Linux/Ubuntu - Post Interest Here!

[Opus106]

Boldly going where no Ibex has gone before.
http://www.ubuntu.com/

IOW, Ubuntu 8.10 - codenamed Intrepid Ibex - was released today.

[not edward]

Boldly going where no Ibex has gone before.
http://www.ubuntu.com/

IOW, Ubuntu 8.10 - codenamed Intrepid Ibex - was released today.

And as with any software, I'll be waiting a few weeks before upgrading.

I've had nothing but good results with Ubuntu (my machines are dual-boot Windows and Linux boxes) and I have to say that when taking a laptop around and plugging it into other people's hardware I've often found fewer compatibility issues with Ubuntu than with Windows. Back in the day I rather despaired of Linux ever being a good choice for a home machine, but I'd have no qualms about recommending it for non-specialist uses these days (with a windows partition available for specialist software, games and the like).

[Catison]

I decided I'm not upgrading except for LTS editions.  I found that as I upgraded, I had more and more problems that ever really got resolved.  I am happy with things just working and being stable (that's why I don't use Windows, right?).

Is there any significant reason to upgrade from the LTS edition?

[Maciek]

Is there any significant reason to upgrade from the LTS edition?

I'm asking myself the same question. Anyone have any experience in these matters? The machine I'm currently using (which isn't really mine) is not even a dual-boot. (I've set an NTFS partition aside to install Windows later, but then changed my mind.)

[Opus106]

One usually upgrades to have bleeding-edge software, that's all. While it may be the latest, it need not always be the greatest version, but the reviews of the RC have been quite promising.

http://www.linuxformat.co.uk/static/ubuntu810.html
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/ubuntu-8-10-review.html (A more detailed test than the previous one.)

[Maciek]

Thanks for the links. The tabbed Nautilus looks good.

[Opus106]

Thanks for the links. The tabbed Nautilus looks good.

You're welcome. Yes, tabs rule! I will most probably be upgrading tomorrow.

[Opus106]

This one's is a little silly, still... Ubuntu 8.10 Outperforms Vista.

That title was actually taken from the Slashdot entry in which the report appeared.

[SonicMan46]

Currently running Ubuntu 7.10 (Gusty Gibbon) on my old IBM laptop - decided not to upgrade to Ubuntu 8.04 despite being offered that option in 'Upgrade Manager' - the newest release 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex) is enticing but just curious - what is the best option, i.e. just upgrade over the previous Ubuntu edition (once offered in 'Update Manager') or save my data files (which I do to an external USB HD), and then do a 'new' install?  Thanks - 

[Opus106]

what is the best option, i.e. just upgrade over the previous Ubuntu edition (once offered in 'Update Manager') or save my data files (which I do to an external USB HD), and then do a 'new' install?  Thanks - 

Hi, Dave.
Save your data files no matter what! I have been upgrading to new versions by using the "alternate" CD. (It helps to have a copy of the install CD around.) I am not sure if popping in that CD in 7.10 will let you upgrade directly to 8.10. If I were to upgrade, I would not to do a fresh install, unless something has gone awfully wrong and the current installation has become uselss. Too much work, IMO.

There are instructions available at the Ubuntu website on how to "jump" from one version to another. Hope these help.

Upgrading to 8.04 LTS
Upgrading to 8.10 (from 8.04 LTS)
Community Doc: UpgradeFromOldVersion

[Opus106]

I'm back! Running Ubuntu 8.10. The upgrade was smooth and successful, but it took longer than usual - about 4.5 hours, which also included 20-30 minutes to download updates on a 1.7Mbps connection.

The only problem which has been carried over from the previous version is that of kernels 2.6.22-15 and upwards. It never boots into the desktop with those kernel images. But thankfully, the working version has been retained.

[SonicMan46]

Save your data files no matter what! I have been upgrading to new versions by using the "alternate" CD. (It helps to have a copy of the install CD around.) I am not sure if popping in that CD in 7.10 will let you upgrade directly to 8.10. If I were to upgrade, I would not to do a fresh install, unless something has gone awfully wrong and the current installation has become uselss. Too much work, IMO.

There are instructions available at the Ubuntu website on how to "jump" from one version to another. Hope these help..............

Opus - thanks for the advice & information; I second your first statement - all of my computers are attached to external HDs for backup purposes, so will have my data/music/image files stored! 

Also, I'll check out those links shortly - I've been to those sites, esp. when getting started last year w/ 'Gusty Gibbon', but have not returned much lately - Dave 

[SonicMan46]

Well, since my last post, I decided to upgrade to Hardy Heron, i.e. Ubuntu 8.04 - took a while but went well and rebooted fine - loaded on the most recent release of Firefox - this is a LTS version, so will likely stick w/ this for a while! 

Currently reading the book shown below:  How to do Everything - Ubuntu by Jeffrey Orloff - released just a few months ago w/ coverage of Ubuntu 8.04, i.e. Hardy Heron - nice introduction (300+ pages) and up-to-date; not for those who already know Ubuntu fairly well and want to delve into specific issues, such as BASH; but a recommendation for 'newbies' to Ubuntu who may like a 'text in hand' vs. finding & reading the information from the web (and plenty is available!) - 

[Opus106]

Well, since my last post, I decided to upgrade to Hardy Heron, i.e. Ubuntu 8.04 - took a while but went well and rebooted fine - loaded on the most recent release of Firefox - this is a LTS version, so will likely stick w/ this for a while! 

Glad to know it was a smooth upgrade.

Update on my side: Since my last post about the kernel, I have now a working version of 2.6.27-7... most of the other Kernels have been removed (except 2.6.22-), and the grub menu looks a lot less cluttered now.

[ChamberNut]

I'm a member of the Linux/Ubuntu club as of recently too!  And it's been a great experience so far.   

[SonicMan46]

I'm a member of the Linux/Ubuntu club as of recently too!  And it's been a great experience so far.   

Ray - thanks for the update!    Just brought that old IBM laptop on a recent trip to the Raleigh-Durham area (free 'wireless' in the room - of course, the room isn't cheap!) - no problem at all connecting - the Ubuntu computer is my 'on the road' laptop' - even starting to take it on the planes (Memphis, Orlando, et al) - easy to pack in my regular 'carry-on' - even if one is into only a Windows OS, putting a 'free' Linux OS on a 'cheap' laptop is worth the extra assurance just to have a 'back-up' - plus, I really feel 'safer' to take this older machine on the road! 

[DavidW]

I decided I'm not upgrading except for LTS editions.  I found that as I upgraded, I had more and more problems that ever really got resolved.  I am happy with things just working and being stable (that's why I don't use Windows, right?).

Is there any significant reason to upgrade from the LTS edition?

I think this is very sensible.  If you want to upgrade specific software that has features that you desire you can do without feeling like you should upgrade the entire OS.  Windows and Mac users would say duh!, but for some reason linux users feel the urge to upgrade versions for every release, as if everything gets magically better.

I used to use linux alot, there was programming I did that was linux friendly in grad school... but now honestly office and latex are all that I use now so I just stick with Windows.

It's sad to see that Ubuntu must have won, it's now considered (at least by this thread) synonymous with linux as if there were no other flavors.  I find Debian, Slackware, Fedora, Mandriva, Arch, and Gentoo to all have their merits and many of them I prefer to Ubuntu, which I find to be too dumbed down and harder to tweak.

[SonicMan46]

............It's sad to see that Ubuntu must have won, it's now considered (at least by this thread) synonymous with linux as if there were no other flavors.  I find Debian, Slackware, Fedora, Mandriva, Arch, and Gentoo to all have their merits and many of them I prefer to Ubuntu, which I find to be too dumbed down and harder to tweak.

David is quite right in the increasing popularity and dominance of Ubuntu - I like the GNOME GUI which provides a 'familiarity' for those coming from Windows and who might not be able to delve into the shell and re-programming; plus, for myself the computer I'm using has to be used easily by my wife 'on the road' - so she needs icons, clicks, and a mouse.  OTOH, for those who may dislike slow bootups, the need for more RAM, and a desire to do some shell programming, there are innumerable Linux versions out there, some of which are listed above - check HERE for even a longer listing the the various 'distros' - 

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

I know a lot of people preferring openSUSE. I personally prefer having a small linux running in a virtual machine, because naturally I use windows for most things. Basically audio stuff is important to me. So there's no need for performance. I do some compiler building things with yacc and haskell. I let TeX run on windows (miktex).

Nobody loving opensuse 11.1? Tried it once, I must say I have never seen a sexier and more functional installer before. Many things worked out of the box, even my printer was able to print double sided.

[Opus106]

Ubuntu Pocket Guide and Reference - an e-book that you can download free of cost. 

Oh, and I also just discovered ( ) that Linus runs a blog.