Until Ubuntu 13.04, Ubuntu recommended all users use the 32-bit edition of Ubuntu on its download page. However, this recommendation has been removed for a reason — users of modern PCs are better off with the 64-bit edition.

While Microsoft has been installing the 64-bit edition of Windows on modern PCs by default for years, Ubuntu has been slower to recommend the use of its 64-bit edition — but that has changed.

Windows 8 no longer comes with Windows Media Center. To get it, you’ll need to purchase both the Pro Pack and Media Center Pack upgrades from Microsoft for a total of $110. Consider using a free, Linux-based media center system instead.

Once you have paid all this money, you’ll just have the old version of Windows Media Center without any improvements. Microsoft will probably discontinue Windows Media Center eventually, anyway, as they’re no longer focused on it.

There’s no one true desktop environment for Linux. Unlike competing operating systems like Windows, Linux users have a choice of many different desktop environments, all with their own styles and strengths.

You can install one of these desktop environments after installing your Linux distribution and switch between desktop environments from the login screen. You can also choose to install a Linux distribution that comes with the desktop environment. For example, you can get Ubuntu in many different flavors.

Have you ever wished your Hypervisor could be installed at the push of a button, without the tedious searching for the install CD and answering the same boring installation questions? HTG explains how to PXE an automated installation of Citrix-Xen.

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Have you ever wished you could get the “Windows Recovery Console” running for that one maintenance procedure or program you want to use, without having to remember where you’ve forgotten the CD? HTG explains how to boot WinPE from PXE.

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Windows Pre-execution environment (WinPE) is the version of windows that most people know as the one that boots off of the install CD. Over the years, entire projects have been created to give one the ability to have a sort of “Windows Live“ environment like many Linux distros. In this guide, we will have the windows PE from the install CD boot from PXE just so we can use it to run the Dell BIOS update utility. You are encouraged to continue the exploration of this bottomless pit of geek goodness…

We all knew this was coming and now it is finally here. As of today, May 9th, Ubuntu is no longer offering support for their 8.04 LTS Server (Hardy Heron), 10.04 LTS Desktop (Lucid Lynx), and 11.10 Desktop (Oneiric Ocelot) editions. So grab some blank DVDs, fire up your favorite disc burning software, and get ready to update your systems.

One important note to keep in mind is that support for the Server Edition of 10.04 LTS (Lucid Lynx) will continue for another two years.

You can learn more details about the end of support as well as download newer versions of Ubuntu Desktop and Server using the links below.

Ubuntu 11.10, 10.04 Desktop and 8.04 Server reach end of life [The H Open]

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the recently-released Ubuntu 13.04 is that it isn’t remarkable at all. Ubuntu 13.04 contains the latest versions of software and additional polish, but there are no must-have features that will make you rush to upgrade.

At some point, individual releases of Ubuntu became more of an option for enthusiasts. Ubuntu’s download site pushes Ubuntu 12.04 LTS as the most prominent option, software like Valve’s Steam is designed to support Ubuntu 12.04 LTS first and foremost, and the LTS version is continually updated with support for the latest hardware.

This guide explains how to configure a Windows Server 2008 machine to push out a static Ubuntu image that can be picked up by diskless terminals, so that you can have any number of machines running a fully-functional instance of Ubuntu without having a hard drive, as long as they are capable of PXE booting.

This is a guest article by Alexander Karnitis and Cody Dull, two readers that work for Hyndman Inc and had to figure out how to accomplish this task for their job. They were kind enough to write up the process for everybody else.

Chromebooks aren’t “just a browser” — they’re Linux laptops. You can easily install a full Linux desktop alongside Chrome OS and instantly switch between the two with a hotkey — no rebooting necessary.

We performed this process with the $249 Samsung Chromebook, also known as the Samsung Series 3 Chromebook. If you have another Chromebook, read on anyway — it’s the same process.

So, all the new editions of Ubuntu are available for download and you are eager to try out the latest releases. But where do you go to find all that Ubuntu goodness, especially if you are looking for one of the UI-variant editions? Not to worry, we have the links for the direct download pages for seven editions of Ubuntu gathered together into one post for your convenience!

The list has been updated to a total of nine editions.

Depending on which edition’s page you visit, the download links will be located either towards the top of the page or sometimes lower down…just scroll down to find them.

List of Direct Download Pages:

• Ubuntu
• Kubuntu
• Xubuntu
• Lubuntu
• Ubuntu-GNOME
• Ubuntu Kylin
• Ubuntu Server