/Linux audio, video, and graphic enthusiast or professional.
Our aim is to make it more accessible for new users to get into the tools that GNU/Linux has to offer for multimedia creation and production. We also want to spotlight what’s out there, and show users tools they might not know to exist. ”

Scibuntu:
Focus: Scientists and science students.
http://scibuntu.sourceforge.net/

“This is Scibuntu, Ubuntu Linux for scientists and science students. Scibuntu is a script that adds scientific programs and other convenient tools to the plain desktop Ubuntu.
Scibuntu 0.4-beta includes a graphical chooser where you can choose between lots of programs for differens scientific areas. The new version adds lots of more programs than the former versions and is a almost complete rewrite of the code. With this version we also welcome scientists and science student to join the Scibuntu community.”

Elbuntu:
Focus: Esthetically pleasing using E17.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Ebuntu

“Life isn’t fair. Not all distros are created equal. Some are boring, others not as configurable as we want. Then we have Enlightenment, the window manager for the rest of us.
So why not have the eye-candy and configurability of Enlightenment, with the clean and beautiful design of Ubuntu Linux?
Elbuntu is a project aiming towards that goal.”

Ubuntu Lite:
Focus: Bringing Ubuntu to old legacy hardware.
http://www.ubuntulite.org/

“The idea of Ubuntu Lite is to bring the power of Ubuntu across to the users of Legacy systems. So not just to make a small linux as this has been done before (Puppy Linux, Damn Small linux, the Rule Project). Nor to make a useable linux based desktop Operating system (that has been done with Ubuntu Linux, Beatrix) The idea is to bring the power of Ubuntu to the typical users of Legacy hardware (ie the grandma who gets an old P2 set up for her but does not know how to use it). ” NOTE: I was unable to access their web site, it might be down?

UbuntuES:
Focus: Localization for the Spanish language.
http://www.ubuntu-es.org/

“The purpose of this distribution is to provide a comprehensive support in Spanish for the entire system, as well as a selection of software packages for the system; we installed with the maximum of functionality possible. DistroHispana is particularly aimed at Ubuntu users without Internet or with a very slow connections.”

Ubuntu Home Server:
Focus: Home server, network management.
http://www.ubuntuhomeserver.org/

“Ubuntu Home Server (UHS) will be an edition of the Ubuntu operating system which allows users to administer their home network. With Ubuntu Home Server you will be able to store all your music, songs and pictures in one central location, to access your files over the internet and to backup all the computers in your house.”

Ubuntu Mobile:
Focus: For mobile devices only.
http://www.ubuntu.com/products/mobile

“Ubuntu Mobile is an Ubuntu edition that targets an exciting new class of computers called Mobile Internet Devices.
Ubuntu Mobile, based on the world’s most popular Linux distribution, and MID hardware from OEMs and ODMs, are redefining what can be done in mobile computing.”

Ubuntu Server Edition JeOS:
Focus: Specifically for virtual appliances.
http://www.ubuntu.com/products/whatisubuntu/serveredition/jeos

“Ubuntu Server Edition JeOS (pronounced “Juice”) is an efficient variant of our server operating system, configured specifically for virtual appliances. Currently available as a CD-Rom ISO for download, JeOS is a specialized installation of Ubuntu Server Edition with a tuned kernel that only contains the base elements needed to run within a virtualized environment.”

Well… I’ve made it to 25. If anyone knows of a few more, please let us know.
Cheers!

Update: From our readers (in the comments section below), the list is up to 32. Thank you!

http://www.klikit-linux.com
http://www.whatwouldjesusdownload.com/christianubuntu/2006/07/about-ubuntu-christian-edition.html
http://www.ubuntume.com/
http://ubuntusatanic.org/news/
http://www.medibuntu.org/
http://www.impi.org.za/
http://www.hiweed.com/
http://www.guadalinex.org/

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