Ubuntu is a community developed, Linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers.

It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more. Learn more about Ubuntu - Take the desktop tour

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The Ubuntu promise

Ubuntu will always be free of charge, including enterprise releases and security updates. Ubuntu comes with full commercial support from Canonical and hundreds of companies around the world. Ubuntu includes the very best translations and accessibility infrastructure that the free software community has to offer. Ubuntu CDs contain only free software applications; we encourage you to use free and open source software, improve it and pass it on. Read more about the Ubuntu philosophy

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Ubuntu (pronounced /ubuntu/[3] oo-BOON-too),[4] is a computer operating system based on Debian GNU/Linux. It is distributed as free software. Ubuntu's goals include providing an up-to-date, stable operating system for the average user, with a strong focus on usability and ease-of-installation. Ubuntu has been selected by readers of desktoplinux.com as the most popular Linux distribution for the desktop, claiming approximately 30% of their desktop installations in both 2006 and 2007.[5][6] Ubuntu is composed of multiple software packages distributed under either a free software or an open source license. The main license used is the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL) which explicitly declares that users are free to run, copy, distribute, study, change, develop and improve the software. Ubuntu is sponsored by the UK based company Canonical Ltd., owned by South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth. Instead of selling Ubuntu for profit, Canonical creates revenue by selling technical support and from creating several services tied to Ubuntu including Ubuntu One, Landscape and Launchpad. Canonical is yet to turn profitable, however. By keeping Ubuntu distribution itself free software and open source, Canonical is able to take advantage of the talents of outside developers in Ubuntu's constituent components without developing the entire operating system itself (which is based primarily on current Linux kernels). Canonical endorses and provides support for four additional Ubuntu-like operating systems: Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Edubuntu (a subproject and add-on for Ubuntu, designed for school environments and home users),[7] and Ubuntu JeOS (pronounced "Juice", a stripped-down version of Ubuntu optimized for virtual appliances).[8] Canonical releases new versions of Ubuntu every six months and supports Ubuntu for eighteen months by providing security fixes, patches to critical bugs and minor updates to programs. LTS (Long Term Support) versions, which are released every two years,[9] are supported for three years on the desktop and five years for servers.[10] The current version of Ubuntu, 9.04, was released on April 23, 2009, and the upcoming version, Karmic Koala, is planned to be released on October 29, 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_(Linux_distribution)