Before i write anything, i just want to say something out loud, IT IS GODDAMN SLICK !!!!!!!!!!!!!...!
Sorry for the intense language, hehe I'm not yelling at you, but I just needed to scream that out loud !!
Now let's cut to the chase, here's what happened.
The upgrade went almost flawlessly. Actually i have a feeling the Ubuntu guys up there at Canonical had prepared their website for a very hefty load before actually releasing the marvel. I have noticed that every time the mirror gets bogged down and slow, it doesn't take long before it springs back into adequate speed. Overall the download was steady and much more tolerable than that of Feisty's upgrade to gutsy. THAT one really bogged down Canonical's servers. This time they made it smooth.
But -as i had expected-, I got some problems after the upgrade was complete. The worst was that sound stopped working, but i quickly fixed the problem by disabling the new PulseAudio sound server. I don't know why it didn't work, maybe on a fresh install it would have, but I'm content with sound now, although some applications (like VLC) have troubled me. This is the problem that got me the most irritated actually, but again i guess it would have worked on a fresh install.
The second problem was the login screen suddenly having a weird resolution (although i must admit that the only reason for that is my tweaking). It's fixed by a simple driver-reinstall though.
Also, i think the cube plug in in Compiz fusion has become slower. But on the other hand several other areas that require graphics have become faster, the screen saver for example.
And lastly, not having to do with anything being wrong, but where the hell did the shared folder configuration tool and the screens and graphics tools go ? I have heard that Ubuntu removed the samba GUI because it now invokes samba user-creation in a GUI when needed.
Don't get too dimmed about it though, as a matter of fact i think it was a smooth upgrade, i mean one has GOT to expect a day or two of tweaking after an upgrade it's normal. Plus you don't see MICRO$OFT offering you an upgrade online without re-installation !
On to the real issue.
Now that I'm happy with everything. I can objectively talk about the release.
First of all, disregarding the numerous new features. I'm just amazed by how much professional hardy looks and acts. It's truly the best Ubuntu version enterprise-wise. It has been meticulously engineered to soften Linux's rough edges. I cannot possibly explain more, you'll have to try it out and see for yourself. But for example the artwork is complete, there are practically no ugly icons skipping around the neck of the Heron; the menus, the icons, the emblems, the wallpaper; are all well conceived. Even that old ugly bluetooth icons, that annoyed me personally, has been replaced. Look at the screenshot and see what I'm talking about.
And as far as usability and features are concerned: I'm afraid Bill Gate$, that your windoez crap is nothing compared to this. Actually Ubuntu 8.04 introduces some hidden features that make it rival Mac OS X's pizazz. For one you can pretty easily encrypt files and sign them as a security measure, without installing any additional software. You can meddle with permissions to a point where a user must not open sound, change the clock or eject USB keys ! And that I think is insanely powerful for administrators and offices.
Firefox is also much improved, it's now themed exactly as the other native applications, it's faster, more responsive, and just slicker ! Having this improved integration, you cannot but admire how professional the system is. I initially though it would behave disastrously seeing it's still in beta, but it seems like they played with it to stabilize it before the release. It's integrated to the degree IE is integrated in windows XP. Here's a screenshot:
Also did i tell you that i LOVE the new transition effects in OpenOffice.org Impress (PowerPoint alternative) ?? If you want to see what they can do check out this page.
Compiz-Fusion, the desktop effetcs engine is also revamped. Everything has become much more integrated with it, for example the settings in System-Preferences-Windows directly apply to it. It also has a couple of new plugins, like a new eye catching and wonderful mouse focus effect. Notice the light circle, that's the effect ( the mous should appear in the middle but the screenshot didn't include it )
And that pretty much raps it up for features that i reeeeeaaaaally dug.
But i would also like to talk about the success of the Ubuntu project, which i think has become inevitable and destined to happen sooner than later. First of all i would like a give a big THANKS to Mark Shuttleworth and tell him that thanks to his leadership and the benevolent work of a thousand others we can enjoy operating systems again. Mark, i salute you. I want to point out also the beautiful work that the guys ( and girls too! ) up at Canonical have done with the Ubuntu website. They have published a tour on it to introduce new users to Ubuntu, and which, i think, is just a wonderful piece of true marketing. Please pay a visit and look at the tour.
So, if anybody has been having Linux thoughts in his Cabeza, like our spanish friends say it, it's indeed a great time to put your finger in the water and i'm sure you'll eventually dive in.
Everybody enjoy your herons, Peace Out.
1 comments:
With Linux I have somewhat adopted the approach of install it all, find out what it is, and later remove what you don't need.
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