Ubuntu 10.04 is so brilliant that the only major topic left is menu buttons. I’m not kidding. Should the menu buttons be on the right or on the left? You know something is really good when little things like this become hot topics.

First, this isn’t really a topic because you can easily change the button location (more about this is a minute).

So, here is the Ubuntu 10.04 LTS fast-track introduction for beginners and for business. It’s a short review of Ubuntu 10.04 features and questions.

Update May 1st 2010 : Read these first

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS has now been released. Some of the issues I mention in this blog post have already been addressed. It is a good idea to read the following before you read my blog post :

10 things to do after installing Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid

The Ubuntu 10.04 LTS features and advantages presentation

What does Ubuntu 10.04 LTS mean?

Ubuntu is the name of the operating system (like Windows or Mac OSX). The number 10.04 indicates the release date (in this case April, 2010). Finally, LTS is why I put the gold brick in the graphic. LTS means “Long Term Support”.

Ubuntu has two release schedules : one for technical people to play with and one for “business is business – I’ve got work to do – no fooling around” people. This is actually a brilliant idea.

The LTS is for serious work. A new Ubuntu LTS version comes out every 2 years like clockwork. It is supported for a full 3 years.

So, once you install it and get everybody trained then you don’t have to re-train anybody for the next few years. You can plan years ahead in your budgeting for the upgrading. And you will have one full year to test a new LTS before the old LTS support stops.

A business person understands this quickly. The new Ubuntu LTS version does not interfere with business year-end work and it comes out just after tax-time has finished. Companies can test the new version for a few months and then upgrade their systems during the quiet summer months.

There is more to great software than cool features and stable code. It has to be easy to manage and keep training needs as low as possible.

Plus, no paperwork. No negotiations. No fees. You don’t even need to register Ubuntu – even if you use thousands of copies. You can install it at home to leverage your computer skills.

Wonderful for business!

To start, here is a short video about the Ubuntu release schedule :

The Great Ubuntu Menu Button Debate of 2010

Why the fuss? Well…

In the past, the menu buttons (maximize, minimize and close) were in the upper right-hand corner of the screen (like Windows). In the new Ubuntu, the buttons will be in the upper left-hand corner of the screen (like the Mac).

Now, why is this a brilliant move?

Here are 3 reasons that business people might find relevant:

1. People currently using Ubuntu can make a simple change to the system settings and the menu will be shown on the right-hand side. These are people who are (generally) very comfortable with simple computer tasks. They can do this in seconds. It is a very minor inconvenience for existing users.
2. The “friendly competition” for Ubuntu is not Windows, it is the Mac. Most Windows copies are sold to “captive customers” and by people shopping at the mall. The target market for Ubuntu 10.04 LTS is people who like the reliability and nice design of the Mac. Macs are expensive and they lock you into Mac software. Ubuntu is free and it does not lock you into expensive software. Putting the buttons on the left invites a direct comparison with the Mac. One that Ubuntu will often win.
3. As a nice side-effect of a very good decision, putting the buttons on the left has created a tremendous amount of buzz around the new release.

What Is the Real Problem with the Ubuntu Buttons?

Even though it is very simple to change the setting, people would prefer to have a little application in the System Preferences menu that allows them to reconfigure the buttons with a few mouse-clicks. A little application like this would end the Great Ubuntu Button Debate of 2010 once and for all.

Ubuntu Means Better Music for Your Money

The new Ubuntu One Music Store gives access to an online music store where you can find 4 million songs without DRM (Digital Rights Management). If you use iTunes and the iPod then you know how annoying DRM can be. With music from the Ubuntu One Music Store you can copy the music you buy and play it on every device you wish.

The company that provides music for the music store is called 7Digital. The new agreement creates a new revenue stream for Ubuntu development based on delivering real value. It is an ethical way to give people access to music from the big music labels and improve the cash-flow mix that supports the core of Ubuntu development. Smaller ‘Indie’ music artists are also available.

7Digital has music stores in many countries and languages. For example, here is a link to the 7Digital online music store in Canada (English language version). You can see the full list of stores at the bottom of their web page. http://ca.7digital.com/

Ubuntu and Multimedia – the Codecs

Ubuntu is a great tool for working with multimedia.

Many Ubuntu people and reviewers complain about the fact that you don’t get all of the codecs needed for watching and hearing media files (music, movies, videos, flash, etc) for free. Some of these codecs are not part of the standard Ubuntu installation.

This is because some of the codecs are not created by Ubuntu. There are private companies that own the codecs and Ubuntu respects this.

The first point is this : many people just don’t need the additional codecs. Why include them if people don’t need them?

As a business person, of course, you have to laugh. If you need the codecs you can buy them all for a whopping $40 (or so) at the Ubuntu store online. It’s not hard to find the additional codecs. It’s not hard to install the codecs. The codecs are not expensive. You just have to pay for them because Ubuntu doesn’t own them.

So, if you hear people complaining about Ubuntu and codecs then you might consider reminding that person that Ubuntu’s respect for the private property of the codec companies is a “good thing”?

Why is free software free?

Free software is free because they’ve already got their ROIC.

Imagine this : you are a programmer and you have a task that takes 100 hours of your time per year. You sit down and spend 1 hour writing some software to automate that task. Your payback is huge.

So, now what? Call the patent lawyers, find a marketing company, design packaging, keep tax files, talk to your accountant – and hope that you can make a few bucks with the software after all of the overhead costs? Or just share the code with other people?

Free software is not free like “Freedom of Speech”. Free software is free like “Free to be Smart”. There are almost no costs (time or money) involved with sharing software. So, share the software. The programmer gets the credibility and project references. They’ve already had a payback on their time investment of 100:1 !

A cynic might put it this way : The programmers get their cash in the bank first, then they share the love.

Where can I get Ubuntu 10.04?

The best place is a bookstore or a newsstand (probably in May, 2010).

When Ubuntu 10.04 is out then magazine stands will be selling magazines with copies of Ubuntu on the included DVDs. The magazines will also have handy articles that explain how to install it (easy) and provide simple tutorials about the many free software applications you can use for getting work done.

You can also check at Dell computers online. They already sell computers with Ubuntu and all the codecs pre-installed. Just make certain that you are buying a computer with Ubuntu 10.04 LTS installed!

What hardware do I need for Ubuntu?

If you have an old computer that you aren’t using then you can install Ubuntu on that computer to test it out. If you have a “router” (like a little DLink wireless router) then you can just plug the computer into the router to have instant access to the internet (for updates, using the Ubuntu Software Center to find free applications, etc). You don’t need to install or activate anything to get the Internet connection working if you have a router.

Many free applications will be installed along with Ubuntu (like OpenOffice, etc). You can get working right away!

How can I get support for Ubuntu 10.04?

There are currently about 10 million people (estimated) using Ubuntu world-wide (including some very big companies and government organisations!).

A company can just sign up for a commercial service plan like it does with any other software. No problem here.

There are the usual wikis, forums, user groups and online tutorials (many with videos).

The best way to find help is by asking a question into a search engine. There is an incredible amount of quality information about Ubuntu now. Just make certain that you type ‘Ubuntu 10.04 LTS’ at the start of each question so that you will see the answers for the most recent release of Ubuntu.

Google searches for information about Ubuntu often turn up information from various blogs that is several years old. Make certain that you are reading recent information about your question!

Ubuntu 10.04 in a Credit Crisis economy

Businesses and governments are still in the middle of the one of the biggest economic crises in history. This Credit Crisis will last until at least 2013 – just check the mortgage reset charts (and commercial real-state values) in the USA for a sample.

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS  is a very simple way to reduce overheads and increase productivity.

By starting your move to Ubuntu now, your company could emerge from the economic crisis running on a free, scalable and efficient computer technology.

Canada as an Ubuntu example

In the Financial Post (Sunday, Apr 11, 2010) there is an article called ‘Initiative seeks to moderize Canada’s public service‘. Canada’s top bureaucrat, Wayne Wouters, is looking for ways to improve the productivity of Canada’s government. If I was going to offer one simple idea that every voter and politician can understand quickly it would be : switch to Ubuntu. It’s easy to quantify the cost saving. Ubuntu is free. Ubuntu would also make perfect sense for the school system.

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS is perfect for skeptics

I was very sceptical when I started using Ubuntu. Not now!  I still help people with their Windows and Mac computers. For me personally : I have found that Ubuntu has really helped me to get rid paperwork (It sounds funny if you think of all the top-quality technology in Ubuntu!).

Here are a couple of simple options for the average person or company :

1. Find an old computer; find a magazine (with an Ubuntu 10.04 LTS version on an included DVD); and buy some codecs from the Ubuntu online store if you need them
2. Get a Dell computer with Ubuntu 10.04 LTS pre-installed (check that all of the Windows compatible codecs are included by asking them a direct question by email before you buy!).

Business people are often captive customers

A few business web sites may still exist that require Windows. Your online investment account or online banking account may be one of those web sites. Ask all the web sites that you use for business if they support Ubuntu before you decide to move everything over to Ubuntu!

Free software is free because they’ve already got their ROIC!

“Free to be Smart”

And productive!