经常有人问起Ubuntu的版本选择问题，论坛中虽有帖子提及，但不是很详细，不集中，我就尝试把Ubuntu上的这点东东翻译一下，供大家参考，水平有限，敬请包涵、指正。
Ubuntu的版本号：一般以出发行版的年月来命名，比如最新版是7.04，就是2007年4月发行的，它还有个代号：Feisty Fawn。具体版本号请参考http://wiki.ubuntu.org.cn首页下方的当前版本部分。
引用:
7.04 · Feisty Fawn . 2007-4
6.10 · Edgy Eft . 2006-10
6.06 · Dapper Drake . 2006-6
5.10 · Breezy Badger . 2005-10
5.04 . Hoary Hedgehog . 2005-04
7.10 . Gutsy Gibbon . 2007-10
6.10 · Edgy Eft . 2006-10
6.06 · Dapper Drake . 2006-6
5.10 · Breezy Badger . 2005-10
5.04 . Hoary Hedgehog . 2005-04
7.10 . Gutsy Gibbon . 2007-10
架构：在某网站上看到
引用:
当前 Ubuntu 发布版支持 Intel x86 (IBM-compatible PC), AMD64 (Hammer) and PowerPC (Apple iBook and Powerbook, G4 and G5) 架构。
其实现在也支持Sun的Sparc架构了，不过这些对我们意义不大，我们普通人用的基本都是Intel或AMD的桌面或笔记本CPU，只要从前两者（X86和AMD64）中挑选就行了。
版本：
Desktop CD 图形界面安装光盘
desktop CD可以让你无需改变你的计算机就能尝试Ubuntu系统，以后是否永久安装由你决定。这种CD是多数人想要使用的。 要安装这种你至少需要有256MB内存。
有两种可用的映像文件，分别用于不同类型的计算机：
PC (Intel x86) desktop CD
用于绝大多数PC。包括大多数使用Intel、AMD等处理器的机器和能运行MS Windows系统的绝大多数机器，基于Intel处理器的新型Apple Macintosh机也可以使用该系统。如果你不确定就选择这个版本吧。
64-bit PC (AMD64) desktop CD
选择这个版本可以充分发挥基于AMD64或EM64T架构（比如，Athlon64、Opteron、EM64T Xeon）的计算机的性能。如果你用的是AMD的非64位处理器，或者你需要充分支持32位代码，请选择Intel X86映像文件。
Server install CD 服务器安装光盘
这个server install CD使你可以在计算机上永久安装Ubuntu作为服务器使用。它不会安装图形用户界面。
有3种映像可用，分别用于不同类型的计算机：
PC (Intel x86) server install CD
用于绝大多数PC。包括大多数使用Intel、AMD等处理器的机器和能运行MS Windows系统的绝大多数机器，基于Intel处理器的新型Apple Macintosh机也可以使用该系统。如果你不确定就选择这个版本吧。
64-bit PC (AMD64) server install CD
选择这个版本可以充分发挥基于AMD64或EM64T架构（比如，Athlon64、Opteron、EM64T Xeon）的计算机的性能。如果你用的是AMD的非64位处理器，或者你需要充分支持32位代码，请选择Intel X86映像文件。
SPARC server install CD
用于Sun UltraSPARC计算机，包括基于多核UltraSPARC T1 ("Niagara")处理器的机器。
Alternate install CD 文字界面安装光盘
alternate install CD可以使你执行一定的专家级的Ubuntu安装。用于以下情形：
* 创建预配置OEM系统；
* 设置自动布置；
* 在无网络链接情况下从旧系统升级；
* LVM和/或RAID分区；
* 在小于256MB内存的系统上安装（但是注意相应地低内存系统可能无法运行完整的桌面环境）。
在使用alterate installer时遇到bug，请提交有关debian-installer包的bug。
有两种映像可用，分别用于不同类型的计算机：
PC (Intel x86) alternate install CD
用于绝大多数PC。包括大多数使用Intel、AMD等处理器的机器和能运行MS Windows系统的绝大多数机器，基于Intel处理器的新型Apple Macintosh机也可以使用该系统。如果你不确定就选择这个版本吧。
64-bit PC (AMD64) alternate install CD
选择这个版本可以充分发挥基于AMD64或EM64T架构（比如，Athlon64、Opteron、EM64T Xeon）的计算机的性能。如果你用的是AMD的非64位处理器，或者你需要充分支持32位代码，请选择Intel X86映像文件。
原文：
引用:
Desktop CD
The desktop CD allows you to try Ubuntu without changing your computer at all, and at your option to install it permanently later. This type of CD is what most people will want to use. You will need at least 256MB of RAM to install from this CD.
There are two images available, each for a different type of computer:
PC (Intel x86) desktop CD
For almost all PCs. This includes most machines with Intel/AMD/etc type processors and almost all computers that run Microsoft Windows, as well as newer Apple Macintosh systems based on Intel processors. Choose this if you are at all unsure.
64-bit PC (AMD64) desktop CD
Choose this to take full advantage of computers based on the AMD64 or EM64T architecture (e.g., Athlon64, Opteron, EM64T Xeon). If you have a non-64-bit processor made by AMD, or if you need full support for 32-bit code, use the Intel x86 images instead.
Server install CD
The server install CD allows you to install Ubuntu permanently on a computer for use as a server. It will not install a graphical user interface.
There are three images available, each for a different type of computer:
PC (Intel x86) server install CD
For almost all PCs. This includes most machines with Intel/AMD/etc type processors and almost all computers that run Microsoft Windows, as well as newer Apple Macintosh systems based on Intel processors. Choose this if you are at all unsure.
64-bit PC (AMD64) server install CD
Choose this to take full advantage of computers based on the AMD64 or EM64T architecture (e.g., Athlon64, Opteron, EM64T Xeon). If you have a non-64-bit processor made by AMD, or if you need full support for 32-bit code, use the Intel x86 images instead.
SPARC server install CD
For Sun UltraSPARC computers, including those based on the multicore UltraSPARC T1 ("Niagara") processors.
Alternate install CD
The alternate install CD allows you to perform certain specialist installations of Ubuntu. It provides for the following situations:
* creating pre-configured OEM systems;
* setting up automated deployments;
* upgrading from older installations without network access;
* LVM and/or RAID partitioning;
* installs on systems with less than about 256MB of RAM (although note that low-memory systems may not be able to run a full desktop environment reasonably).
In the event that you encounter a bug using the alternate installer, please file a bug on the debian-installer package.
There are two images available, each for a different type of computer:
PC (Intel x86) alternate install CD
For almost all PCs. This includes most machines with Intel/AMD/etc type processors and almost all computers that run Microsoft Windows, as well as newer Apple Macintosh systems based on Intel processors. Choose this if you are at all unsure.
64-bit PC (AMD64) alternate install CD
Choose this to take full advantage of computers based on the AMD64 or EM64T architecture (e.g., Athlon64, Opteron, EM64T Xeon). If you have a non-64-bit processor made by AMD, or if you need full support for 32-bit code, use the Intel x86 images instead.
The desktop CD allows you to try Ubuntu without changing your computer at all, and at your option to install it permanently later. This type of CD is what most people will want to use. You will need at least 256MB of RAM to install from this CD.
There are two images available, each for a different type of computer:
PC (Intel x86) desktop CD
For almost all PCs. This includes most machines with Intel/AMD/etc type processors and almost all computers that run Microsoft Windows, as well as newer Apple Macintosh systems based on Intel processors. Choose this if you are at all unsure.
64-bit PC (AMD64) desktop CD
Choose this to take full advantage of computers based on the AMD64 or EM64T architecture (e.g., Athlon64, Opteron, EM64T Xeon). If you have a non-64-bit processor made by AMD, or if you need full support for 32-bit code, use the Intel x86 images instead.
Server install CD
The server install CD allows you to install Ubuntu permanently on a computer for use as a server. It will not install a graphical user interface.
There are three images available, each for a different type of computer:
PC (Intel x86) server install CD
For almost all PCs. This includes most machines with Intel/AMD/etc type processors and almost all computers that run Microsoft Windows, as well as newer Apple Macintosh systems based on Intel processors. Choose this if you are at all unsure.
64-bit PC (AMD64) server install CD
Choose this to take full advantage of computers based on the AMD64 or EM64T architecture (e.g., Athlon64, Opteron, EM64T Xeon). If you have a non-64-bit processor made by AMD, or if you need full support for 32-bit code, use the Intel x86 images instead.
SPARC server install CD
For Sun UltraSPARC computers, including those based on the multicore UltraSPARC T1 ("Niagara") processors.
Alternate install CD
The alternate install CD allows you to perform certain specialist installations of Ubuntu. It provides for the following situations:
* creating pre-configured OEM systems;
* setting up automated deployments;
* upgrading from older installations without network access;
* LVM and/or RAID partitioning;
* installs on systems with less than about 256MB of RAM (although note that low-memory systems may not be able to run a full desktop environment reasonably).
In the event that you encounter a bug using the alternate installer, please file a bug on the debian-installer package.
There are two images available, each for a different type of computer:
PC (Intel x86) alternate install CD
For almost all PCs. This includes most machines with Intel/AMD/etc type processors and almost all computers that run Microsoft Windows, as well as newer Apple Macintosh systems based on Intel processors. Choose this if you are at all unsure.
64-bit PC (AMD64) alternate install CD
Choose this to take full advantage of computers based on the AMD64 or EM64T architecture (e.g., Athlon64, Opteron, EM64T Xeon). If you have a non-64-bit processor made by AMD, or if you need full support for 32-bit code, use the Intel x86 images instead.
另外，还有： Desktop / Alternate DVD - DVD 安裝
DVD 內包含 Desktop / Alternate 两种安裝模式，不过少了三个项目，分別是内存测试/救援模式/硬盘开机。
同样有两种平台可供选择：
* PC (Intel x86)
用于绝大多数PC。包括大多数使用Intel、AMD等处理器的机器和能运行MS Windows系统的绝大多数机器，基于Intel处理器的新型Apple Macintosh机也可以使用该系统。如果你不确定就选择这个版本吧。
* 64-bit PC (AMD64)
选择这个版本可以充分发挥基于AMD64或EM64T架构（比如，Athlon64、Opteron、EM64T Xeon）的计算机的性能。如果你用的是AMD的非64位处理器，或者你需要充分支持32位代码，请选择Intel X86映像文件。
总而言之，言而总之，没有什么特殊要求就选择32位版（x86）的，如果想体验AMD64 64位系统，需要做好有少数软件无法运行的心理准备。不过也没那么可怕，我就在用AMD64 Ubuntu，不过对刚入门的新手来说，还是建议使用x86 Ubuntu，如果你非要尝试一下AMD64系统，请先到“64位系统支持”版块看看。
对于桌面用户来说，Desktop和Alterate这两种CD如何选择，一般选择Desktop可以让你通过它的Live CD功能先尝试一下Ubuntu是什么样子，选择Alterate可以让安装时的兼容性更好些。当然如果实在为难，你又有DVD光驱的话，DVD是个不错的选择，它相当于Desktop和Alterate的合集，还自带了大量的软件包，对于没有网络的朋友很有帮助。
PS：Ubuntu根据使用桌面环境的不同，还分为Ubuntu（采用Gnome桌面环境，界面比较简洁、用户最多）、Kubuntu（采用KDE桌面环境，界面比较华丽、有些软件特别优秀）和Xubuntu（采用Xfce桌面环境，比较小巧、速度较快），大家可以分别到“Gnome桌面环境”、“KDE桌面环境”、“XFCE桌面环境”了解一下各个桌面环境的特点再选择。
下载地址：见一叶老大的《论坛通告: Ubuntu7.04下载地址收集》（http://forum.ubuntu.org.cn/viewtopic.php?t=49434）
PS:有兴趣的，也可以看一下我翻译的《Full Circle》上的文章《Ubuntu版本进化史》（http://forum.ubuntu.org.cn/viewtopic.php?t=80548），这里面简单介绍了一下各个版本的特性及衍生版本的出现时间。