why does Ubuntu need so large a USB stick?

[Alex Gabriel]

I assume this is to allow for the option of adding a persistence file. I've installed 10.10 to a 1GB USB stick for a friend, and had no issues running it.

I think, for clarity, that "we recommend a USB stick of at least 2GB be used" should be added, as it isn't a hard and fast rule, but seems to be more of a guideline when using a USB stick for running Ubuntu.
------Original Message------
From: D. Hugh Redelmeier
Sender: owner-tlug at ss.org
To: Toronto Linux Users Group
ReplyTo: tlug at ss.org
Subject: [TLUG]: why does Ubuntu need so large a USB stick?
Sent: Oct 21, 2010 17:56

I've downloaded Ubuntu 10.10 desktop .iso files and am reading the 
directions for making a bootable USB flash memory from them.

The first thing it says is:

	Insert a USB stick with at least 2GB of free 
	space

Why does it need 2GB when the .iso is only 728754176 bytes?

Perhaps the .iso is compressed and the USB is not, but that would seem
dumb.

Why does it say "2GB free"?  Does it preserve the existing content?
If so, surely there must be a limitation on what filesystems are
supported and this isn't mentioned.
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Alex Gabriel

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