So I randomly got the urge yesterday to wipe my linux partition clean and install a new distro, or at least a new release, and get back into linux a bit. I always have a linux partition on my system but I usually go through phases where I use it more or less. Regardless I have used multiple distros (a bit of gentoo and slack, redhat, suse, madrake, mandiva, fedora, mepis, ubuntu, etc) and had used ubuntu 6.06 for awhile. I had actually installed 6.10 around the end of last year but over time I broke some things playing with compiz and eventually just sort of stopped using it. I didn't get a true feel for the improvements or changes between 6.06 and 6.10

Now I figured I'd give you all a rundown of my first day trying out Ubuntu 7.04 from the perspective of someone who has used multiple linux distros, including multiple previous releases of ubuntu. This will not be one of the many fanboyish rantings about how ubuntu is the answer to all of linux's prayers haha.

First thing I noticed is that the livecd still works smoothly and the install procedure is still as painless as ever. Ubuntu has one of the easiest installs of any linux distro I've used (although lately most aren't too bad anymore) but ubuntu's toughest questions basically are what language you speak (excluding partitioning that is the same for all distros really).

Once the install is done and I got into the main install there were already a solid number of updates, including a kernel update, so another reboot later (I hate having to reboot after an install, but as far as I know a linux kernel patching on any distro would require this?) and I was in and running. I had killed my home partition since nothing worth saving was in it so I was starting completely fresh, looking at the admittedly not-so-pretty default ubuntu gnome theme. I really don't like the orangy brown-ness of ubuntu, but whatever, you can change the theme easy enough.

The first thing I always do after installing any linux distro is test networking (worked) then try my media (didn't). Ubuntu doesn't install out-of-box any drivers or codecs that could cause legal issues in any country but they have made it reasonably easy now to install a handful of packages that, after it warns you about potential legal issues, makes mp3's, divx, everything run fine without a hitch. Another quick install listed in all the UBuntu 7.10 guides and I had auto dvd playback running. The dvd quality is a little sketchy currently so I'm going to be looking into that. Hopefully if it's a codec issue ubuntu gets on finding a newer version or better replacement quickly.

That's the main reason I keep coming back to ubuntu. I know a LOT of people over hype it, and a lot of people hate it because they see it as "noob" now, but frankly I don't care. It finds a nice balance between making things work while keeping a good dose of what makes linux great for the more advanced users. It has some flaws (ex: some ati cards can be a complete ***** to get working from what I've heard, mine is somewhat hit or miss depending on how much eye candy I try to get going) but Ubuntu focuses on the user when developing so these things get ironed out pretty regularly. One good example of this user focus is the "Desktop Enhancements" that are built in for the 7.10 release. You can get a few of the basic bits of the xgl sexyness just by clicking enable if you don't feel like installing it all yourself. They plan to put even more in future releases but the fact that they are listening to what users wants makes me happy.

Some other features I've noticed that are probably nice for less experienced users are an add/remove programs button right in the main menu, with a nicely laid out program installation front end. There is a 'beagle' application that allows desktop search capabilities, etc.

Ubuntu 7.10 comes with all the expected software (FF, OO, gaim... oddly not pidgin yet... etc) and the rest is easy to grab. Some of the software in the repositories isn't quite the bleeding edge version, and sometimes you need to hunt to find the repo's to add to your sources to get all the programs you want, but the majority are fine without much intervention on your part.

Again, like any distro, it's not without problems. I've bricked installs of ubuntu in the past screwing with my graphics settings and drivers that on other distros I haven't had problems with. While Cononical claims Ubuntu 'just works' there are still numerous steps to getting things running just as you like them... which is logical, and the same for windows, other linux distros, etc, but goes against their claim.

This is a very solid release in my opinion, I'm more impressed with 7.04 then I was with the previous two releases as they didn't seem to polish anything that greatly. The previous releases seemed to try to make things smooth, and introduce new features, but only ever accomplished one or the other where 7.10 seems to be returning the focus to making the user worry less about the background stuff. Sure I still poke around in it all, but I could ignore it should I choose to haha.

I know Ubuntu has become the distro I'm used to so that obviously would bias my opinion but I've tried to stay objective, as mentioned it has its ups and downs but currently it seems to have more ups then downs. As long as you are willing to put in the effort to read some guides to getting a few basics set up at the get-go you can have a system that is pretty solid up and running in no time. If you prefer another distro I can't think of anything ubuntu offers yet that would make me recommend switching frankly, it does what it does well, but it doesn't do anything that spectacular. There are some things the team is apparently working on that might give it an edge but for now its just a very solid fairly average distro in my opinion... but thats why it remains my distro of choice.

 

 

 

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