In a few days, both the gNewSense and Gobuntu project will release a new version of their distributions. Based on Ubuntu Hardy Heron, they will aim at satisfying the most exigent users in terms of freedom. This apparent duplication of work may not perpetuate. Indeed, some developers behind Gobuntu (including Mark Shuttleworth himself) think of "channelling the energy from Gobuntu into gNewSense".

Both Gobuntu and gNewSense fulfill the desires of the most exigent users when it is about respecting their freedoms. Almost identical at the software level, these two distributions differ in the relation they maintain with Ubuntu at the project level.

"The 'current and future' thread on this list has got me thinking. [...] I think it would be better to channel the energy from Gobuntu into gNewSense. [...] If Gobuntu is not the best way to achieve that, then I think we should stop working on it and encourage folks who want that to focus their efforts on gNewSense..."

This year has already seen the second release of gNewSense, the completely free distribution endorsed by the Free Software Foundation (FSF), and the announcement that Ubuntu will have a free software option as part of its installation program.

An article from last year about Gobuntu's inability to capture freedom entirely

I am increasingly convinced all of the arguments between Linux distributions are going to become moot very soon. If they aren't there already...I think the distributions are becoming so similar in their construction, and the differences between them so subtle, the whole notion of distribution superiority is completely moot.

This is a short list of five different completely Free Software GNU/Linux distributions. They are focused on being entirely Free Software, and are all built around the Linux-Libre kernel. They aren't "official" yet, but they're certainly worth a look.

I have just uploaded installation packages of Linux-libre 2.6.29.1 that you can find here. They should install and run fine on Debian Lenny, Ubuntu Hardy/Intrepid and gNewSense deltah.

FUSBi, the Free USB Installer, is a nifty, little application that creates bootable images of free GNU/Linux distributions on USB drives (or hdd if you want).
FUSBi supports all of the GNU/Linux distros recognized as free by the Free Software Foundation. These include gNewSense, UTUTO, Dynebolic, Musix GNU+Linux, BLAG and GNUstep.