| It's here! Ubuntu 7.10 arrives |
Oct. 18, 2007
Ubuntu users rejoice. Ubuntu 7.10 is here.
Ubuntu, the remarkably popular desktop Linux distribution that tries to bring the latest and greatest open-source programs every six months, arrived Oct. 18. The Gutsy Gibbon Ubuntu 7.10 Desktop Edition includes improvements in advanced plug-and-play printing, enhanced browsing and the option of a smooth new user interface built on top of the new GNOME 2.20 desktop.
The distribution, based on Desktop Linux's survey of Ubuntu's download sites and mirrors, seems to be, as of 11 a.m. EDT, available on all sites. Just because a site has the new release doesn't mean you'll be able to download it. We found that about half the sites were already at maximum capacity and not allowing any more users.
Users can also download Ubuntu 7.10 via BitTorrent. In these early hours, we found that the Ubuntu Torrents are not especially fast. We were seeing speeds in the 10 to 20 Kbps (kilobits per second) range. This was due to the relatively small number of seeds—BitTorrent sites with the full distribution—compared to the much larger number of peers.
The latest version of Ubuntu includes numerous new features. In particular, its hardware support has been improved. Besides better plug-and-play configuration for printers, the new Ubuntu includes automatic firmware installation for Broadcom Wi-Fi cards.
Laptop users will also be pleased to see improved support for display systems. With Gutsy Gibbon, full external VGA (projector) support is available out of the box, with easy reconfiguration when hardware is switched. Mark Shuttleworth, Canonical CEO and Ubuntu's founder, believes that Ubuntu 7.10 now offers the best VGA out support for laptops of any Linux distribution.
This version also comes with compiz and Compiz Fusion enabled by default. This part brings 3-D desktop and other eye candy that improves the desktop's visual appeal. Ubuntu 7.10 automatically detects whether the hardware is capable of running compiz. If it's not compiz-capable, it will fall back to normal desktop. Additional effects can be enabled in "System/Preferences/Appearance" under the "Visual Effects" tab. You can also disable the effects entirely. Some users, even with high-end graphic cards and the appropriate drivers, may run into trouble. For more on potential graphics problems, see the Ubuntu 7.10 release notes.
Ubuntu 7.10 users now have full read and write capability for all Windows partitions, including NTFS files. This is especially useful for users with dual-boot Windows/Ubuntu systems. This support comes from NTFS3G--an open-source, freely available read/write NTFS driver for Linux. While this will allow users access to Windows XP and Vista file systems, users are not encouraged to try to run disk-intensive Linux applications, such as the MySQL database, off NTFS drives.
The new Ubuntu also comes with GNOME's new Tracker 0.6.3 desktop search application. With this, users can search their systems for files, folders, chat logs or photos using both free text searches, the way Beagle and Google enable users to search, or structured searches using RDF Query. This capability includes the deskbar applet, a central location on users' desktops for all local and Web search operations.
To use Tracker effectively, Ubuntu also includes Deskbar. With this users can not only search their PCs, but they also launch Web searches with their favorite Web search engine.
Ubuntu 7.10 also includes a new option in the Ubuntu application installer to help users select and automatically install several popular Firefox plug-ins. These extensions and plug-ins have been validated by Ubuntu for a richer, safer Web-browsing experience.
The distribution also comes with greatly improved and easier-to-maintain security. This comes to Ubuntu thanks to AppArmor. Shuttleworth describes this as the second generation of Linux security.
All in all, the new Ubuntu appears at first glance to be a solid improvement on the last version and one that both young and old Ubuntu users will find a worthwhile upgrade. New users can use the Ubuntu CD as a live CD to get a taste of Ubuntu without having to install it on their Windows PCs. Users who want to upgrade from Ubuntu 7.04 to 7.10 should follow the instructions on the Ubuntu upgrade page. For those who'd rather not install or upgrade software of any sort, Dell has announced that it will soon be shipping desktops and laptops with Ubuntu 7.10.
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
Do you have comments on this story?
Talkback here
NOTE: Please post your comments regarding our articles using the above link. Be sure to use this article's title as the "Subject" in your posts. Before you create a new thread, please check to see if a discussion thread is already running on the article you plan to comment on. Thanks!
Related Stories:
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
Approaching the Linux Desktop
The purpose of this paper is to help organizations evaluate the Linux desktop against their own enterprise needs and discover what benefits the Linux desktop might bring to their organizations.
Migrating To Linux: Application Challenges and Solutions
Several solutions exist to help organizations migrate in an orderly fashion from Windows to Linux desktops. This paper establishes the characteristics of an ideal cross-platform solution and reviews these alternatives in light of this ideal standard. The paper takes a closer look at the pros and cons of various solutions and outlines the business benefits that can be achieved.
Linux Advantages: Publicly Available Information on Linux Software
This paper offers a brief summary of readily-available Linux information to help businesses sort out this widely misunderstood operating system.
Top 5 Strategies for Managing Linux
Despite continuous evolution in the manageability of Linux, a 2006 survey cited manageability concerns as a top reason why organizations are hesitating to adopt Linux. Levanta believes Linux can be as manageable, if not more so, than other operating systems by following key strategies. These strategic recommendations were developed from experiences in numerous customer environments, both large and small.
Why Choose Novell for Linux?
This paper outlines the benefits of switching to the Linux platform and choosing Novell as a high-performance, enterprise solution.
Enterprise Linux Selection Guide
Considering moving your enterprise to the Linux operating system? Since there are so many similar versions, choosing the right one can be tough. This paper offers a clear process to help you make an informed decision and get the features, support, and cost that are right for your business and technical needs.
Overcoming Challenges in Managing Linux
Levanta has created a new administration model with innovative technology that breaks down the barriers to making the most of Linux systems. This paper will provide an in-depth look at the workings of Levanta’s product, the first Linux appliance of its kind.
SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 for Retail Businesses
Discover why major retailers have switched to SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop in the back office. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 is a low-cost desktop that offers a complete set of productivity applications and interoperates seamlessly with the other Windows, Macintosh and UNIX desktops in your store.
Moving to a Linux Desktop
Migrating from Windows to Linux on the desktop can be a substantial undertaking because it has the potential for touching -- and perhaps disrupting -- every user in your organization. Unlike a data center (server and infrastructure) migration that is largely transparent to users, the cultural and administrative transitions and environment readiness required to support a Linux desktop migration are extensive.
Seven Good Reasons to Exchange Exchange
This paper describes seven compelling reasons why you should switch from Exchange to Scalix.
|
|
|
|
|
news feed
