Ubuntu released version 5.10 in October 2005, and I got a copy at the Ubuntu Below Zero conference. Having written a peer review on the first release of Ubuntu, I decided to do a follow-up to see if it still was a product suitable to newcomers to Linux, and to give my general impression on it as a regular user.

First, some general information from http://www.ubuntulinux.org.
Ubuntu is suitable for both desktop and server use. The current Ubuntu release supports PC (Intel x86), 64-bit PC (AMD64) and PowerPC (Apple iBook and Powerbook, G4 and G5) architectures.

Ubuntu includes more than 16,000 pieces of software, but the core desktop installation fits on a single CD. Ubuntu covers every standard desktop application from word processing and spreadsheet applications to internet access applications, web server software, email software, programming languages and tools and of course several games. Basically, anything you would find on a Windows or Linux system. Ubuntu comes with Gnome. For a version with KDE, try Kubuntu, and Xubuntu for a version with Xfce. There is also Edubuntu.

You can get the additional software you are looking for in the Ubuntu software repository, which is divided into three components: main, restricted and universe.

Ubuntu provides security updates for 18 months after each release.

To know what software is included in Ubuntu, what are the minimum requirements to run it and some issues with the distribution (there is always a few in any piece of software), visit http://www.ubuntulinux.org/support/releasenotes510.

For a professional review of Ubuntu, visit http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1878291,00.asp.

A little word of warning: web pages from www.ubuntulinux.org are often irritating slow to load.

For new Linux users

For a user new to Linux, or considering a jump from Windows to Linux, this distribution is still quite approachable. In fact, it has even been called a “Windows-clone” by some. Meaning you will get a definite feeling of familiarity in Ubuntu if you are loading a Linux system for the first time. This one works hard at making Windows users at ease in Linux.

Ubuntu comes packaged in 2 disks - one install CD and one LiveCD. The instructions on the jacket are clear enough to let anybody use the disks easily. It’s not rocket science (installing some Linux distributions is sometimes quite involved).

• A LiveCD distribution is a disk with a full operating system in it (here, Ubuntu Linux) which gets put in the RAM when it is loaded, which “you can try safely withoug altering any of the files on your computer”. Your current operating system do not get modified, is not at risk, and nothing will be changed on its hard drive. It won’t be written onto. (However, all of the drive can be read from - just be forewarned).
• This is ideal to let your kids, or another user, experiment with computers, giving them some freedom, without compromising your current install.

A word of caution: in the release notes of Breezy Badger, Ubuntu claims a to have a “Simple ‘dual boot’ configuration with automatic resizing of an existing installed OS.” This means that it will automatically resize an installed system like Windows, for instance, to make room for Ubuntu.

Whereas this is quite an interesting claim, I suggest that users do not try to use this feature without having a good backup of their data.

Consider that if this resizing fails, there is a real possibility that all of what is on the hard drive is lost? Be prepared when testing new features like this: Hope for the best, but be ready for the worst. This will make your life simpler and the process of playing with Linux more fun.

For more familiar Linux users

The x-window manager (GUI), in this case xorg, still needs improvement. The display on my screen is skewed to the right, something that often happens when I load a Debian based distribution. I personally I find it irritating. There is always the possibility of using the monitor adjustments to center and resize the screen, but when you have more than one OS on your machine, reajusting the screen manually every time you switch OS is annoying. Knowing that Kanotix, Suse, Mepis and Xandros can display X properly, I have come to expect other distributions to be able to do the same.

For Commercial Users

Ubuntu offers commercial support to users who would wish for such a service. Canonical Ltd. has put up a network across the world to that end. For more information, visit http://www.ubuntu.com/support/supportoptions/marketplace.

Support, Documentation and Information

Ubuntu has many sources of information: official documentation, an unofficial guide, a wiki, forums, e-mail lists, related web sites, and IRC (covered in the next section). The links to it are available on the Documentation page for Ubuntu

Also, for support in other languages than English, visit: http://www.ubuntu.com/support/supportoptions/local/, where you will find a list of all languages available to users.

For general news, “What’s happening with Ubuntu”, and a “Ubuntu Get Together” web place, visit The Fridge, at http://fridge.ubuntu.com/

Technical Support for Ubuntu is available from a variety of sources: from the community, from Canonical Ltd and other organisations, and from developers directly through open web forums, mailing lists and IRC channels.

IRC Channels

Ubuntu has many channels on IRC, mainly freenode. There is the main channel #ubuntu, #ubuntu-xx (replace the xx with a country code) to get channels in various languages, #ubuntu-devel (for developers), #kubuntu, #xubuntu, and more.

I have visited a few of them. First #ubuntu, which is an impressive channel for its helpful members and “Ubuntu spirit”. I wouldn’t hesitate to send anybody there for help and support. I also tried #ubuntu-de and #ubuntu-de-treffpunkt (2 german channels), and the tone/spirit of those channel was good too. I would recommend all of those to friends and family anytime.

One notable exception: #ubuntu-fr. For francophons from Africa, America and Asia, be warned that the users in that channel use a local slang from France which is very hard to read (definitely not international French), and that they have an attitude for which many Linux channels have become most infamous. A place to avoid if you can, and where you definitely don’t want pre-teens/teens to visit.

Live CD (32 and 64 bits)

I tested the 32 bit version (LiveCD and install) on 2 computers and had a friend test the 64 bit version (LiveCD only).

The only comment the 64 bit tester gave me about Ubuntu was the limitations on the resolutions available to him on the desktop. Only 3 were available, none of which took full advantage of the capabilities of his monitor and graphic card (they could have handled much higher resolutions and refresh rates). He would have liked a much higher resolution.

As for the 32 bit version, it ran well on one computer (event if it took long to load), but on the other, I found Ubuntu not only very long to load, but also sluggish to use. Which was unusual for me as I am familiar with Kanotix, a liveCD distro with much faster load time and flawless performance once started. Ubuntu does not seem to be optimized as a LiveCD distribution. It makes for a nice demo, but if you intend to use a LiveCD OS regularly, I recommend trying another one (Kanotix or Knoppix).

Install CD and Installation

My first and second installs did not finish, as I ran into problems with Grub. (Grub, the bootloader, failed to install). It turns out there is a bug in Ubuntu and Grub won’t install if it’s not on an ext3 partition. I would have liked that bug to be better documented in the release notes (it’s a known fact). Once I did an install with an ext3 partition, it worked and the install finished properly.

I did not like that there is no more terminal, you have to install it yourself if you want it. The applications in the distribution are very much “Windows-like” (Evolution, OpenOffice, etc.)

They even have a new hardware installer (or front end) - “Add Programs”. That one caught a friend’s undivided attention, as it is so similar to Windows. Ubuntu sure will appeal to a lot of Windows user with a tool like this.

Conclusion

Ubuntu is a nice distribution, especially for newcomers, but this the bug during the installation sure takes away the fun of the experience of installing Ubuntu.

Seasoned users having other distributions to compare with will find Ubuntu “just another distribution” with its plus and minuses, and features often available somewhere else, and sometimes better. I got the feeling at times that will all the projects Ubuntu is working on, they were overstretched and it showed in details here and there. I was more impressed with the 2004 October release of Ubuntu than this year’s.

It does come up with strong points, but my best recommendation if you are curious about it is to try it yourself.

Personally, I enjoyed experimenting with Ubuntu for this review, and I enjoyed meeting their developer team (they are really great people), but I find myself more comfortable and better served with Kanotix.