14 DAY TRIAL // Taking your first steps with Linux or Ubuntu? You picked the right time, just hours ahead of the launch of the anticipated Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, the Ubuntu Manual Project has released the first-ever Ubuntu Manual. The community project aims to create a comprehensive and easy-to-understand manual for Ubuntu to help out new and old users alike. The first edition, “Getting Started with Ubuntu 10.04,” covers all of the basics of installation and first use, but also delves into specific areas like Hardware and Security.
“Our project is an open source volunteer effort to create and maintain quality documentation for Ubuntu and its derivatives,” the Ubuntu Manual Project homepage reads. “We were founded in 2009 by Benjamin Humphrey, who saw the need for targeted up-to-date and consistent documentation for the Ubuntu operating system.”
“It didn’t take long until the project amassed hundreds of contributors, and what Benjamin originally envisioned became a reality as the Ubuntu Manual Project blossomed into an ambitious and successful project,” the page also explains.
The Ubuntu Manual is a great tool and the quality is on par with what you’d expect. It starts out with a brief overview of Ubuntu and Linux in general, but it quickly gets down to business with a step-by-step installation guide. Everything from choosing the right ISO to partitioning your hard drive is covered.
In the second chapter, the Ubuntu Desktop is explained in detail, what are the main areas, what the menus and buttons do, and so on. The Nautilus file browser is also presented, covering all the basics of navigating the file system and working with files or folders.
After you’ve gotten used to the new environment, you’ll probably want to actually do something in Ubuntu. That’s the focus of the third chapter, the biggest one. Everything from establishing a network connection to watching videos or playing audio is explained. Virtually all of the common tasks users are bound to engage in are covered.
Slightly more advanced topics are covered as well, like hardware and software management, as well as the command line. And, in case something goes wrong, there is a Troubleshooting section to set you in the right direction.
The “Getting Started with Ubuntu 10.04” manual is a great tool for new users, but it could prove useful even for Ubuntu veterans. It makes for an easy read, but it is still thorough enough to be helpful. The next edition will be released in time for Ubuntu 10.10 and the plan is to launch an updated version at the same time as the operating system.
Getting Started with Ubuntu 10.04 is available for download here on Softpedia.
