Ubuntu 'reaping Linux dividend'

[Berlin]

From BBC News:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7358483.stm

The public perception of open source software is changing fast, said Mark Shuttleworth, who leads distribution of the Ubuntu operating system (OS).

A new version of Ubuntu, a version of the Linux OS, is released on Thursday.

Mr Shuttleworth said the success of the Asus Eee PC and the work of the One Laptop Per Child programme had driven awareness of open source.

"There has been a sea change in the way people think of Linux, which is very healthy," he said.

"We have seen a real shift in the last six months from folks seeing open source as either a super-specialist thing for people who run data centres or as an enthusiast thing, to something which is energising a lot of the straight commercial PC industry," said Mr Shuttleworth.

He manages Canonical software, which is the primary sponsor of distribution for Ubuntu, and a key element in the platform's development.

He is also well-known for being the second-ever, self-funded space tourist, travelling to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft in 2002.

"If people think of their daily experience as a sit down on the web, we know that people can have very compelling experience on Linux . "

Mr Shuttleworth said ordinary consumers were beginning to turn to Ubuntu, and to Linux more generally, to improve their daily computing experience.

"If people think of computing as going to a PC, sitting down and starting Word, then the traditional view, of using Windows and Office, will persist.

"But if people think of their daily experience as a sit down on the web, we know that people can have a very compelling experience on Linux.

"In fact, we know it is a better web experience because they can do it without spyware, without viruses."

Mr Shuttleworth said he believed there were about eight to nine million users of Ubuntu worldwide.

"Most of the growth in users is from people buying a device that comes with Ubuntu shipped or wanting something for a second or older computer and are looking to tech-savvy friends for guidance," he said.

...a good thing going.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Latest version Ubuntu, Hardy Heron

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7358483.stm

He described the latest version of Ubuntu, dubbed Hardy Heron, as "perhaps our most significant ever".

Hardy Heron also has improved support for multimedia, including photo editing, music sharing and video playback, he said.

The version has also been designed to make installation simpler and give users the chance to try the OS without making radical alterations to their current computer set-up.

"This is the first version that you can install under Windows.

"Instead of re-partitioning your hard drive and taking some fairly risky steps, effectively you can now install under Windows without modifying your system."

Ubuntu can be installed on PC and Mac machines and is one of a number of versions of Linux.

Mr Shuttleworth said: "It's a favourite version of Linux both for specialists and one that specialists would recommend to a cousin, aunt or uncle who want to have a stable desktop internet experience.

"There are other versions of Linux that are better for a particular purpose - but Ubuntu strives to be a general platform that is secure and self-maintained."

Will be giving it a try soon. Hardy Heron sounds even better than the current version I use Gutsy Gibbon. For my purposes, I can do anything with linux that is done with Windows. Was going to do a dual boot of Ubuntu on my new laptop with Vista and Hardy Herron came up with a solution to make it even easier to do this.

The fact you don't have to bother 're-partitioning your hard drive' is a big improvement and makes for an easier install. Re-partitioning your hard drive is kinda tricky and risky as mentioned above. I farked up my PC a couple times doing it in the past as a dual boot setup before getting it right. Glad to see they removed this obstacle.

More info here: www.ubuntu.com

 

[Berlin]

Hardy Heron sounds even better than the current version I use Gutsy Gibbon.

No kidding. Do update us on how things pan out with HH when you can.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Just ordered the free HH install CD from the Ubuntu site.
I read up on Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron here and they offer the Ubuntu 8.04 LTS release candidate right now. I can upgrade again online like I did that last time. I'll wait for the final release though.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Now running Hardy Heron

Just put in Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron, it was officially released.

Took ~2 hours and was automatically done by Ubuntu with no problems as it upgraded version 7.10 to 8.04. While that was going on I downloaded the ISO file of Hardy Heron on my laptop then burned that ISO file to CD as Ubuntu instructed using the InfraRecorder app they recommend. Popped the CD in the laptop and was running HH as a Live CD. With HH you have an option to either install HH on a separate partition (which is kinda tricky) or let it run along with Windows XP or Vista which makes for an easier install with a slight drop in performance.

HH has a new look and carried over all the apps, programs, etc., from the earlier GG version. Using it right now and like what it has done. You can read up on HH in the link posted on my last post above.
As I've said before, it's not that hard to learn, the price is right....FREE ... and the more I use linux the more it impresses. Worth giving a try. Oh and BTW I'm no techie.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Anyone else running Hardy Heron?

Been using HH on my old PC with no problems. The free HH OS CD just came in the mail from the UK and tried it out on my new laptop and it runs great as a live CD. Can't decide how to install it, either as a dual boot on a separate partition or install it alongside Vista which is an easier install but you lose a slight bit on performance. So far it won't work on my wireless laptop card, I have to hardwire it to get on the internet. It recognizes the laptop wireless but won't connect. Hoping once installed it will correct this but won't know till it's done. Running as a 'live CD' HH is very fast compared to how it ran on my old Pent II PC.
So far all experiences with Ubuntu have been very positive, it's a very nice OS.

 

[twentynine]

I'm running HH Server edition, with GNOME desktop, updating from Gutsy Gibbon. I had problems for several days downloading from the Waterloo mirror (the update program got stuck looking for the HH libraries), but switching to the main Canonical repository fixed that.

I hadn't realised I can run HH on top of Windows! That's awesome, I'll have to try that. I don't want to risk messing up my laptop for a few months after a project is out of the way, but I plan to try Ubuntu Studio edition as soon as I can.

Anybody use Ubuntu Studio?

 

[WoodPeckr]

I'm running HH Server edition, with GNOME desktop, updating from Gutsy Gibbon. I had problems for several days downloading from the Waterloo mirror (the update program got stuck looking for the HH libraries), but switching to the main Canonical repository fixed that.

I updated from Gutsy to Hardy online using the RIT University mirror with no problems at all. Then a couple days later I downloaded and burned an ISO file of HH from the same mirror so I would have a CD to install from. It said it was a successful burn but I couldn't do the suggested 'integrity CD check' to verify it was totally error free. However that ISO CD ran good as a 'live CD' on my laptop but decided to wait for the free HH OS CD to come in from Ubuntu before installing on my laptop. The free CD came in the mail but just haven't gotten around to installing yet.

So I have XP, Vista and Hardy and lately spend most of the time running Hardy on an 11 yr old P2 desktop with no problems at all other than it runs a little slower than on my new laptop.

Yes, you can run HH on top of Windows and this in the easiest install. You just check that choice and Ubuntu installs itself all automatically, believe they select a 15GB partition by default for this which is plenty of room (HH only requires ~3-4GB of HDD space). I was going to do the dual boot and create a 20GB partition but that is a bit more risky and tricky because you have to manually set it up. Just haven't gotten around to it yet.