When Canonical officially launched Ubuntu 10.04 on April 29, I reached out to System76 President Carl Richell (pictured) to see when the Ubuntu-centric PC maker would begin offering the new distribution on netbooks, notebooks, PCs and servers. Here are some updates and insights from Richell and System76.

Each time Canonical ships a new Ubuntu release, I’m inclined to reach out to two specific PC companies: ZaReason and System76. Both companies focus intensely on Ubuntu netbooks, notebooks, PCs and servers. Here’s a look at ZaReason’s Ubuntu 10.04 strategy — according to CEO Cathy Malmrose and CTO Earl Malmrose (pictured).

No doubt, you know Ubuntu 10.04 debuts today. Most Ubuntu trackers are focused on the desktop and server editions — where Canonical seems to be making progress with ISVs and partners. But during a recent discussion with Canonical Chief Operating Officer Matt Asay (pictured), it became clear to me that Canonical thinks Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud may unlock key revenue opportunities for the company. Here’s why.

With the release of Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, Canonical is rolling out their brand new “Ubuntu Certified Professional Certification.” And it’s kind of a big deal, especially when this shows that Ubuntu is gaining traction and adoption. Here’s the full details…

It’s official: Ubuntu 10.04 Long Term Support arrives April 29, and this particular blogger was privy to the press conference about it. Canonical Chairman Mark Shuttleworth and CEO Jane Silber discussed the plans and progress of new operating system, and then fielded some Q and A. The key news:  More than 80 ISVs are supporting Ubuntu. But here’s what it means for the desktop users and Canonical as a whole…

The official stable release of Ubuntu 10.04 is only days away.  That means we can finally list all of the new features to expect in the next longterm-support version of Ubuntu, without having the developers change them every other day.  With that in mind, here’s a look at what to expect when you upgrade to Lucid Lynx on Thursday.

Whenever I read the Ubuntu philosophy, I feel warm and fuzzy inside knowing that I’m ostensibly part of a community that champions sharing and transparency.  Then the pessimist in my head tells me the only reason I use Ubuntu is because it doesn’t cost money, and I’m cheap.  For the four years that I’ve been an Ubuntu user, I’ve grappled with this question: how important is it that Ubuntu is Free, and not just free?

No doubt, it’s sometimes difficult to measure Ubuntu’s business success. Canonical says Ubuntu now has about 12 million Linux users — up from an estimated 8 million users in 2007. That sounds impressive, but what does that really mean in terms of Ubuntu’s market penetration, Canonical’s march to profitability and Ubuntu’s progress as a Linux distribution? In my mind, there are additional data points Canonical could share to further show Ubuntu’s momentum. Here they are.

One of the major new features to expect in future versions of Ubuntu is Gnome Activity Journal, which brings a very refreshing approach to the way users interact with files and data.  Here’s a look at how it works.

Ubuntu adoption for communities in the “Third World” seems like it should be a no-brainer: how could a functional, free operating system not prove wildly popular in developing countries?  Nonetheless, I believe Ubuntu use outside rich nations remains limited. Here’s a look at some suggested explanations of that reality, and how to change it.