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Ubuntu 10.10 beta preview
THE LATEST OUTING of Canonical's Linux distribution Ubuntu shows that the firm is on the right track to make it the default choice of Linux for those thinking of making the switch from Windows.
Following on from one of the year's biggest operating system launches, Ubuntu 10.04, this latest 10.10 beta is somewhat more sedate, almost lacking in the visual novelty that its predecessor had. While 10.04 was a Long Term Support release (LTS), 10.10 will be a standard release that comes with 18 months of updates. Not only are LTS releases more infrequent, the longer life and more consistent branding and support of 10.04 will mean that 10.10 and later releases until the next LTS version will always be the act that followed The Beatles.
The latest 10.10 beta shows that Canonical is sticking to its plan of refining Ubuntu into a polished product that will rival not Microsoft's Windows 7 but Apple's Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Linux distributions have focused far too long on the inner workings of the operating system rather than the interface presented to the user. As a kernel, Linux has been more than a match for Windows' NT or OS X's Mach kernels, but an operating system isn't completely defined by its underlying kernel and 10.10 pays much needed attention to the upper layers.
Those who fear about getting past the install phase should stop worrying. The combination of a try before you install LiveCD and what can only be described as a masterpiece of an installer means that installing Ubuntu is as easy as making a cup of tea. Many reviews in the past have concentrated on the installer but frankly the whole procedure is so well polished by now that perhaps the biggest nod of approval would be not to mention it at all.
Actually, the revamped installer is the first hint of what Ubuntu has become all about. The attention to detail is clearly evident as 10.10, even at this beta stage, is showing the level of design detail we have come to expect from Apple. Small, perhaps even inconsequential details such as the volume adjust controls are delightful.
This latest version also brings multi-touch support, though the best results are only seen if you have access to a Dell Latitude XT2. The preferential support for Dell's laptop comes from the fact that Ubuntu used it as the reference machine for multi-touch development. By the time Ubuntu 10.10 comes out of beta, the developers have promised that other 4-finger multi-touch devices such as Apple's Magic Trackpad will also be supported. Canonical is also trying to bring out guidelines that try to unify the user experience with multi-touch applications on Ubuntu. It's the sort of move that sounds like boring administration for developers but is exactly what's needed to create an intuitive, easy to learn environment. At present it's clear that multi-touch is a work in progress in Ubuntu, although the fact that it is in progress is excellent news.
Perhaps the most important evolution is the updated Ubuntu Software Center. The application store now has more than just free software, and installation of third party applications is just as easy as Apple's App Store or Google's Android Market. The changes from 10.04 are subtle but it's easy to see that the Ubuntu Software Center could become a major selling point and a money-spinner for Canonical.
There are the usual accoutrements of updates to the kernel and applications software such as browsers, productivity applications, social networking clients and media players. Ubuntu One, the cloud based storage system that is in public beta, has been intertwined more deeply within the operating system, allowing users to backup folders with a simple right click.
Of course you could adjust the volume and acquire third party software with previous versions of Ubuntu but the truth is that fit and finish sells. No one questions the capabilities of the Linux kernel, but some of the software that has surrounded it has at times been finished to a standard that can most kindly be described as comparable to carpentry rather than cabinetry.
Users have shown down the years that high production standards are rewarded. Canonical, in deciding to concentrate on the superficial isn't moving away from engineering a worthwhile operating system. On the contrary, its plan could finally mean that long running joke of 'the year of the Linux desktop' finally comes to an end.
Ubuntu 10.10 will never garner the attention of 10.04 and nor should it. LTS releases mean a lot more, and the three year support cycle for desktop distributions is particularly helpful for enterprise users who need the security of knowing that an operating system will be supported for a certain period of time. It is perhaps better to look upon 10.10 as more of a bleeding edge release, something that is giving a real world shakedown to technology that will be incorporated into the next LTS release.
Even at this beta stage, Ubuntu 10.10 looks to be the correct way forward for the distribution. Ubuntu might not attract some experienced Linux users who prefer other distributions, however it is likely to gain widespread acceptance with its mix of intuitive and high quality software. µ
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Ubuntu rocks my heart everyday I use it. I like the path the chosed to make it evolve. It is still promising and bright.
bizarre, they find anything to be "advanced" but clicking on Desktop icons.
Even more bizarre is the fact that they expect such thing in any OS but Windows.
What about an iPad? Too "advanced" also? No? Hm
Changing your theme is an ADVANCED user thing? O RLY? How FUDtastic! At the top of your screen is a menu called System. Left-click. Then hover over "Preferences" and you'll see a list of sub-options. Select "Appearance" (left-click). From the "Theme" tab you can change your display theme by clicking on the one you like, again with your left mouse button. You can also left-click "Customize" and change out the Window Border you are complaining about to one of a dozen other choices, if you manage an advanced-user trick of clicking on the "Window Border" tab and dragging on the scrollbar to find the border you like most.
After the unnecessary and not explained default switch to left window buttons, I went away from Ubuntu. As a previous Windows user, I'm not willing to change (without any special reason) my way to close / minimize / maximize the windows. In addition, the new location makes it easy to accidentally close the windows while trying to open the file menu in touch screens. This is the only Linux distribution having done such a nonsense user interface change.
Yes, I know it can be changed by advanced users. Anyway, I'm also not willing to continue spending more and more time cleaning the increased amount of annoyances with each Ubuntu release.
Sorry Canonical... good luck getting Mac Users.
It's pretty clear that no one other than Shuttleworth is yet using the 'new default' Ambiance/Radiance themes.
How do I know? Without Compiz, try resizing, say, a Palimpsest (Disk Utility) window. Better get your mouse -right- on top of that zero-pixel border; the resize widget does actually appear if you're within about a 3 pixel zone. Similarly, modal dialogs have a bad habit of 'disappearing' into their parent application sans-borders - try an old-fashioned Tk app to see this writ bad.
Of course, this could also go to show it's only a small minority lacking 'desktop effects' now... or that the developers believe it to be so.
Meanwhile, GNOME's "Appearance" preferences still haven't been updated to show which themes flop sides with the max/min/close widgets - a bit of a wart since this will be the second release that won't.
(And from a personal-gripe perspective, the 'tombstone' appearance of windows under the theme is off-putting - once you see it, you can't un-see it.)
"GIMP will never be able to match Photoshop and you can forget running anything more serious - ACAD, Pro/E, Ideas, Catia, ECU mapping software, even old Windows favourites like MediaMonkey/ Winamp have to be bodged with WINE and then it only just works and looks all strange."
Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire runs natively on Linux, AutoCad & Photoshop run well on Wine if you really need it, otherwise there are some good non-free alternatives for both.
Winamp alternative? ROFLMAO, you have to be joking :)
All HighEnd -Video-VFX-3D-Post software is made for Linux, actually most of it doesn't run on Windows.
Please Dave stop with your demagogy/propaganda stuff.
It's all well and good for kids and geeks to impress their mates by being different from the norm, but as hard as it tries it's always a step behind. Open Office works well but it'll never be as slick as M$ Office. GIMP will never be able to match Photoshop and you can forget running anything more serious - ACAD, Pro/E, Ideas, Catia, ECU mapping software, even old Windows favourites like MediaMonkey/ Winamp have to be bodged with WINE and then it only just works and looks all strange.
Yet we look past the shortcomings of a Linux distro in a way we wouldn't if it were made by Microsoft or Apple. We complain about the Windows updates but every Saturday morning my Linux box flashes up the latest updates and asks for a restart too. Installing programs through a mixture of Synaptic and terminal, endlessly bashing in cryptic codes I have no idea whether it's doing more harm than good. We wouldn't put up with this on a Mac, things take 10 times longer to set up, when it goes wrong it takes 10 times longer to fix ... but it's open source, and that's coooool maaaaan. Woe betide anyone that says they simply don't get on with it, they get laughed at like the village idiot and the only help we get is a load of snobby, unhelpful types whose only answer is RTFM.
I'll always be using Ubuntu (now on Jolicloud) for messing about on the laptop but for me it's never going to be a serious contender until you can start using serious design tools
"i realize you can change it yourself but that purple is horrid"
I guess someone forgot to let the Ubuntu devs know your opinion was the only one in the world that mattered. On either Windows or Ubuntu you can change your background picture and colour in literally just seconds...so what was your argument again?
"ubuntu is ok but it will never compete with windows and mac until they start offering a version with all the commonly used multimedia software and other applications that people want."
Pointless argument...Windows doesn't have a version available that has "commonly used multimedia software" as you put it. If you want stuff like VLC and Virtualdub you have to install them yourself.
If Windows had something like the Ubuntu Software Center for installing applications it would save me a lot of time.
the thing to ALWAYS have in mind in developping OS :
-Drivers
-Drivers
-and drivers!
it is the base, the hardware company sells hardware and make drivers, i think if HW company ready more their Linux drivers, then Software developpers will be more confident in developping for linux. (e.g. : Games)
if im a game dev, i wont be pushing out a game that can runs on linux, if users cant setup their videocard on it....
i always have a ubuntu laptop laying somewhere just to keep updated on linux, but man when all ours games will runs on linux, then Windows will be sooooo dead! right day one.
i cant wait to launch my call of dutys, and what not on ubuntu!
btw.@elenamorina
ubuntu and linux distro alls have equivalent to all multimedia and other utility app in there software center and much much more. most of the times they are even better , its just the name that change...
of course there will always be that crqppy itunes.... that apple forces us to uses.... bout itunes i dont know if apple has the right to force us to use itunes if it recquires only win or osx. if i buy a mp3 player i should not be forced to need win or osx and should have all the os choice... sucks...
I think the UI is improving, still it's far away from good :P I've always hated Ubuntu for it's horrible theme. Everything looks plain cheap (it's free i know :P)
Still, i'm an ubuntu user (and been so for about 5 years) and it's pretty simple to use it.
Had tried linux (unbuntu, simply mepis, openSuse etc.) But had to come back to Windows for only one reason - most of the applications we use are simply not available in the linux world. e.g I use a Tata Photon to connect to the internet - it's a real pain to get the drivers for the same and try to get it running in linux, same with printers, digital cameras, scanners etc.
Instead of all the great developers trying to convince all us lay users to make the sitch to linux, I hope ther's someone out there who can pre-package some software in one of the distro which enables windows drivers to be loaded directly on to linux computers. Maybe as in a virtual program or a compatibility layer.
ubuntu is ok but it will never compete with windows and mac until they start offering a version with all the commonly used multimedia software and other applications that people want. they need to have a version like mint linux. also they need to make the desktop more attractive. i realize you can change it yourself but that purple is horrid
The 10.10 Ubuntu, needs a lot of things to be added to fully work (and not all are anywhere near complete in the 'extras' downloads.
But, the drivers for the nVidia hardware are 'ok'... not great.
I know this because I loaded the NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-260.19.06 drivers, and the difference is not just 'aesthetic,' they are dramatic.
From having been using Ubuntu since the 4.0 days, I know to use several sites and 'how-to's' to load a lot that is missing. I know of 'none' that have it all, yet.
Wish there were.
Very nice as always Lawrence.
Nice to see you spotted the Marketplace a'comin. About time Ubuntu.
@mike, valid point for desktop users.
Ofc, with a lot of appliances using LTS Servers, the 5 Year support is very appealing. Now if only they could produce something other than people use as a blank base template.
Have they done anything useful server side beside the usual Lamp et el. Did they drop LTSP. Did they put in any useful groupware yet?
groupoffice could do with a nice article at the moment.
I disagree that 10.10 is less appealing than teh 10.04 LTS. My reasoning:
10.10 support will last 18 months and was released the end of Sept 10 so it will be supported until the end of May 2012.
10.04 was released April '10 and LTSs are expected every 2 years so the next LTS will be out about April 2012.
In other words, you can get 10.04 now if you don't plan to get the next LTS, but if you do plan to get the next LTS you might as well just get 10.10 now.