Ubuntu 9.04 released

by mcxx • 17 years ago

154 116 17 years ago

quoderat5• 17 years ago

I am not an anti-Microsoft person, but after having used Linux now without even Windows installed for two years straight, it is actually mentally painful to use Windows.

Yeah, use whatever works best for you -- but using Windows these days feels like I'm on my Big Wheel when I was three years old. In a rubber room.

dschobel• 17 years ago

I've never met someone who used any version of windows because they thought it was a reasonable way to interface with your computer, always for application compatibility.

mitko2• 17 years ago

I do. On my work computer the OS is Ubuntu, and on my home computer it is windows 7. Personally, I like the Windows interface.

Jem4• 17 years ago

I've been using it for about 10 years. Application compatibility is only a small part of why I stick with it.

(I have tried multiple Linux distributions and OS X)

sho• 17 years ago

I wouldn't even say that. In most cases I'd say it's all about familiarity - both OS and application.

Perhaps a project manager needs MS Project, or an architect needs AutoCad or something but for the "teenage girl" demographic you would be hard pressed to find any particular application they absolutely needed that doesn't exist on Linux, or there isn't a ready counterpart (eg Adium instead of MSN Messenger). They're just not used to it and dislike anything unfamiliar, since computers are basically mystic black boxes anyway.

I think for many typical users it's simply a matter of preferring something they (mostly) know how to use.

halo2• 17 years ago

I do. I like Windows a lot. I'm completely platform agnostic and I've used all 3 major platforms at various times but I always come back to Windows.

I think there's a quiet majority of people out there who are perfectly happy with Windows but they don't tend to talk about it, whereas you do tend to get a lot of outspoken Mac and Linux users who are willing to both champion their platform as well as bash Windows at any given opportunity.

whacked_new4• 17 years ago

For hybrid tablet users, Windows is the only way to go, and in that respect, I think the MS team did a pretty damn good job with the bundled functions in Vista.

And those who haven't used tablets before don't know what you're missing out on :-)

utx00• 17 years ago

these help:

http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=13708

http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/servicecfg.htm

chancho• 17 years ago

Can someone with knowledge of the underlying OS mechanisms answer this for me: What is the deal with file access on Windows? In Linux (on the Mac too, I think) I can move, copy and delete files freely, regardless of what applications currently have that file open. On Windows, I always run into some situation where it won't let me do what I want to do because the file is open. So I have to hunt through 10-20 windows to see who has it (9 times out of 10 its a command prompt or explorer window holding on to a directory that I'm trying to delete.)

I don't use windows often so maybe I'm exaggerating, but this is the single most infuriating windows usability nitpick I have. Have they fixed this in Vista or 7?

Jem4• 17 years ago

I don't know whether or not it's fixed in more recent versions, but there are programs which get around this for you (by killing processes, or telling you which process is using the file/folder). E.g. Unlocker http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

trezor• 17 years ago

Can someone with knowledge of the underlying OS mechanisms answer this for me: What is the deal with file access on Windows?

The Windows locking defaults when opening file-handles actually includes locking and has done so for such a long time that applications have come to depend on it.

If you check the Win32 API you will see applications have several options for requesting (or not requesting) file-locks when doing file-operations, but not using them, the defaults are to play it safe and ensure that no data is lost due to improper access.

Technologically speaking, this is kinda the same as you have in Linux, except that the defaults are the polar opposite.

Changing the defaults now would break havoc among multiple applications relying on the defaults and cause massive amounts of corrupted data. So Microsoft have kept them as is.

IOW: If you are having issues with file-locking, you need to blame the application-developer for not properly signalling what level and type of locking is actually required, because Windows will respect the locks set on file-handles. Maybe I'm the exception, but I consider that a good thing.

halo2• 17 years ago

It's fixed in Windows 7 by telling you which application is using the file (http://lifehacker.com/5132227/windows-7-tells-you-why-you-ca...).

old-gregg2• 17 years ago

This happens because of underlying implementation of file systems. UNIX-based systems have the notion of "linking/unlinking" files: a file is a link to a set of sectors on your hard drive. One can create many more links to the same data (using ln command). Deleting is the same as unlinking, i.e. removing a link. When the last link disappears, the file is considered "deleted". When an application opens a file, it creates yet another link to it, so nothing stops you from removing the link - the file isn't deleted yet since your app still uses its own.

I'm not sure how Windows can be "fixed" in this regard, since their filesystems don't have the notion of hard linking nor does Win32 API: there is no way you can move/delete file on Win32 while keeping existing open file handles alive.

However, the biggest issue with Windows, in my opinion, is Registry. Nearly all "popular" Windows gripes can be tracked down to registry abuse: decreasing performance over time, adware/spyware, viruses, etc... Registry is like a secondary file system, but much slower, more primitive, less secure and, most importantly, nearly completely hidden from the users: there are no tools with exception of primitive regedit, to deal with it.

LogicHoleFlaw2• 17 years ago

My preferred way to explain my stance on operating systems is thus: "I don't hate Microsoft. I love Linux."

sharjeel• 17 years ago

Apart from my server machines, I'm primarily a Windows user because I've always felt that Windows (esp. XP) saves you lot of time in configuring stuff as compared to *nix (not considering mac). Of course it restricts you a lot but with tools like GnuWin32 etc. you can create quite a powerful dev box.

Once I decided to install Ubuntu 8.04 in one of my machines but X didn't work due to some conflict with the graphics card. After lot of forum browsing and hair pulling, I finally went to #ubuntu on irc.freenode.net to beg for some help. I explained them the problem I was having and casually told them "I'm using Windows right now". The reply was "You mean, struggling with Windows?". Yeah right!

ja27• 17 years ago

Official torrent links here: http://torrent.ubuntu.com:6969/

nuclear_eclipse• 17 years ago

Or more directly:

http://releases.ubuntu.com/9.04/ubuntu-9.04-desktop-i386.iso...

http://releases.ubuntu.com/9.04/ubuntu-9.04-desktop-amd64.is...

mattyb5• 17 years ago

I also grabbed the Kubuntu and Xubuntu LiveCDs so I can try out KDE 4.2 and Xfce without installing the packages.

mattmcknight• 17 years ago

Japanese manga comic about 3 kids getting into Ubuntu, "Ubunchu" translated to English here: http://doctormo.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/ubunchu-the-ubuntu-...

sant0sk13• 17 years ago

I'm excited for the next iteration when they revamp the default theme.

Ubuntu owns but it needs to look prettier out of the box to really grab prospective switchers.

windsurfer3• 17 years ago

I think it's refreshing that Ubuntu doesn't go for the "shiny and blue" feel that Vista 7 and OS X are going for.

Also, 9.04 ships with 3 community themes that are very attractive.

sant0sk13• 17 years ago

I don't fault them for not copying OS X like Microsoft did, but they do need to improve the default.

Optional community themes don't help much because people need to turn the machine on and think:

"Ooohhhh"

not

"Hmm, I bet I can make this look cooler if I go searching through the Preferences menu"

mkuhn4• 17 years ago

I can only suggest to try using the Dust Theme. It can be found in the package gnome-themes-ubuntu.

quisxt• 17 years ago

Actually, you don't need to install anything. Dust is one of the default themes now :)

Mongoose• 17 years ago

People have been saying that for 2 years. "The next version" is always when they'll dump the sordid brown.

cujo• 17 years ago

I don't think brown is the problem. The problem is that their brown is orange.

thenduks2• 17 years ago

I'm down with the brown.

mlok• 17 years ago

Around me, people do like the Ubuntu look. But they're neither IT nor marketing savvy, so they're probably wrong :)

gnaritas• 17 years ago

I love Ubuntu's default look, better than Windows or Mac. The lack of blue is very refreshing; the brown looks great.

cdeutmey• 17 years ago

The default theme for PCLOS Gnome tempted me to try it and as a result convert from Ubuntu. The distro first has to look nice to get people interested and then work well to keep them on it.

mattyb5• 17 years ago

https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel-announce/2009...

"The desktop will have a designer's fingerprints all over it - we're now beginning the serious push to a new look. Brown has served us well but the Koala is considering other options. Come to UDS for a preview of the whole new look."

twopoint7183• 17 years ago

Again, not an anti-MS person here, I support a large number of Windows clients, but it is not my OS of choice.

Maybe there are user interface tweaks that one can perform on Windows (do tell) but I can never seem to get it as minimal as running something like fluxbox on Linux (to say nothing of ratpoison, stumpwm, or xmonad). My very unscientific poll of the computer support staff at my office shows that there is fluxbox, openbox, and twm. My Windows usage is cursory, so maybe I'm totally wrong on this.

jameskpolk• 17 years ago

One option is LiteStep (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LiteStep), which can make the Windows UI like AfterStep. A friend of mine uses it and claims it works very well.

Some other shell replacements exist, but I've never tried any of them.

twopoint7183• 17 years ago

That does look nice, thanks!

davidw• 17 years ago

I have a list of stuff here:

http://www.welton.it/articles/windows_for_linux_users

Which, as the link suggests, is all about trying to make Windows tolerable for users of more advanced systems when said users are forced for whatever reason to hold their noses and use Windows.

k0n2ad• 17 years ago

Ubuntu is a fantastic distribution of a magnificent OS. I just wish I could run design apps like Flash and Photoshop on it (and no, GIMP just doesn't do it for me).

twopoint7183• 17 years ago

As long as you're paying for PS, check out Codeweavers' Crossover Linux. You can run native Windows programs under Linux (Crossover is a tweaked version of Wine).

It looks like Photoshop isn't quite there yet though: http://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility/browse/cat/?cat_id=...

It is one of the top applications that they are working on: http://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility/toplists/

prewett2• 17 years ago

According to AppDB, Photoshop CS1 works great, so if you have or can procure an older version, this might be an option. (http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application...)

If I remember the Wine Weekly News report correctly, I think Disney wanted it working on their Linux machines they used for rendering, and committed back all their fixes to Wine. So whatever that version was is probably pretty usable.

thenduks2• 17 years ago

I find VMWare performs quite well for that stuff. Still, I don't want to use Windows even in that scenario. So I just use a Mac instead. I think if just Photoshop had a decent counterpart on *nix that'd be enough to get me to switch.

whacked_new4• 17 years ago

I'm in a similar boat with the GP.

The main obstacle for migrating completely is a handful of the usual software titles, and tablet support. For tablet computers, like it or not, Vista is still the best, hands down.

But my jaw just dropped with the out-of-the-box support in Jaunty. It is marvellous. If multi monitor works just as smoothly, today might just be the day.

How well does VMWare work for you? My guest OSes are always as lean as possible with all graphics stripped out, and they are still laggy.

mattyb5• 17 years ago

Give VirtualBox (http://www.virtualbox.org/) a try. I run Photoshop CS4, Rosetta Stone v3, and backup my BlackBerry inside it with minimal problems. GIMP didn't do it for me either.

mkuhn4• 17 years ago

I use VirtualBox as well. And I also use WINE, but even though you can run Office 2K7 (and you can't go around it as a student, in particular as a business student) in WINE, which I do for short edits and to only view documents, I still mainly use Office on the emulated WinXP. Office fells snappier on the emulated machine, and especially because of Antialiasing of fonts text is easier to read. Overall it's just nicer to work with and it crashes a lot less... :-)

I've now been running Ubuntu for over a year for my own side business, for my consulting gig and as a student and I haven't had any issue I couldn't solve and one of the main solutions is to bow to the majority in some cases and use emulated XP or WINE.

10ren• 17 years ago

I thought this release would also be available for ARM, as mentioned here: http://www.ubuntu.com/news/arm-linux

The netbook release says it's for Atom (though the compatibility list includes eee PC 701, which has a Celeron - by "Atom" they surely just mean intel-compatible).

mkuhn4• 17 years ago

The ARM release will follow later, on the 29th I think.

pavelludiq• 17 years ago

I've been using the Kubuntu RC for a few days now. After the disappointment that kubuntu 8.04 was for me, im happy with this release. I've finally made the switch to KDE4, KDE3, you've served me well, but its time to go on, and KDE4 is finally good enough to not make me scream(as it used to do).

bobbyi• 17 years ago

The installer is warning that I shouldn't upgrade because it doesn't have a driver for my video card.

mattyb5• 17 years ago

http://ubuntuforums.org

oomkiller3• 17 years ago

I tried the beta of this on my Lenovo Y510 with Intel graphics and the performance was horrible, due to the video drivers not being updated for the new Xorg 1.6 architecture.

On a positive note, my grandfather continues to enjoy his new Ubuntu 8.04.2 machine though, a welcome change to the Xubuntu 7.04 machine that was a 500Mhz P3 with 128MB RAM.

raquo3• 17 years ago

Speaking of Ubuntu usability, I just don't understand why they require me to pick a location closest to me in order to download Ubuntu. In the age of free IP geolocation databases they could at least fill this field with a best guess based on my IP or a least loaded server...

Ubuntu 9.04 released

Related Stories