Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Desktop Edition Released

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Desktop Edition Released

Integrates the Latest Stable Applications with Long Term Support

LONDON, April 21, 2008 – Canonical Ltd. announced the upcoming availability of Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Desktop Edition for free download on Thursday 24 April. In related news, Canonical also announced the simultaneous release of Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Server Edition.

Ubuntu 8.04 Long Term Support (LTS) provides a stable platform for software and hardware vendors, developers and users. With three years of support and maintenance on the desktop, 8.04 LTS is a great choice for large-scale deployment. A substantial and growing ecosystem of free and commercial software built for Ubuntu provides a rich set of choices for desktop users. This is the eighth desktop release of Ubuntu. Ubuntu’s track record in delivering - on a precise schedule every six months - a commercial operating system that is free, stable, secure and fully supported, remains unique.

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“Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Desktop Edition is a very significant release as it will take Ubuntu squarely into the business environment,” said Jane Silber, COO of Canonical Ltd. “Our business and home users have told us that they want a longer support cycle to make Ubuntu a better deployment option. We have responded to that and added a commitment to much broader software and hardware support that we and our partners are excited to deliver. With enhanced commercial support through Landscape, combined with our always excellent community support, expect to see 8.04 LTS drive Ubuntu into new arenas.”
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source: http://xkcd.com/378/

Ubuntu Linux 7.10 - what is all the fuss?

Ubuntu Linux is to the Desktop Market what Red Hat is to the Server Market. Ubuntu is designed for ease of use and maintenance. Ubuntu begins with the Desktop user and is now extending to the Server Market with its for-profit arm , the exact opposite approach that Red Hat took by focusing first on the Server Market. In October 2007, Ubuntu released its latest version - version 7.10 the Gusty Gibbon.

Popularity
Ubuntu is the #1 Linux distribution by download
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major

Dell Computers offers Ubuntu as its Desktop Linux Choice
http://www.dell.com/linux - (this occurred several months ago )
And discussed in today’s ZDnet: http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=7404&tag=nl.e539

Security
Ubuntu approaches security in multiple ways:

1. Clean Installation
The installation is very austere in that you get one of each type of application needed for a typical desktop user (for example, OpenOffice instead of StarOffice and OpenOffice). You do not get unneeded applications, so there is less to secure to the point where no firewall is needed because there is nothing to connect to or exploit. This is unlike Windows or Red Hat, which often install many unneeded packages in their base OS installs.

As a result of its simplicity, Ubuntu’s version of Gnome Desktop is clean and elegant.

2. Frequent package updates.
Ubuntu “Software Updates” - package security releases and upgrades - are released continously. Ubuntu uses the Debian package management Advanced Package Tool (APT) to distribute its software. It has easy to use gui interfaces to administter this in Gnome - Synaptic Package Manager and Update Manager. Update Manager posts an alert icon on your desktop when Software Updates are available - about 1-2 times a week for my installation on this v. 7.10 - I have a lot of different software installed on this machine, though.

All popular Linux software is available through this Update Manager, so keeping software patched and up to date is no longer a worry. The Update Manager keeps track of what needs to be updated. This is unlike Windows - where if you install additional software and it is your responsibility to keep it up to date. Red Hat does offer similar array of software, though it may not be as current as Ubuntu (see Firefox example below).

Ubuntu can upgrade entire versions of its OS and affiliated software - and I have done so for upgrade to this latest 7.10 - via this Software Update tool (and a good broadband connection!). This is the equivalent of downloading and upgrading from Windows 98 to Windows XP - all without having to do any work.

3. Additional security available
Virus Scanner - To help protect against Windows viruses, ClamTK is available for download and installation via the package manager.

Firewall - there are several GUI firewall options available to help you manage iptables and netfilter - all available via the package manager.

Firefox comparison as example of package availability/currentness
The most current version at date of publication of Firefox available on RHEL 5 is v. 1.5.0.12. On Ubuntu 7.10 Firefox runs at version 2.0.0.11

My 2 cents
With this latest version of Ubuntu - version 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon - and its driver support and ease of installation, I can see a day when paying for an Operating System will no longer seem sensible.

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