Contents
• Introduction
• Why Use Linux?
• CDs versus DVDs
• Where To Get Disks
Since 2008 we have been distributing free Linux CDs and DVDs, through the National Capital FreeNet office. We do this for two reasons:
That second point probably requires some explanation. Linux is free software, created by volunteer and paid developers, but distributed for free, so that everyone can use it. We use Linux operating systems, which we get for free. To help contribute back to Linux development some people write the software code, some provide financial support, some do design and artwork. Our way to support Linux is to promote it.
Linux operating systems have a number of advantages over Windows. For instance:
There are lots more reasons explained in detail at Why Linux Is Better.
There are over 300 freely available Linux distributions. Over the last number of years we have supplied CDs and DVDs for a number of different ones. In addition to our Best of Free Windows Software CD, for 2013 we are going to concentrate on supplying:
Ubuntu is currently suitable for PCs with a minimum of 1 GB of RAM and a 1 GHz or faster processor. It works best on Vista or newer PCs. Because it has large and frequent updates and does not support dial-up out-of-the-box, Ubuntu is recommended for users on high-speed internet.
Lubuntu is currently suitable for PCs that run Windows XP or newer, with a minimum of 256 MB of RAM and a Pentium II or faster processor. Because it has large and frequent updates and does not support dial-up out-of-the-box, Lubuntu is recommended for users on high-speed internet.
Puppy Linux will run on all computers, including ones that run Windows 95 or even earlier. Puppy is also perfect for users on dial-up, because each release has no updates and because it supports dial-up right out-of-the-box.
We are also able to make up special request CDs or DVDs. Some of the ones we can supply are:
Note that 64-bit computers will run both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems just fine, but 32-bit computers will only run 32-bit operating systems.
Email for more information.
When we started this program in 2008, CD-Rs were inexpensive and easy to find. Also most Windows XP computers had CD players, but not DVD players. A CD player will only play CDs, while DVD player will play both CDs and DVDs, so this made it an easy decision to make free software available on CD-Rs
In January 2011 I discovered that CD-Rs were getting hard to find and expensive, when I could find them. I picked up as many as I could, but the transition of the program to DVDs will happen sometime in 2013.
Right now we provide both 32-bit and 64-bit Ubuntu on DVD-Rs, as the computers best suited to Ubuntu usually have DVD players and, starting with the release of Ubuntu 12.04 LTS on 26 April 2012, the image will only fit on a DVD, as it is too big for a CD.
Because our Best of Free Windows Software CD as well as Puppy Linux are aimed at users of older computers we are using our remaining CD-Rs for those, while using the DVD-Rs for Ubuntu. When we run out of CD-Rs we will only be supplying DVD-Rs.
It is also worth noting that the Plop boot manager application allows any PC to boot from a USB device, even if the BIOS doesn't normally permit that. (Plop tutorial). When combined with the UNetbootin bootable live USB drive creator, this means that Linux can be installed on any PC, even if it doesn't normally allow USB booting, negating the need for CDs and DVDs.
Disks are normally available at National Capital FreeNet, Suite 302 Trailhead Building, 1960 Scott Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 8L8, during office hours (M-F 9-4). They are located on a display rack just inside the office door.
Sorry, due to the cost, postal problems and other issues we don't ship disks.
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