About the DVD

Included with this book is a full Ubuntu Linux distribution that you can run entirely from your PC's DVD-ROM drive (though slower than if you actually install Ubuntu Linux). That's right. You can run Ubuntu Linux on your system without having to change your system or uninstall Windows.

This DVD includes a complete Ubuntu system with tons of great software that I will be covering in this book. You'll have access to your email, manage your contacts, keep organized, surf the Web, write letters in your word processor, use spreadsheets, play games, and more. In fact, you should be able to follow along with this book and do most of the things I talk about without having to install Linux at all.

Furthermore, the DVD also contains an archive of all Ubuntu supported packages, including many not available in the live session. I'll show you how to install additional software from the DVD in Chapter 8.

The bootable DVD is a fantastic introduction, but remember what I said about performance. The DVD does run much slower than a hard-disk install, so keep in mind that the performance you experience from the DVD is not indicative of the performance you can experience from a Linux hard-disk install. At their fastest, DVD drives are no match for even the slowest hard disk drive. Furthermore, when you run from the DVD (as opposed to installing Ubuntu Linux on your hard drive), you are limited to the packages on the DVD. In other words, you can't add or install any new software.

Ready to take Ubuntu Linux for a spin? The bootable DVD is a perfect introduction. I'll tell you all you need to know in the next chapter.

When you are truly ready to make the move to Ubuntu Linux, you can install it right from the same DVD. I'll tell you about that as well.