Ubuntu 10.04 LTS released!
I am a huge fan of Ubuntu! I'm a big fan of linux and OSS in general, but Ubuntu is linux done right. It is a clean, well-made, easy to use distribution. This release is particularly important because it is a Long Term Support release. These releases come every two years and are good for three years of updates and support from the Ubuntu developers. See, Ubuntu has a six month release cycle. Every six months, you get a new Ubuntu release! Usually enough aesthetics are updated and tweaked to make it feel like a whole new OS, but the underlying changes usually revolve around kernel updates and program updates.
Free software thrives on a constant flow of updates and fixes. Usually these fixes improve the program, but sometimes they break things, and sometimes they really break things. When you get a typical six month release of Ubuntu, you're getting software that's been tested, but may still be a little unstable in some far-out conditions. The appeal of the LTS release is that it is software that's been vetted for stability over the last two years, and will continue to be supported for the next two years.
If getting a new OS every six months is a little overwhelming, than the LTS release is the perfect option! It's not the bleeding edge, so you're not going to get burned by buggy software, and it's particularly tested for stability. I'm a mad man and I love installing a new version of Ubuntu from scratch every six months, but what I suffer through in buggy software (which is rarely buggy at all) pays off when the new LTS is released and everyone gets to reap the benefits of well-tested software.
If you're thinking about getting into linux, now is the perfect time. Installation could not be simpler, and this version even has a full blown manual.