Xubuntu For Linux

Welcome to the Raring Ringtail edition of Xubuntu, an open source distribution of Linux built around the lightweight and fast Xfce desktop environment, and based on the latest Ubuntu technologies. It is an operating system engineered to run well on computers with low-end hardware components, such as 512MB of RAM.

The Xubuntu 13.04 release was officially announced by Canonical on April 25, 2013 along with other Ubuntu flavors, and supported with software updates and security patches until January 27, 2014. It is still available for download as Live ISO images, but bigger, deployable only on DVD discs or USB flash drives of 1GB or higher capacity.

The boot menu is unchanged from previous versions, allowing the user to try Xubuntu without installing it, boot an existing operating system from the first disk drive, check the disc for defects (only if using a DVD media), perform a memory diagnostic test, as well as to install the OS without testing it (not recommended).

Unfortunately for some, the same dark/white theme that was introduced in Xubuntu 12.10 is still used in this release, which is powered by the latest version of the Xfce desktop environment. On the other hand, the GIMP and Gnumeric applications are back.

Default applications include the Pidgin multi-protocol instant messenger, Mozilla Firefox web browser, Mozilla Thunderbird email and news client, Mousepad text editor, gThumb/Ristretto image viewers, Transmission BitTorrent client, AbiWord word processor, Parole media player, Xfburn CD/DVD burning software, XChat IRC client, and gmusicbrowser audio player.

In conclusion, Xubuntu 13.04 is now a DVD-only release that uses a not so popular dark/white theme for the graphical environment. Despite these annoyances, it is still one of the best operating systems for low-end machines and computers with no more than 512MB or RAM.