Well, its November 2009, which means October just passed and Ubuntu’s release cycle (April/October) has generated a new shiny version for us to try.
I’ve got to say that coming from CLI land and server management, having a desktop Linux that’s as polished and complete as Ubuntu gives me a great deal of pleasure.
I read the Ubuntu Technical User’s Mailing List religiously, and while I’m truly saddened that it degrades into childish tripe more often than not, there are some really knowledgeable and helpful folks that consistently answer questions with tact and forethought. The degradation into flaming/pissing contests is surely something I can do without, especially after enjoying the pure professionalism of other technical lists such as the CentOS lists to which I subscribe. But I digress….
Upgrading
There are lots of people who’ve had experiences like mine – really good ones. I entered the world of using Ubuntu as my primary OS during the middle of Intrepid Ibex’s reign and have done two in-place upgrades of my own desktop and laptop systems without any issues. Let me state that again clearly for those who thing 9.10 is a baaaad thing: I have had NO problems with the in-place upgrades from 8.10->9.04->9.10.
Try that with an operating system from Redmond and see what you get. BTW, have I re-mentioned that as with most things Linux, the price is a grand sum total of nothing?
Yes, you have to install it yourself – the Redmond bunch pushes WAY too much money at OEMs for Ubuntu/Canonical to be a force in the pre-installed OS market (though we’ve made some headway with Dell, thank goodness!). Yes, its Linux..and as they say if you break it you get to keep all the pieces.
What you don’t hear often is this: The Linux Community ROCKS!
I’ve helped numerous folks who had never even considered using Linux to do just that…and every last one of them LOVE IT.
So go ahead…back up your most important stuff (This is good practice no matter what you’re doing, btw), and give Karmic Koala, Ubuntu 9.10, a try. I bet you’ll be very very pleasantly surprised.
While you’re at it, read this from one of the Ubuntu devs…
For help with Ubuntu, please contact me. I’m into spreading the word and the idea that free (as in coffee and as in freedom) is a good thing.
