Ubuntu: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide

Curious about Ubuntu, but not sure where to start? Start here: “Ubuntu: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide”, by author Courtney Loo, is the latest free guide from MakeUseOf and will teach you everything you need to know about Ubuntu in easy-to-understand language.

Ubuntu is a free/libre, open-source computer operating system with 20 million users worldwide. But it’s also so much more than that: it is an ethos, a collaborative project and, first and foremost, Ubuntu is a community of people.

If you’re reading this guide, you’re probably interested in moving away from proprietary operating systems such as Windows and Mac OS X; perhaps you’ve already installed Ubuntu on your computer but are not sure where to start.

Migrating to a new operating system can be daunting, especially when faced with unfamiliar words like ‘FLOSS’, ‘command line interface’ and ‘kernel’. Many people are intimidated by the technical jargon of a non-commercial operating system and believe it’s too advanced for them.

Well, that is simply not true.

Ubuntu is easy to install and simple to use. Best of all: it’s completely FREE!

This complete, free guide will teach you:

  • What Ubuntu is, in every sense of the word
  • What makes Ubuntu free, as in freedom
  • How Ubuntu and Linux are related
  • How to install Ubuntu for absolute beginners
  • Where to find free support for Ubuntu questions
  • How to use the Unity interface
  • How to find software in Ubuntu, and which software to use

How To Download

Option 1: Very easy! Share this page on Facebook, Twitter, or Google Plus. You need to use the buttons above to share and your download link will be revealed right below! That would also help us spread the word. Thank you!

Option 2: Subscribe to MakeUseOf Newsletter and get unlock password to our downloads. Enter the password below to download the file. (Already subscriber? Re-enter your email in the newsletter subscription form to retrieve the password).

Check out other cool MakeUseOf Guides.

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Reader Feedback

  • Brian(aka brianzion) Carr

    cant open the document keeps saying i don’t have permission?

    • Treger

      Downloaded and opened just fine. 32 Pages.

      • Brian(aka brianzion) Carr

        i changed browser and have it now . very good book will pass it on to my children who are just starting to explore operating systems, thanks.

    • Bob Graham

      Type in the password

      Password is: makeuseof

      • Brian(aka brianzion) Carr

        thank you

    • Anonymous

      ??? OH NO THE SKY IS FALLING WHAT SHOULD I DO ???

    • Mightyhans

      chmod 777 *.pdf

  • http://www.vivitech.co.uk/ Vivitech Ltd

    This is a really good document for new users

  • Nagendra kumar Gummapu

    Really good thanks for sharing

  • Likescarlet

    thanks fr the another useful Guide.

    http://www.StudentsCrunch.Com

  • Hernan_huarte

    Excellent!!

  • Angalphin

    Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!

  • giloudepau

    Brilliant! Thanks!

  • Heri Eriyadi

    Thanks a lot

  • Gregorio Lemoine

    i forgot my password and i cann`t download the ubuntud guide

    • Gailjr

      I thought it was ‘makeuseof’ without the punctuation?

  • Papahis

    thank you, great help.

  • http://profiles.google.com/faresh.94 Fares AL-Fares

    Thank you :)
    yesterday i download this OS and install it, i’m really beginners

  • http://profiles.google.com/angelnavarretebonet angel navarrete bonet

    no me deja descargar.

    • jhpot

      Hola! Se necesita la contraseña: “makeseof”

  • DavidHicks

    Good freebie. Right on time,. I just started using Ubuntu in Virtual Box and, to tell the truth, even though I fiddled with Linux a few years ago, I’ve been befuddled about a few things on Ubuntu.

  • Mick

    Tried both FireFox, and Internet Explorer. Tried both copy/paste, and typing my email address – nothing works!!! Won’t accept the email address! It’s worked OK before.

    • Blahxd67

      did you try typing in: makeuseof in the password area?

  • Hawleyj

    Excuse me????? Option 1 involves forcing me to shill for you. Where the hell is option 2, 3 or whatever. If the only way to get this guide is to declare you are so “special” then I can damn well live without it.

    • http://www.makeuseof.com/ Aibek

      There are 2 download options. You may use any of them to download the guide. If you don’t want to shill for us then you may simply subscribe to our newsletter to download the guide.

    • Sean Miller

      Seriously, don’t be a self-centered jerk.

    • http://www.markoneill.org Mark O’Neill

      We’re giving you a free PDF guide full of helpful information which took a lot of time and effort to research, write and put together.

      All we ask in return is a small mention on your social media accounts to pass the word around. It isn’t much to ask for.

  • John

    Thank You…

  • Ajaykmr670

    thank you……………..

  • Paul Owino

    Not bad

  • http://famepiyush.mp Piyush Saxena

    Thanx !!!!!

  • Yhermannm

    Thank you, your efforts make us ourselves more useful…

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SEKNW5WHQ37TLBKBLJJSBKJSWQ zopo911

    There is something wrong with the download link.When its half way, it stops downloading, i’v tried various browsers, also tried download accelerator.During this period i was able to download from other site, so its not my connection.Please try to fix this.

    • http://www.makeuseof.com/ Aibek

      could you please send us a screenshot of what you see.

    • http://www.makeuseof.com/answers Tina

      Zopo,

      did you try to download again in the meantime? Maybe it was a temporary issue on our side. Please let us know!

  • Gerlev

    I tried to download Ubunto Guide with both Explorer and Chrome and I received the same message on both browsers that the file is corrupted and cannot be opened.
    Please help on this. Thanks

  • Orlando

    Thanks for the guide it’s very useful

  • http://twitter.com/ryandigweed0 ryandigweed

    Thanks :)

  • Knitwitter

    I enter the password and click the download button, and all I get is this:

    “Download Link
    To download and save the file on your computer: Right-click on the Download Link above and select the “Save link as…” or “Save target as…” option to save the file.
    OR
    Click link above to open the guide in a new browser window, be patient it may take a while for your browser to download the file.
    Having Problems Downloading?
    1. Try any other browser.
    2. Make sure that Javascript is enabled on your browser.
    3. Make sure to type-in the download password directly instead of copy paste.”

    Right clicking the button (after reloading the page) doesn’t get anywhere either.

    • http://www.makeuseof.com/answers Tina

      Works fine for me. Can you not save the link when you right-click the big text that says ‘Download Link’? Which browser do you use?

    • http://twitter.com/Inoe_Nugroho Asmoro Budi Nugroho

      Why do you reload the page?

      After entering the password, right click the big blue “Download Link” link and save it.
      (Actually, simply clicking on it lets you download it, though.)

      So, basically the procedure is:
      1. Enter password.
      2. The download link appears.
      3. Of course, you need to click it to download it.

    • http://www.makeuseof.com/ Aibek

      Are you not able to click the Download Link?

      Could you please try again and see if the issue persists. If that’s the case please
      right-click anywhere on the webpage and select “View Page Source” option. Copy the source code and
      send it over to us for inspection.

      thank you

      Aibek

  • http://twitter.com/BjornSverrisson Bjorn Sverrisson

    Thank you! :)

  • http://aleksandar.eror.me Aleksandar Eror

    Thank you

  • Hammadimourad

    i recently found a problem dealing with how to instal ubunto to my laptop as the it can t rebbot the cd-rom may the cd was a live cd

  • Ann Stilatus

    thanks again for a great present

    ann stilatus

  • Netwebsteps

    Greetings,

    unable to down load…..

  • Blahxd67

    3. Make sure to type-in the download password directly instead of copy paste

    • http://www.makeuseof.com/answers Tina

      Thank you for the tip!

  • gopal patel

    awesome

  • Jon M.

    Can’t print the document, says that there is nothing to print

  • Randall Polk

    I was already subscribed to Make Use Of , Plus shared the page on here , still see no password to download the Ubuntu beginners guide ! Anybody clue me in , (?) , for I am clueless ! Thanks , Randall

    • http://www.makeuseof.com/ Aibek

      You should have received a password upon your first subscription. Alternatively, when you share this page using the sharing buttons provided above you should see the download link.

      Regardless, the pass is ‘makeuseof’ (without quotes)

      Aibke

  • Randall Polk

    Does it not like to give the password , or download in Firefox ?

  • Mariesherrie

    what is it used for

  • Mwhall1935

    Thank you very much…. Maybe I’ll learn Ubuntu??
    Manley

  • Pitzenator Pitavosque

    love the guide dat i download Ubuntu for beginers

  • Paul Wright

    I don’t think listing Kindle is appropriate. Yep, I will be converting epub to mobi and expect it to work but, until you go Kindle native format, I think you should not mention it. the way you handle it on the main page (referring to calibre) is OK.

  • Levi

    what i realy need now

  • Firtinam35

    what password? i send my mail adress and i open mail but no have see password there ? help me plss..

    • jhpot

      I just personally sent you an email with the password. Enjoy!

  • Razimhamed

    the pdf download link is really tricky lol
    you have to point the cursor at the first of it

  • http://www.makeuseof.com/ Aibek

    you’re welcome, enjoy and share!