New Ubuntu options

While poking around in the Jaunty Jackalope download page, I noticed several new additions to the usual download options. For the past few releases, we've only had to contend with the Desktop Install, the Server Install, and the Alternate Install Edition, all with the 32-bit and 64-bit variants. These all fell within the 700MB size limit of CD-Rs. But with Jaunty Jackalope, there are a few more:

First, there's now the Install/Live DVD, which weighs in at 4.3GB. There's no stated differences with the standard CD edition, but I presume that this will have more packages preloaded into the CD, e.g., compilers, development environments, and databases. The bigger size will be a pain to download, but it should be easier to redistribute the software to organizations without broadband Internet.

Next, there's the Ubuntu Netbook Remix, available as a .img file. As per the description:

This USB image allows you to run Ubuntu Netbook Remix (UNR) from a USB storage device without installing UNR on your computer. While running in this "live" environment you will be running a full desktop environment and have the option to install UNR permanently, as well as installing UNR alongside an existing operating system. This USB image is optimized for netbooks with screens up to 10". You will need at least 256MB of RAM to install from this image.

For almost all PCs. This includes most machines with Intel/AMD/etc type processors and almost all computers that run Microsoft Windows, as well as newer Apple Macintosh systems based on Intel processors. Choose this if you are at all unsure.


Finally, there's the MID USB image, meant for mobile Internet devices, also available as a .img file.

The MID USB image allows you to try Ubuntu without changing your computer at all, and at your option to install it permanently later. This USB image is optimized for handheld devices with 4-7" touchscreens and limited processing power. You will need at least 128MB of RAM to install from this image.


Now I wish I knew which MID devices Ubuntu runs on so I can go out and buy 'em!

Image files are written to USB using the usb-imagewriter utility, as outlined in the USB image how-to.

Curious at these developments, I also had a look at the Intrepid and Hardy download pages. The Netbook remix had also been introduced to 8.10, but with 8.04, only the DVD option is now available.