Ubuntu 10.10

Ubuntu has set a precedent of simplicity, making each release easier to install use and set up than the previous one, and Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" is no exception. The latest release, perhaps not as significant or as controversial as the previous Ubuntu 10.04 release, which was a long-term release that redefined the UI, however comes with a number of new features that make it one of the simplest Linux distributions for the Linux newcomer.
Ubuntu is most popularly available as a live installable CD in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. If you want a more configurable installer, you can download the alternate CD that includes more applications and a text-based installer. There is also the DVD version that bundles a larger number of applications with it. For Windows users there is "Wubi" a Windows application that can install Ubuntu on the free space in a Windows partition while Windows it running. We used a 64-bit standard desktop live CD.
When you boot from the live CD, it gives you the option to either test Ubuntu, or simply begin the install process. Even if you fully intend to install Ubuntu, we recommend that you choose to try it instead. You can then launch the installer from the live Ubuntu instance. The advantage in doing so is that you will have a functional Linux desktop up and running while the installation is going on. You can check your mail, listen to music, watch YouTube videos, or play games while the installation goes on in the background.

Ubuntu live CD boot

 
Ubuntu 10.10 brings with it possible the simplest installer of any Linux version. The fact that many Ubuntu reviewers make the same proclamation with each version that comes out, should show you how important simplicity and ease of use are to Ubuntu developers.
As usual the Ubuntu installer asks you the bare minimum it needs to in order to set up the OS. This means that there is little in the way of configuring which applications to install, and no configuration of networks etc. Right in the first step, you have the option to download and install updates while installing, and you can also choose to install Ubuntu with some proprietary components such as MP3 codecs, Flash etc. This is all there is to your software setup.

Basic setup

 

Disc setup and partitioning

 
At this point you will already get an "Install Now" button. What about user setup and configuration you wonder? Well that goes on in parallel with the core installation! This saves time by installing you operating system while you configure it.
You will get a screen called "Where are you?" with a map to configure your regional settings and time-zone. Second, you can pick your keyboard layout. Finally, the "Who are you?" page appears where you can set up the primary user. Supply your name, and Ubuntu will automatically provide reasonable defaults for the computer name and username. Now you wait while Ubuntu finishes the installation. Overlapping the configuration and the installation steps doesn't really save much time, but even a little is better than nothing.

System configuration during setup

The complete installation takes fewer than 15 minutes, but it can take significantly longer depending on whether you opted to install the updates during the installation. In that case your internet connection speed will have a huge impact.