Ubuntu 8.10 is here...

Well, I half expected to see a thread already, but it's here now:

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

I'll get mine tonight after work and give it a spin...

 

I downloaded the Wubi install and installed it in my Vista 64. Works nice with FDISR. It installs in the snapshot. First you get the FDISR logon screen and after that you can coose Windows or Ubuntu.
No install, regardless of OS, has ever been this fast, easy and unintrusive. Ubuntu did it all and discovered all my hardware, I didnt have to do anything. I have a "22 screen and Ubuntu chose the right resolution for me (1680*1050) Real big improvement on the installation procedure, very intelligent

Everything is really fast. Programs start and working in the interface.
In earlier builds I was always disappointed coz I expected (and everyone said so) Linux to be way faster than my already fast Windows. This version is at least as fast as Vista 64 ( *edit* I take that back. Ubuntu is faster) (DOH!, now that I come to think of it why didnt I download the 64 bit Ubuntu)

Dont ask me why but I still love the compiz enhancements to the interface. Cube Desktop and wobbling windows, just great

The only negative is that the fonts in Firefox are terrible still.

 

I just enabled the update function in software sources, but I think I will wait a bit before leaving Hardy. I just recently finished my tweaking with it, and will wait to see what the consensus is with ibex.

Btw, my fonts look great in firefox (deja vu, autohinter enabled).

 

Had some problems with it here, mostly ATI graphics related. However, I will wait a few days and try again. Part of it might be due to the servers, I couldn't seem to install ATI drivers from Ubuntu, and when I downloaded them from the ATI site, they refused to install, citing something to do with the kernel version or lack of support somehow or other. No good... Also could not get NTFS volume to mount, which never happened in 8.04. So all in all, I think it deserves another try in a few days. Seems odd to have any probs at all, I usually dont' with Ubuntu....

Meanwhile back to Vista x64.....

 

Installed here, finally support for my printer and thats all I needed to leave Windows, hopefully forever.

 

I loaded up the livecd into virtual box and installed it to a usb drive. Works like a charm, picked up my wireless card and had support for WPA2 and PEAP. Its just a bit slow though. Looking for a faster flash drive!

 

There are other ubuntu editions: kubuntu, xubuntu, edubuntu...
Is there any noticibale difference between them other than the visual interface? What edition would be the best to fit pc´s with moderate configuation?

 

I'd say go for Xfce (Xubuntu). Light and fast and can be as configurable and pretty as any other DE with a little work.

 

All of them do well on PCs with minimal resources, but Xubuntu is lightest as Xfce is very light as compared to KDE and Gnome.

 

Can I run Ubuntu from the CD? If so, what am I giving up by not installing it on my hard drive?

 

Yes Ubuntu is a LiveCD so you can run it without installing it on the computer.

I never run LiveCD's, i always install so i don't really know what is different except the obvious that your changes are not saved. I guess there is an other obvious issue and that is there might be slow downs since it have to read from the cd now and then, example when you open a program etc.

 

You are giving up on some speed as it will be slower loading from a CD than harddrive. You are also giving up persistence as any changes you make wont be saved.

 

Hi bill when you run from the live CD its a bit slow versus a full install to your HDD.Hence you should not judge its performance base on that alone.You can make changes while running the live CD surf the web as you would your daily OS.when done playing just shut down pop up CD No changes Saved,Have fun.

 

Hi, first time I try ubuntu. Could you tell me how to know all of the drivers are identified and installed correctly?
My laptop: Thinkpad X61s

 

The Fonts are an easy fix.

Install Ubuntu restricted extras from add and remove. MS fonts will be installed.

Go to: Preferences/Appearance/Fonts. Chose UnDotum 9 in Application Font, Monospace 9 in Fixed Width Font and Trebuchet MS 9 in the rest.

 

Play around with the 'Rendering' options. Subpixel smoothing or Best Shapes work well for me. Full or Slight RGB perhaps in the Details Option.

 

Ubuntu Restricted extras also installs Adobe Flash player, Java 6 and some useful codecs.

 

Load up the livecd and see it detects everything. If it helps, I have a R61i and everything works out of the box.

 

When I ran the CD everything seemed very good hardware drive etc and continued When I installed to the HDD everything worked from the the wireless connection to the cd player and uploading photos from my digital cam etc etc.Since then I moved on to Kubuntu 8.10 not the same senario.The Wireless support seems week I need to move within feet from the router to connect or my network manager will not sync and my wireless signal is excellent with vista and Ubuntu not so with Kubuntu,But as I said as long as I am close to router on to first sync up connected, I am fine to move about.I am also having problems with CD/DVD but No big deal since web and email is peechie .As far as Ubuntu goes Imo its good to go even for a full transition from windows.

 

Kubuntu disaapointed me as I coudln't connect to the net with my ADSL by provicing a static IP and DNS, even the new 8.10 Ubuntu network manager has bugs but I have been able to fix it, otherwise runs solid and fast as usual. Not really missing XPx64.

 

Thanks a lot Riverrun! I´ve searched the howtos but I have not seen that one. I will try that.
I have changed the font to a little bit more bearable one but it still looks really ugly.

btw there was an update today that messed up Firefox really bad for me. After the required reboot Firefox wouldnt start, it says Firefox was loaded already and I had to close it. But the funny thing was that there were no Firefox process loaded in memory so obviously the different kill commands (and reboot) that is suggested on the net when googling about this problem did no good.
Very strange.

 

When using ubuntu i always do this after a fresh install and have applied
microsofts fonts.

In the terminal:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure fontconfig-config

Font tuning method for screen: Autohinter
Enable subpixel rendering for screen: Always
Enable bitmapped fonts by default? No

In the terminal:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure fontconfig

In the terminal:
sudo ln -sf /etc/fonts/conf.avail/10-autohint.conf /etc/fonts/conf.d/

Then in System->Preferences->Appearance->Fonts->Details:

Resolution: 96 DPI
Smoothing: Subpixel (LCDs)
Hinting: Slight
Subpixel Order: RGB

After that you logout or reboot and the settings should take effect.
For me this makes a huge difference.

 

Did you try the method I described in me review / tutorial?
Or did you have to manually "hack" the network scripts?
Mrk

 

Mrkvonic,

Its a known bug, what you have to do is to add a new connection instead of edit existing connection, that way it holds the connection settings after reboot. Also with Intel embedded video like G31, 45, 45 etc. the system doesn't show display after re-logging, thats another bug being disucssed in the forums.