[Review]Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat"

Ubuntu has set a precedent of simplicity, making each release easier to install use and set up than the previous one, and Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" is no exception. The latest release, perhaps not as significant or as controversial as the previous Ubuntu 10.04 release, which was a long-term release that redefined the UI, however comes with a number of new features that make it one of the simplest Linux distributions for the Linux newcomer.

Ubuntu is most popularly available as a live installable CD in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. If you want a more configurable installer, you can download the alternate CD that includes more applications and a text-based installer. There is also the DVD version that bundles a larger number of applications with it. For Windows users there is "Wubi" a Windows application that can install Ubuntu on the free space in a Windows partition while Windows it running. We used a 64-bit standard desktop live CD.

When you boot from the live CD, it gives you the option to either test Ubuntu, or simply begin the install process. Even if you fully intend to install Ubuntu, we recommend that you choose to try it instead. You can then launch the installer from the live Ubuntu instance. The advantage in doing so is that you will have a functional Linux desktop up and running while the installation is going on. You can check your mail, listen to music, watch YouTube videos, or play games while the installation goes on in the background.