The first question I hear Linux newbies ask is what is the best distribution to use? I think right now plenty of linux desktop options exist for newbies however a few things set Ubuntu ahead of the pack in my opinion.

Like many of you, I live in an Ubuntu world. Sure, I also have a Debian box that I run as a file server on my home network, but most of my desktops/notebooks are fully dedicated Ubuntu machines.

One could never argue the overall quality and effort put into this operating system. And while Mandriva undoubtedly remains among the distro giants, there are some quirks that shouldn't have slipped into this release. Other than that, it is a great choice for newbies and experienced users alike.

For the Linux newbie, Ubuntu is the oft recommended distro, for a few different reasons. It's easy to set up, works on a lot of hardware, and doesn't require a manual to understand how to manage it. For the same reason, Ubuntu seems to get a bad rap from more experienced Linux users. I say there's no need of it, and I'm about to explain why.

Ubuntu user management. Ubuntu has three different types of users who are listed on the Ubuntu server; root, service accounts and regular users. Users on Ubuntu have login, resource and environmental options that can be set. This is the first in a series on how to manage users on Ubuntu.

Linpus Technologies has long been known in Taiwan for its Linux distributions. Now, it wants to become a player in the global Linux market with its new Linux distribution Linpus Linux Lite, which features a dual-mode user interface. One mode is for people who may never have used a computer before; the other is for experienced Linux users.

There have been reports on the Linux newswires recently of dissatisfied Ubuntu users leaving for one reason or another. I’m not going to jump on that bandwagon here, but instead just point out that in any community, especially an immature one, this is bound to happen. My message is to those who are leaving — you should put Debian at the top of your list of distros to try.

Brian Proffitt recently tackled the topic of distro-hopping over on LinuxPlanet. Proffitt wonders whether the practice might be passe or something to be discouraged, but it's here to stay and should be encouraged rather than looked at askew. Distro-hopping, if you're not familiar with the term, is the practice of switching Linux distributions.

Creating users in Ubuntu means that you must be aware of the options for home directory, UID, User Identifier options and how to recognize password options.