If you happen to prefer KDE over GNOME, it’d be a lot easier to download Kubuntu than have to download the default version and go through manually uninstalling GNOME and loading KDE. KDE and GNOME are both very popular choices for desktop managers. Kubuntu is mostly the same build, except that Ubuntu will come preloaded with the KDE Plasma Desktop graphic environment instead of GNOME. Simply head over to Ubuntu’s website, click download, and select the latest LTS version of Ubuntu Desktop. In the vast majority of situations, this will suffice just fine and you won’t need to look any further into other choices. This is Ubuntu’s default graphical interface and choice for downloads.
When you download Ubuntu Desktop, you’ll get an ISO file that has Ubuntu preloaded with GNOME desktop manager and its related applications. On the other hand, if you just want a command line interface (CLI), you’re looking for Ubuntu Server (which we cover below, so scroll down to that section). Do you want to run a graphical user interface (GUI)? If yes, then you should grab Ubuntu Desktop. Selecting the correct one for yourself should be very easy. There are two main editions of Ubuntu available: Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server. Source: /about/release-cycle Ubuntu Desktop Ubuntu has a few different editions available and about half a dozen official variations that Canonical dubs “flavors.” We’ll take a look at all these options below.
If you’re ready to give Ubuntu a shot, there are a few things you should know before downloading it. Ubuntu is based on Debian, a true behemoth among Linux distributions that precedes Ubuntu by more than 11 years. Ubuntu is developed by Canonical and has been around since 2004, enough time to gain a strong footing among the greatest distributions. Ubuntu strikes a nice balance between the two by catering to casual users and still packing the power that enterprises need.
Many are, but there are more than a few that are geared towards power users and system administrators. That’s not to say that other Linux distributions aren’t user friendly. For other most popular Linux distributions please visit our dedicated linux download page. Couple that with the endless support you’ll find online, and you’ve got an operating system that anyone can pick up and use. Ubuntu has a solid reputation for being user friendly to newcomers.
Out of any distribution, it’s likely the most well known. If you’ve heard of Linux, you’ve probably heard of Ubuntu.