Welcome to the Ubuntu Linux operating system, an open-source and free GNU/Linux distribution derived from the award-winning Debian GNU/Linux project.
Distributed as 64-bit/32-bit Live ISO images for the Desktop Edition
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS is currently distributed as two Live ISO images for the Desktop Edition, suitable for deployment on 64-bit (amd64) or 32-bit (i386) hardware architectures, and five ISOs for the Server Edition, which is also available for s390x, PowerPC 64-bit Little Endian (PPC64el), and PowerPC (PPC) architectures.
Offers standard boot options
In the good tradition of an Ubuntu Live OS, the ISO images come with the same boot menu that was available in previous Ubuntu releases, engineered to start the live system in ten second from the moment the user boots the ISO image on his/her PC.
Pressing any key on your keyboard during the 10-second timeout will give you access to the Live ISO boot menu, which lets you directly install the OS without going through the live session, as well as to run a memory test or boot an existing OS.
Still powered by Unity 7, great software collection
The Ubuntu OS is currently still powered by the Unity 7 user interface, which provides users with a decent and modern graphical desktop environment that features a top panel and a launcher located on the left side of the screen.
But the good thing about the Ubuntu 16.04 LTS release is that it lets users move the side launcher to the bottom of the screen. The same great software collection that was available in previous releases of Ubuntu is still available in this one.
Default applications include the Mozilla Firefox web browser, Mozilla Thunderbird email and news client, LibreOffice office suite, Rhythmbox music player, Transmission torrent downloader, Totem video player, and Nautilus file manager.
An LTS release of Ubuntu supported for 5 years
Best of all, Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial Xerus) is an LTS (Long Term Support) release, which means that it will receive software updates and critical security patches for 5 years. Therefore, we recommend all users to switch to Ubuntu 16.04 LTS as soon as possible.
