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"despirately wanting it".... then download it, it's free, and all it's applications are on one cd.

Ups! Not really all. There is a (small) collection on a CD. But, once installed, it is more than easy to install other applications via internet. The "App-Installer" has a list of all apps directly compatible (and tested) with Ubuntu (some thousend?).

Simply click on what you like to have and anything needed to make you happy is downloaded, installed and pre-configured (including apps/libs/drivers required to run the new app).

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Sounds like there are basic word processing applications, a version of gimp, web browsers, media players and a few small card or puzzle games for it, but that's it.

One of the "basic wordprocessing" is Open Office. Truly more than basic :) More the way "anything most users will need". Open Office includes Spreedsheet ("Excel"),  publisher and "powerpoint".

Open Office is also available for plain Windows!

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It also looks like they are only really encouraging only free application developement for it.

What's wrong with "free software for a free OS"?
 

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Since it looks like a Linux dirivitive, why not just try Linux instead?

What do you think is "Linux"?

Ubuntu is a Linux Distribution. A CD/DVD (or download) full of goodies: a kernel, what means the base OS named Linux, a collection of librairies, drivers, apps, GUIs and some installers. And some people holding it all together and up to date. Basically the same as with Windows or Mac-OS :)

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