iP3K

Some people will start to picture me as a Linux activist, that is a good description because I fell in love with one of it’s distribution. To sum it up, Linux is like an operating system, it’s operates at the same level as Mac OS or Windows, despite their differences they can all be used to run a computer and make us enjoy the digital life style we all know of. Watching movies, listening to music, surfing the web, chatting with friends you can do with Ubuntu! So you get the picture, now since Linux is open-source and freely distributed many alternate versions were created. I can name SuSe, Debian, Gentoo, Red Hat and of course Ubuntu (based on Debian). Now from the myriad of distributions there are out there the first one I experienced was Ubuntu 4.10. As mentioned earlier I’ve been sticking with it since then, dual-booting with Windows XP.

Now on to the preview. So for this new release which has been rescheduled to a June 1st launch you can expect lots of improvement from the previous versions. It is obvious to expect faster boot times and new versions of about everything especially GNOME 2.14 witch is the graphical window manager and bundle of many applications. Now the main reason I believe this upcoming version has to be considered important is because it is the first release to be supported for 3 years on the desktop edition and 5 years for the server counter-part.

Some surveys claim that Ubuntu now represents 25% of the desktop Linux distribution, just before SuSe that has around 11%. Now the word Ubuntu means “humanity to others” and is aiming to reach all of humanity with it’s main powertool, the free CD distribution that gives people with limited Internet access to the hottest distro out there. A good thing for newbies is that Ubuntu also ships (or can be downloaded) a Live CD, that lets you run the system directly from the CD without affecting your hardware at all. This means it’s a 100% safe to try since it does install on the hard drive disc. Once satisfied you can partition part of your hard drive and install Ubuntu along side any other operating system you already have. This way when you boot your computer you can easily pick the one you need.

Xgl moving cube, transparency, jello windows, glass tabs and more

For those still drooling about Windows Vista, I am now convinced it has nothing to make Linux world turn green with envy. The forthcoming of Xgl will be a definite competitor to Windows Vista Aero Glass visual look and features. Not to mention that Windows Vista has been postponed to a January 2007 release.

There are many reason why someone should use Linux, a few years back I had no reason to but here I am now, 18 months after testing a Live CD given to me by a friend I am in love with that system. The open-source software, the free alternative, the customization, the thrill of be controlled free and finally create and bend things to your likings is one of the great many things Linux gave me. I could go on like that to make you believe that you don’t have to waste thousand of dollars on software when sometimes the alternative would suit you.

I’ve been slightly slipping about the preview but the best way get the latest of Dapper Drake (code name of the next Ubuntu version) is to check all the pictures and info included in their wiki. The beta versions are available for download but are still unstable, you can see all info related to them by checking out Flight2, 3, 4 and 5 showing the added features one by one.

One last thing I’ll point out from the new GNOME included in the next version of Ubuntu is the Deskbar. It’s like an equivalent to Google Desktop or something. Almost forgot about something important, the OS comes with a software called Synaptic that lets you check for updates on existing programs and let you choose new programs to add from a gigantic data base. So you get to download a software that has been fine tuned for the system that you are using. If the software is not listed you would have to manually install it, that would require using some command codes, it’s all changing now! You will be able to use a graphical installer to help you install any software you download elsewhere from the Internet. Ubuntu is so cool, I can’t wait for the next release!!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006 at 9:39 pm and is filed under News, Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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