The Ubuntu .iso file size...

[KGIII]

I decided to check something. It matters because I'm bandwidth-impoverished at the moment.

This is a bit inconsequential when we get down to brass tacks, so this is just for pontification purposes.

The Ubuntu Desktop .iso file is larger than the .iso file for the current version of Windows 11.

Win11 is 5.8 GB.
Ubuntu 2024 LTS is 6.3 GB.

At some point, it may be hard to find major distros that still fit on a standard single-layer DVD.

This isn't the first time such has happened. It was not that many years ago that distros started being too large to fit on a standard CD. This is essentially the same thing, though this is the end of the line for optical media.

Many computers, including desktop computers, don't even come with any optical media hardware at all.

There will still be smaller distros. There will continue to be distros that fit on optical media. That's unlikely to change in the very near future.

There's also booting and installing over the network, which is handy if you want to build up your own system (as that's a very minimal installation). But, as far as optical media goes, it's not really all that useful for the latest Ubuntu.

I did not check other distros. I only checked this one because I had to download it for some VM testing in another thread.

 

[dos2unix]

Most of the distro's I am using these days fall in the "under 2.5GB" range. But actually that's not even really accurate.
Most of the time these days, I tend to use netinstall iso's. Which are usually in the "under 700MB: range.

For some reason, I had thought Ubuntu had a netinstall version, but maybe I'm confused? (wouldn't be the first time).

Edit: I found it. - https://cofractal-ewr.mm.fcix.net/ubuntu-releases/24.10/

82 MB. But it wasn't easy to find.

 

[KGIII]

I tend to use netinstall iso's.

I used to do that fairly often. It resulted in a system with less bloat and wasn't all that time consuming.

Most of the distro's I am using these days fall in the "under 2.5GB" range

For now, I suppose. Even those won't fit on a CD anymore. So, that time is passing.

I suppose it's inevitable, at least for the desktop systems. Software doesn't tend to get lighter and smaller.

I'm sure there will always be ways around it and I'm sure some distros will purposefully keep their distro small.

After all, there were still a few distros that will fit on a floppy. I believe at least a couple of them are still being maintained.

 

[dos2unix]

I do have some on DVD (4.7GB). I don't remember why. I think there was a time about 20 years some computers didn't have USB? I can't remember.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

I only use netinstaller ISO's and these are very small.

Complete ISO's are big because a lot of bundled software.

 

[The Duck]

I have a couple hundred 8.5 GB DVDs find them new in local thrift stores for a few dollars where I live.

Here's a link if ya don't have any decent thrift stores where ya live.

Amazon.com : 8.5 gb dvd

www.amazon.com

Robot or human?

 

[KGIII]

I do have some on DVD (4.7GB). I don't remember why. I think there was a time about 20 years some computers didn't have USB? I can't remember.

I have a stack of 'em but haven't used one for years. They may be past their 'use by' date.

I only use netinstaller ISO's and these are very small.

Complete ISO's are big because a lot of bundled software.

Yup. Software doesn't tend to get smaller. Look up Zawinski's Law. (I think that's spelled properly.) It's as old as time.

 

[The Duck]

People are always amazed when I whip out my Windows 10 DVD iso to salvage their Windows computer.

I always hear can't use a DVD anymore. Nonsense.

 

[dos2unix]

when I whip out my Windows 10 DVD iso

I will say, the USB drives fit in my pockets easier.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

Yup. Software doesn't tend to get smaller. Look up Zawinski's Law.

Interesting quote and true.
software bloat is one real problem that's driven by users rather than developers.

But regarding ISO's it's not a big deal if one want all software bundled, USB's are large enough, no need for DVD.
I haven't use my DVD drive for years, and I have plenty of blank DVD's and CD's, not sure what to do with them.

 

[The Duck]

I just like the DVD / CD platform for the most unless us step on them and break them DVDs / CDs are bulletproof.

I've had a hand full of USB flash drives crap out for no reason and ain't never had a DVD / CD fail period.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

I just like the DVD / CD platform for the most unless us step on them and break them DVDs / CDs are bulletproof.

I've had a hand full of USB flash drives crap out for no reason and ain't never had a DVD / CD fail period.

They're limited in space and more expensive than USB's.
I have almost 1TB of data, if I want to put that on DVD's that would cost more and take more physical space than external USB drive.

 

[The Duck]

no need for DVD.
I haven't use my DVD drive for years, and I have plenty of blank DVD's and CD's, not sure what to do with them.

Keep them you never know when you may need one.

I use them all of the time mainly for family photos as the stupid ones in the family can't erase a DVD-R like a USB flash drive.

 

[The Duck]

more expensive than USB's.

Not the way I buy them.

I find unopened new DVD 100 packs in thrift stores for $2.00 to $5.00 and when I do I buy everyone they have.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

@The Duck
You make me want to make use of my DVD's
But haven't decided yet what to put on them, certainly nothing sensitive.

 

[MikeRocor]

Not the way I buy them.

I find unopened new DVD 100 packs in thrift stores for $2.00 to $5.00 and when I do I buy everyone they have.

I was given a great big stack (a 100-pack) of DVD R/W media for free. I gratefully accepted it... but really don't have much use for it as I refuse to use optical media for archival/backup purposes - got burned that way once and it aint gonna happen again.

It seems a shame to burn Tiny Core Linux to a DVD R/W just to give it to someone. I'll wonder I could fit every version, including each one's entire software repo onto one such disk? And then I wonder why I would ever do that.

 

[Condobloke]

I decided to check something. It matters because I'm bandwidth-impoverished at the moment.

The Ubuntu Desktop .iso file is larger than the .iso file for the current version of Windows 11.

Win11 is 5.8 GB.
Ubuntu 2024 LTS is 6.3 GB.

The current Linux Mint .iso file is 3GB (fwiw)

Bandwidth impoverished: how far off is the cable upgrade thingie (i forget the detail) that you were waiting on ?

 

[KGIII]

it's not a big deal if one want all software bundled,

Indeed. That was in my original post. I'm merely remarking on the soon-to-come end of an era. For better or worse, .iso files are going to keep getting bigger and bigger.

An amusing thing is that I recall a time when 4.7 GB was an insane amount of space. People thought we'd never need bigger storage than that but those of us who had been around for a while knew that this era too would come to an end.

People even invested in BluRay drives to save their data. That era sort of coincided with the advent of larger flash storage and that meant you could fit a USB thumbdrive into your pocket that would far exceed the storage offered even by BluRay.

At the time, I was often on the bleeding edge of tech but I never opted for a BluRay burner outside of one that was included in a device I wanted to buy. It never got used for anything larger than a DVD, not even for playback purposes.

Once upon a time, USB was really slow. Today, they're supplanting optical media and the read/write speeds are even faster than the old spinning platter HDDs. I remember when USB was a new standard. I'm not sure that I'd have predicted this eventuality. Though, to be fair, comparing today's USB to the original spec is a wee bit disingenuous. They/re very different animals.

 

[KGIII]

The current Linux Mint .iso file is 3GB (fwiw)

Bandwidth impoverished: how far off is the cable upgrade thingie (i forget the detail) that you were waiting on ?

They called me about two weeks ago to let me know that they're starting to work on installations to the home.

I don't know what that really means for me, as I"m still in the sticks compared to where they're working. I was a bit skeptical of their optimism in the first place. They said they'd be starting in February and I know what the weather is like at that time of the year. So, I was skeptical.

For whatever reason, the unlimited cell phone I was using has stopped connecting reliably. So, I'm limited to satellite. I'd seriously consider Starlink but they claim my area won't work (it will but their online system is broken) but I might just as well be patient and wait for the fiber. So, I'm stuck with pretty crappy HughesNet.

Actually, they've been doing miraculously better lately. I think they learned that fiber is coming to the area and they're hoping to keep some clients. We'd renew our bandwidth every month and it'd be used up within a week. After that, it'd slow down to the point where it was not really useful. I can at least stream video while downloading, but it's slow. It's miles better than it was, but it's still slow.

So, I'm patiently waiting for the fiber connection and the bill that will come with it. They do check in now and then to let me know that I'm not forgotten. I don't think they've actually hooked anyone up at this point. It's the mountains of Maine in the winter. It takes a hardy soul to work outside, though it has been fairly warm compared to some years. Still, we have many days where the wind is gusting in the 50+ mph range. I wouldn't want to be out there working all day in this environment. (It's different if I'm playing in it.)

 

[Condobloke]

Do they have an "unlimited" plan ?

Here i can download 'stuff' until both myself and the pc are black in the face, and the external is bulging, with no adverse financial impact.

I don't do that much downloading....enough, but not enough to catch their attention.

I could also reduce the plan to an ADSL arrangement, but after experiencing the National broadband offering, adsl pales in comparison. Slow as a wet week.