File this under the heading “Strange But True.” When you point your browser to http://iloveubuntu.com, you’re re-directed to a rather large software company’s Web site. Somebody is playing a game on Bill Gates. Just don’t blame me.

Sorry for this belated post. Here is the final part of our five-part countdown, highlighting 50 trends and takeaways from the 2007 Ubuntu Live conference in Portland, Oregon. Some of the items are closely related to earlier portions of the list. Here we go…

Greetings and sorry I’ve been offline a few days due to extended travel. After the Ubuntu LIVE event in Portland, Oregon, I headed to the Cisco Networkers Live event in Anaheim, California. Now I’m in Las Vegas with about 1,000 VARs (value-added resellers) and integrators for the CompTIA Breakaway conference. While I’m here I’ll be sure to ask VARs if/how they’re embracing Ubuntu in their business practices. I know a few Asterisk resellers are here, but I don’t think Ubuntu has caught on yet in the channel — with the possible exception of the higher education market. More Ubuntu coverage from Vegas to follow this week.

Here’s part four of The VAR Guy’s five-part countdown, highlighting 50 trends and takeaways from the 2007 Ubuntu Live conference in Portland, Oregon. Items 20-11.

Here’s part three of our five-part countdown, highlighting 50 trends and takeaways from the 2007 Ubuntu Live conference in Portland, Oregon. Items 30-21.

Bummer. Hewlett-Packard’s Linux CTO, Bdale Garbee, didn’t show for his scheduled keynote session this morning at Ubuntu Live.

Here’s part two of our five-part countdown, highlighting 50 trends and takeaways from the 2007 Ubuntu Live conference in Portland, Oregon. Items 40-31, with more to follow soon…

Eager to try Ubuntu but not sure how to make the leap from Windows? Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, is gearing up to assist you. Indeed, the company is preparing several new initiatives to help train Windows users on Ubuntu Linux. The training push will include technology managers, system builders, consumer and business users, and university students, according to Billy Cina, a training program manager at Canonical.

Software industry pioneer Mitch Kapor–the father of Lotus 1-2-3 and chair of the Open Source Applications Foundation –today compared the open source movement to the seven-part Harry Potter book series.

Yes, The VAR Guy is attending the 2007 UbuntuLive in Portland, Oregon. He’s already noticed several Ubuntu Linux trends that could potentially benefit solutions providers and their customers. So, it’s the perfect opportunity for a big countdown: 50 things you need to know about Ubuntu. Here are items 50-41, with more to follow soon…