Ubuntu Netbook Edition
Ubuntu Netbook Edition, sometimes referred to as UNE, was a specialized version of the Ubuntu operating system designed specifically for netbooks. It was originally known as Ubuntu Netbook Remix (UNR) before the release of Ubuntu 10.04 LTS. The purpose of this edition was to cater to the unique hardware configurations and usage patterns of netbook computers, which were typically characterized by smaller screens and lower processing power compared to typical laptops.
Development and Features
The Ubuntu Netbook Edition was developed by Canonical Ltd., the commercial sponsor of the Ubuntu project. Designed to leverage the limited resources of netbooks, UNE featured a user interface and applications optimized for smaller displays and lesser hardware capabilities.
User Interface
Beginning with Ubuntu 10.10, the UNE utilized the Unity user interface, which introduced a new way of interacting with the desktop environment. This graphical shell was created to maximize screen space and provide a streamlined user experience. Unity featured a launcher, dash, and global menu to replace the traditional GNOME desktop environment, thus improving navigation on smaller screens.
Software and Applications
UNE came with a suite of pre-installed applications designed to ensure that users could utilize their netbooks effectively right out of the box. These included Mozilla Firefox for web browsing, LibreOffice for productivity tasks, and media players capable of handling various file types. UNE also supported proprietary codecs, such as MPEG-4 and MP3, which were crucial for multimedia playback.
Merging with Ubuntu Desktop Edition
With the release of Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal), the netbook-specific edition was merged into the standard Ubuntu Desktop Edition. This merge was made feasible by the adoption of the Unity interface across both platforms, which unified the user experience irrespective of hardware form factor. As a result, the need for a separate netbook edition was eliminated.
Impact and Legacy
The development of the Ubuntu Netbook Edition was indicative of the broader trend within the Linux community to create distributions optimized for specific hardware types. This approach was seen in other distributions like EasyPeasy and Joli OS, which were also tailored for netbooks.
Despite its discontinuation, UNE played a significant role in influencing the direction of Ubuntu's development, particularly in the adoption of new user interface paradigms. The Unity interface's experimentation on netbooks laid the groundwork for its later implementation in the desktop editions, marking a pivotal shift in Ubuntu's evolution.