While it is hard to estimate how many everyday users have defected from Windows or Apple software to join the open-source movement, Ubuntu (pronounced oo-boon-too) has emerged as one of the Linux desktop packages of choice for those looking for a basic desktop alternative.

• Location: IRC channel #ubuntu-meeting
• Agenda: http://wiki.edubuntu.org/EdubuntuWiki

• Location: IRC channel #ubuntu-meeting
• Agenda: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/TechnicalBoardAgenda

A recent survey of nearly 15,000 linux users by DesktopLinux.com revealed Ubuntu Desktop Linux to be the most popular - by a drastic margin.

The most popular desktop of Linux today is… well, most of you can already guess without seeing the scores: Ubuntu.

Ubuntu, with 29.2 percent of the vote, has been the hottest community Linux since early 2005.

Ubuntu’s automatic install and configuration obviously did a good job.

Stephen Shankland at C-Net notices our billboards.

If you guessed that Ubuntu came top in a comparision of three of the leading Desktop distributions, then you’d be spot on. Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth gave us a tip about the following shoot-out. Freespire and OpenSuse are pitted against our own Ubuntu and we thought that you’d like to hear the results as well.

Online technology site CRN whipped out three sets of CDs for their recent review in an aim to track down Which Free Linux Desktop is Best?

Comparisions were made across the areas of Installation, Setup and Configuration, Support, Feature Set and Usability. Points being allocated across the five topics, one to three points points awarded in each area. The results were tallied up with the total scores revealing the overall winner. In the highlighted section below we can see how Ubuntu faired in each speciality:

Everyone reading this article, users of Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Edubuntu, and/or Xubuntu, give yourself a pat on the back. You all are the reason that Ubuntu keeps doing as well as it does. Without all of you, the tables could have very well been turned in this review, but with your hard work and dedication, Ubuntu keeps trucking along out front and in the lead.

Head on over to the CRN article for the full story. CRN has pointed out the strengths as well as some valid criticisms for each of the desktop distibutions. Our thanks go to everyone who continues to improve Ubuntu, the points selected by CRN will provide an excellent starting point for future work and you too can help by providing feedback and assistance with making Ubuntu.

‘After spending a month or so trying the current version of Ubuntu, including installing it on four or five of the laptops I wrote about last week, I think it’s a viable Windows replacement, especially for the “I just use the computer for Web and e-mail” contingent.’

“More than 20,000 Indiana students are now Linux-enabled … one school district has been having ‘a good deal of success with Ubuntu.’”

Joe ‘Zonker’ Brockmeier over at Newsforge has been covering the current events at LinuxWorld San Francisco during this week. Today they ran an article that doesn’t surprise me one bit:

Many of the .Org booths, the Ubuntu booth in particular, seem to be swamped, while others have only a few attendees dropping by at a time.

Thank you to everyone who made it to the stand (we hope you found what you wanted) and a special warm thanks to all of the Ubunteros who have been running the booth. The complete article is posted on Newsforge for those interested in reading more.

For those wondering, an Ubuntero is an Ubuntu user who has read, agreed to, and signed the Ubuntu Code of Conduct. You too can became an Ubuntero and help out the Ubuntu community, head on over to the Ubuntu Community Participation page now to get started!

The expo comes to an end today, so check back here for more news and information about LinuxWorld and the Ubuntu coverage!