Issue63

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http://apcmag.com/node/6574

http://www.itwire.com/content/view/14966/1090/

http://www.itjungle.com/tlb/tlb102307-story07.html

http://www.linux.com/feature/120112
 * The Open Source Challenge. How to replace Windows completely with Ubuntu. - Ashton Mills rates how easily different tasks can be done in Ubuntu compared to Windows. The GNOME desktop is rated as good as Windows, while the update manager performs significantly better to anything provided by Windows. Browsing works well, but media playback is a hassle. Even though Ashton acknowledges that licensing issues are not the fault of Ubuntu or Linux, they can be rectified relatively easily by the end-user. Nautilus works well for burning CDs and DVDs and handling network shares. MP3 encoding required some work, but interacting with an iPod was optimal. Read more at http://apcmag.com/node/6574

 * Ubuntu: where to from here? - Sam Varghese writes that Ubuntu will eventuall need to include proprietary software to only compete with Windows for marketshare, but also other Linux distributions. The Ubuntu Live CD does not provide drivers for a comon wireless card, which decreases the chance of Ubuntu being adopted. Instead, the Mandriva 2008 Live CD and PCLinuxOS allow the users to copy drivers from a Windows partition. Applications like Flash will need to be installed by default to attract the average desktop enthusiast. Sam thinks Mark Shuttleworth will receive criticism if such moves were made, but they are necessary to get larger marketshare. http://www.itwire.com/content/view/14966/1090/

 * How Is Ubuntu Doing as a Server Platform? - Timothy Prickett Morgan discusses how it is difficult to "assess how well or poorly Ubuntu is doing on servers." Similar to other Linux distributions and companies like Sun Microsystems, Canonical does not release the number of licenses under support. Open source mail server vendor Zimbra and content management software maker Alfresco Software say Ubuntu is used second most as a deployment platform. There are two high-profile companies using Ubuntu on servers: "The WayBack Machine, a historical archive of the Web, is powered by 1,500 Ubuntu servers, and Joost, the free TV programming site, is also powered by Ubuntu." http://www.itjungle.com/tlb/tlb102307-story07.html

 * Ubuntu 7.10 is outstanding - Jeremy LaCroix writes that "[it's] not a perfect release, and it does feel somewhat rushed, but it is a step in the right direction that will ultimately lead to a more stable long-term support release this spring." Games such as Neverball, Frozen Bubble, Tux Racer, Chromium and Doom 3 worked as expected. Jeremy notes that "even with desktop effects enabled, performance while playing 3-D games on my system didn't seem to drop." http://www.linux.com/feature/120112

 * Windows to desktop Linux in three easy steps - Neil McAllister provides compelling reasons to try Linux: free, secure, compatible, lightweight, and well supported. He discusses downloading ISOs directly or using BitTorrent. To check hardware compatibility, Neal recommends trying the Live CD for a thorough test drive. http://www.linuxworld.com.au/index.php/id;1796074138;pp;2;fp;16;fpid;0
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http://www.linuxworld.com.au/index.php/id;1796074138;fp;16;fpid;0
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 * Vista versus The Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon 7.10 - I'm currently using seven computers. Well, not at this precise moment (just three, as it happens), but darn it if I'm not proud of the fact. Of those seven, three run XP, one runs Ubuntu 6.06, two are now on Ubuntu 7.10, and one is Vista. My Ubuntu boxes, I love. Then there's the work Ubuntu computer, on which I do just about everything when I'm in the office. On Friday, I decided to update it from 7.04 to 7.10. That took a single click - no, honestly - in the system software manager, and about ten minutes downtime. And 7.10 is really rather nice; I find myself enjoying the various windows animation gimmicks more than I expected. The upgrade at home has not been so splendid. So I decided to reinstall from scratch, which means that certain problems I solved for 7.04 are now back again (in particular, a stubborn refusal by the system to set the resolution of the screen properly. XORG.CONF). But again, the experience was mostly fine. Having used Ubuntu for the best part of a year, I'm a fan. Then how come I'm so much more at home with Ubuntu than Vista? It boils down to one abiding impression: Ubuntu goes out of its way to get out of your way, even if it doesn't succeed all the time. Vista goes out of its way to be Vista and enforce the Vista way. You must conform regardless of the implications. http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10006217o-2000331777b,00.htm

 * Why I've moved from Vista to Ubuntu 7.10 - I've been using Windows since it was battling for desktop supremacy with GEM in the early 90s. In the mid 90s I spent several years producing newspapers on Apple Macs. Since the late 90s I've dabbled with Linux, but there have always been compelling reasons to return to, or stick with, Windows. No more, for two reasons: Vista, and Ubuntu 7.10 (ala Gutsy Gibbon). Ubuntu has the slickest installation I have yet found in any OS. It also has a wonderfully useful and responsive 3D desktop, in the shape of Compiz Fusion. Ubuntu is fast, and is like a fresh breeze blowing through after my weeks of gazing at Vista, waiting for something to happen. Have we reached the beginning of the tipping point? I think we may just have. http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10006214o-2000331758b,00.htm

 * Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part 1: Applications - I'm sorry, but it needs to be said: The new Ubuntu sucks - at least when compared to Windows Vista. Yes, it's free. And yes, it's better than the previous release, Ubuntu 7.04 "Fiesty Fawn" (Yawn?). However, at heart it's still just another Gnome-based Linux distribution and, as such, remains well behind the curve when it comes to desktop sophistication. Case in point: Search. Much noise has been made about Canonical's decision to switch to the newer Tracker search engine. With Vista, search isn't simply an afterthought. It permeates every nook and cranny of the Windows shell. Bottom Line: Ubuntu, like all Linux distributions, is supposed to be all about power and choice. However, when stacked-up against Vista's robust, pervasive integrated search mechanism, Ubuntu looks more like a lightweight poser than a real challenger. http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil.html

 * Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part 2: Compiz Fusion - There's this video on YouTube. It's all about the new "eye candy" in Windows and Ubuntu. The whole demo takes place against the backdrop of a pulsing bit of techno beat, making for a decidedly surreal experience. It's Ubuntu with Compiz Fusion enabled - a.k.a. Linux on crack. Of course, like most attempts by the Linux community to parrot Windows Vista, the aforementioned "eye candy showdown" misses the forest for the trees. Yes, Vista includes some new UI effects and animations. However, unlike Linux and the whole Compiz Fusion head trip, the effects in Vista serve a practical purpose. Bottom Line: Is Vista Aero "eye candy?" Yes, but with a purpose: To make the user interface easier to understand and navigate. By contrast, Compiz Fusion is nothing more than a me-too attempt to make Linux look prettier than it really is. http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil_1.html

 * Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part3: X11 - It's a rite of passage. All new Linux users must face that ultimate test of courage and conviction: Fixing a broken video card configuration. Way back when (circa 1992), we "bleeding edge" NT users had to suffer through all sorts of video card-related maladies. And with no command line-only environment to boot into, we were truly and utterly hosed. Then someone at Microsoft got smart, and developed the "VGA boot" option. Yes, with Ubuntu, you too can experience what it's like to render your desktop inaccessible. In fact, with Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon," you now have two (count ‘em, two) separate (redundant?) control panels from which to launch your video mal-configuration odyssey. So, everybody, let's call up Mr. Peabody, fire-up the "wayback machine," and party like it's 1992! With Ubuntu! http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil_2.html

 * Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part 4: Applications - An operating system is only as good as the applications that run on it. Combine that with the old saw, "you get what you pay for," and you begin to appreciate why a thriving, commercial, 3rd-party development community is essential to building a lasting presence in the marketplace. Without it, you get something like, well, Ubuntu. Yes, Ubuntu ships with applications. And yes, you can download whole bit buckets full of additional ones from the various repositories. However, quantity rarely yields quality, and in the case of Ubuntu's application library (and that of Linux in general), the quality often falls well below the standards that most PC (or even Mac) customers have come to expect. http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil_3.html

 * Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part 5: Epilogue - A few weeks back I posted a decidedly less antagonistic series of missives about the departure of Mr. Con Kolivas from the Linux kernel development scene. And while I expected to take at least *some* heat for daring to comment on such an intimate Linux political issue, I was genuinely shocked by the level of vitriol emanating from the various respondents. After the dust settled, I realized that I had totally misjudged the Linux community. When I started out, I honestly bought into all the hype about "sharing knowledge" and "working together." Instead, I got a glimpse of the *real* face of the Linux community, the immature, mom's basement-dwelling, pimple-faced geek side that the Red Hats, Novells and Canonicals of this world don't want you to see. And while I take no pride in my methods (I actually *like* Ubuntu and plan to install Gutsy x64 onto several of my production workstations this weekend), I do take some measure of satisfaction in the outcome: Here, for the whole world to see, is the face of the Linux community - every "f-this" and "n-word" that preserved for all eternity in the digital ether of cyberspace. http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil_4.html

 * Software Review: Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon" - It may have taken a while, but Linux is finally starting to inch its way out of the dark corners of hobbyist computing and onto the battlefield between Microsoft and Apple. Sure, Linux has dominated the server market for a while now, but for the most part, its desktop and home computer offerings have, until recently, depended heavily on hacking and command-line skills. That's something the average computer user doesn't want to bother with at all. Then came along Ubuntu, a Linux distribution promising to be "Linux for human beings," something even grandma can understand and use. Ubuntu sponsor Canonical has released a version of Ubuntu that is elegant, fast, and easy to use straight out of the box. Ubuntu 7.10, also known as "Gutsy Gibbon," shows us that Linux can finally play with the giants and conquer some territory along the way. http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/10/20/153643.php

 * The Perfect Desktop - Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon" - This document describes how to set up an Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon" desktop. The result is a fast, secure and extendable system that provides all you need for daily work and entertainment. About 23.000 packages are available in the repositories. This howto is a practical guide without any warranty - it doesn't cover the theoretical backgrounds. There are many ways to set up such a system - this is the way I chose. http://www.howtoforge.com/the_perfect_desktop_ubuntu_gutsy_gibbon

 * Ubuntu 7.10 Gibbon swings on the Asus Eee - The Gibbonfest continues. We've just had an Asus Eee in to look at - the £220 laptop that everyone who's seen it is going to buy. It's one of the hottest things in the office this year. However, we inherited the Eee from another reviewer, who had accidentally nuked the Xandros Linux OS with which it had been supplied. Since we couldn't find the binaries to reinstall the Asus custom version of Xandros, and had Ubuntu 7.10 CDs sitting around, we thought we'd give the Gibbon another spin. The performance is great - Ubuntu is very comfortable with the 900MHz Celeron, and while it does have a CPU cooling fan it's inaudible. You won't have the greatest of times with the VGA resolution or the rather spongy twee little keyboard - but they're very usable. http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10006278o-2000331777b,00.htm

 * Ubuntu Linux – So Close to the Masses but Massively Far - Ubuntu Linux is one of the best open source solutions that the world has ever seen. It is a free and powerful operating system that includes, by default, most of the tools that people need on a daily basis to get work done on a computer. It is a matter of time before Linux becomes more widely used but I’m afraid that it is just not yet. Computer users demand to play games and almost all games are made for Windows. Businesses require usage of Windows only software and often cannot afford to train employees on new computer systems. Ubuntu, the forefront Linux distribution, has most support from amateur and professional developers. It has the momentum to become the de-facto operating system for some. Ubuntu just needs more time to mature for the majority. http://www.blog.mikehmayer.com/?p=144
 * Vista versus The Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon 7.10(Rupert Goodwins) - I'm currently using seven computers. Well, not at this precise moment (just three, as it happens), but darn it if I'm not proud of the fact. Of those seven, three run XP, one runs Ubuntu 6.06, two are now on Ubuntu 7.10, and one is Vista. My Ubuntu boxes, I love. Then there's the work Ubuntu computer, on which I do just about everything when I'm in the office. On Friday, I decided to update it from 7.04 to 7.10. That took a single click - no, honestly - in the system software manager, and about ten minutes downtime. And 7.10 is really rather nice; I find myself enjoying the various windows animation gimmicks more than I expected. The upgrade at home has not been so splendid. So I decided to reinstall from scratch, which means that certain problems I solved for 7.04 are now back again (in particular, a stubborn refusal by the system to set the resolution of the screen properly. XORG.CONF). But again, the experience was mostly fine. Having used Ubuntu for the best part of a year, I'm a fan. Then how come I'm so much more at home with Ubuntu than Vista? It boils down to one abiding impression: Ubuntu goes out of its way to get out of your way, even if it doesn't succeed all the time. Vista goes out of its way to be Vista and enforce the Vista way. You must conform regardless of the implications. http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10006217o-2000331777b,00.htm

 * Why I've moved from Vista to Ubuntu 7.10(mattloney) - I've been using Windows since it was battling for desktop supremacy with GEM in the early 90s. In the mid 90s I spent several years producing newspapers on Apple Macs. Since the late 90s I've dabbled with Linux, but there have always been compelling reasons to return to, or stick with, Windows. No more, for two reasons: Vista, and Ubuntu 7.10 (ala Gutsy Gibbon). Ubuntu has the slickest installation I have yet found in any OS. It also has a wonderfully useful and responsive 3D desktop, in the shape of Compiz Fusion. Ubuntu is fast, and is like a fresh breeze blowing through after my weeks of gazing at Vista, waiting for something to happen. Have we reached the beginning of the tipping point? I think we may just have. http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10006214o-2000331758b,00.htm

 * Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part 1: Applications(Randall Kennedy) - I'm sorry, but it needs to be said: The new Ubuntu sucks - at least when compared to Windows Vista. Yes, it's free. And yes, it's better than the previous release, Ubuntu 7.04 "Fiesty Fawn" (Yawn?). However, at heart it's still just another Gnome-based Linux distribution and, as such, remains well behind the curve when it comes to desktop sophistication. Case in point: Search. Much noise has been made about Canonical's decision to switch to the newer Tracker search engine. With Vista, search isn't simply an afterthought. It permeates every nook and cranny of the Windows shell. Bottom Line: Ubuntu, like all Linux distributions, is supposed to be all about power and choice. However, when stacked-up against Vista's robust, pervasive integrated search mechanism, Ubuntu looks more like a lightweight poser than a real challenger. http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil.html

 * Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part 2: Compiz Fusion(Randall Kennedy) - There's this video on YouTube. It's all about the new "eye candy" in Windows and Ubuntu. The whole demo takes place against the backdrop of a pulsing bit of techno beat, making for a decidedly surreal experience. It's Ubuntu with Compiz Fusion enabled - a.k.a. Linux on crack. Of course, like most attempts by the Linux community to parrot Windows Vista, the aforementioned "eye candy showdown" misses the forest for the trees. Yes, Vista includes some new UI effects and animations. However, unlike Linux and the whole Compiz Fusion head trip, the effects in Vista serve a practical purpose. Bottom Line: Is Vista Aero "eye candy?" Yes, but with a purpose: To make the user interface easier to understand and navigate. By contrast, Compiz Fusion is nothing more than a me-too attempt to make Linux look prettier than it really is. http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil_1.html

 * Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part3: X11(Randall Kennedy) - It's a rite of passage. All new Linux users must face that ultimate test of courage and conviction: Fixing a broken video card configuration. Way back when (circa 1992), we "bleeding edge" NT users had to suffer through all sorts of video card-related maladies. And with no command line-only environment to boot into, we were truly and utterly hosed. Then someone at Microsoft got smart, and developed the "VGA boot" option. Yes, with Ubuntu, you too can experience what it's like to render your desktop inaccessible. In fact, with Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon," you now have two (count ‘em, two) separate (redundant?) control panels from which to launch your video mal-configuration odyssey. So, everybody, let's call up Mr. Peabody, fire-up the "wayback machine," and party like it's 1992! With Ubuntu! http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil_2.html

 * Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part 4: Applications(Randall Kennedy) - An operating system is only as good as the applications that run on it. Combine that with the old saw, "you get what you pay for," and you begin to appreciate why a thriving, commercial, 3rd-party development community is essential to building a lasting presence in the marketplace. Without it, you get something like, well, Ubuntu. Yes, Ubuntu ships with applications. And yes, you can download whole bit buckets full of additional ones from the various repositories. However, quantity rarely yields quality, and in the case of Ubuntu's application library (and that of Linux in general), the quality often falls well below the standards that most PC (or even Mac) customers have come to expect. http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil_3.html

 * Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part 5: Epilogue(Randall Kennedy) - A few weeks back I posted a decidedly less antagonistic series of missives about the departure of Mr. Con Kolivas from the Linux kernel development scene. And while I expected to take at least *some* heat for daring to comment on such an intimate Linux political issue, I was genuinely shocked by the level of vitriol emanating from the various respondents. After the dust settled, I realized that I had totally misjudged the Linux community. When I started out, I honestly bought into all the hype about "sharing knowledge" and "working together." Instead, I got a glimpse of the *real* face of the Linux community, the immature, mom's basement-dwelling, pimple-faced geek side that the Red Hats, Novells and Canonicals of this world don't want you to see. And while I take no pride in my methods (I actually *like* Ubuntu and plan to install Gutsy x64 onto several of my production workstations this weekend), I do take some measure of satisfaction in the outcome: Here, for the whole world to see, is the face of the Linux community - every "f-this" and "n-word" that preserved for all eternity in the digital ether of cyberspace. http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil_4.html

 * Software Review: Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon"(Kevin Eagan) - It may have taken a while, but Linux is finally starting to inch its way out of the dark corners of hobbyist computing and onto the battlefield between Microsoft and Apple. Sure, Linux has dominated the server market for a while now, but for the most part, its desktop and home computer offerings have, until recently, depended heavily on hacking and command-line skills. That's something the average computer user doesn't want to bother with at all. Then came along Ubuntu, a Linux distribution promising to be "Linux for human beings," something even grandma can understand and use. Ubuntu sponsor Canonical has released a version of Ubuntu that is elegant, fast, and easy to use straight out of the box. Ubuntu 7.10, also known as "Gutsy Gibbon," shows us that Linux can finally play with the giants and conquer some territory along the way. http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/10/20/153643.php

 * The Perfect Desktop - Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon"(o.meyer) - This document describes how to set up an Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon" desktop. The result is a fast, secure and extendable system that provides all you need for daily work and entertainment. About 23.000 packages are available in the repositories. This howto is a practical guide without any warranty - it doesn't cover the theoretical backgrounds. There are many ways to set up such a system - this is the way I chose. http://www.howtoforge.com/the_perfect_desktop_ubuntu_gutsy_gibbon

 * Ubuntu 7.10 Gibbon swings on the Asus Eee(Rupert Goodwins) - The Gibbonfest continues. We've just had an Asus Eee in to look at - the £220 laptop that everyone who's seen it is going to buy. It's one of the hottest things in the office this year. However, we inherited the Eee from another reviewer, who had accidentally nuked the Xandros Linux OS with which it had been supplied. Since we couldn't find the binaries to reinstall the Asus custom version of Xandros, and had Ubuntu 7.10 CDs sitting around, we thought we'd give the Gibbon another spin. The performance is great - Ubuntu is very comfortable with the 900MHz Celeron, and while it does have a CPU cooling fan it's inaudible. You won't have the greatest of times with the VGA resolution or the rather spongy twee little keyboard - but they're very usable. http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10006278o-2000331777b,00.htm

 * Ubuntu Linux – So Close to the Masses but Massively Far(Mike) - Ubuntu Linux is one of the best open source solutions that the world has ever seen. It is a free and powerful operating system that includes, by default, most of the tools that people need on a daily basis to get work done on a computer. It is a matter of time before Linux becomes more widely used but I’m afraid that it is just not yet. Computer users demand to play games and almost all games are made for Windows. Businesses require usage of Windows only software and often cannot afford to train employees on new computer systems. Ubuntu, the forefront Linux distribution, has most support from amateur and professional developers. It has the momentum to become the de-facto operating system for some. Ubuntu just needs more time to mature for the majority. http://www.blog.mikehmayer.com/?p=144

WORK IN PROGRESS

Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue #63 for the week October 21st - October 27th, 2007. In this issue we cover...

UWN Translations

In This Issue

General Community News

https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel-announce/2007-October/000348.html

http://www.fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-6/

MOTU Team

LoCo News

New in Gutsy Gibbon

Launchpad News

https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/launchpad-users/2007-October/002558.html

Ubuntu Forums News

  • Ubuntu Forums Interviews. MetalMusicAddict is under the spotlights for this week's interview (there was no interview last week due to the Gutsy release). He is part of the Ubuntu Studio crew, and a leading contributor on the Ubuntu Forums. Please read the complete article here: http://kmandla.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/an-interview-with-metalmusicaddict/

  • Share your Ubuntu Gusty upgrade/install experience. Like for every Ubuntu release, a poll has been created to share your Gusty experience with the community: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=580852. In addition, http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=3592625 summarizes the results of the previous polls for previous releases (for Dapper-Edgy-Feisty).

  • UWN Feedback. You can also read the UWN in a specific UF sub-forum: http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=243. The threads are open for comments, so please give us feedback regarding the UWN issues, specially the current one that will always be sticky. You can grab the RSS feed for the UWN sub-forum here: http://ubuntuforums.org/external.php?forumids=243.

  • All time UF connected user record. Just after Gutsy was released, the number of active users on UF have dramatically increased. Most users ever online was 11,934, on october 23rd, 2007 at 07:49 PM UTC. The servers have absorbed the shock wave, Yay!

  • New Hardy sub forums. As Gutsy was released, a section for the development (currently Hardy Heron) release was created, and the former Gusty development was closed. As usual, you will find the Idea-pool (posting and discussing your ideas that could possibly make it into the Hardy Heron release of Ubuntu) and Dev-Link (this forum allows developers to ask questions and have the user base reply) sections. http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=305

In The Press

  • Little Ubuntu chipping away at mighty Microsoft - Anthony Doesburg says that while Windows has more than 95% of the market and Linux has 1%, in terms of sales, the Linux share is under-reported. But Canonical is making strides by making arrangements with vendors like Dell. Don Christie, president of the New Zealand Open Source Society, argues that even though the OS might be 10% of a computer's cost, small businesses who watch their cash flow carefully, would benefit from Linux. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10470772&pnum=0

  • Microsoft’s top 10 reasons to upgrade to Ubuntu Linux, not Vista - Microsoft have listed 100 reasons to upgrade to Vista from XP, ranging from usability to security. David M Williams says users would be better of moving to Ubuntu than Vista. Moving away from Internet Explorer to Firefox prevents security issues since it is not integrated into the base OS. The filesystem in Ubuntu doesn't require constant defragmenting, something XP and Vista cannot boast. Windows has a legacy of users who are running as local administrators, where it is easier to be infected with virii and accidently damage the system. Linux users operate under a limited user account and have to make a conscious effort to become root. http://www.itwire.com/content/view/14937/53/

  • The Open Source Challenge. How to replace Windows completely with Ubuntu. - Ashton Mills rates how easily different tasks can be done in Ubuntu compared to Windows. The GNOME desktop is rated as good as Windows, while the update manager performs significantly better to anything provided by Windows. Browsing works well, but media playback is a hassle. Even though Ashton acknowledges that licensing issues are not the fault of Ubuntu or Linux, they can be rectified relatively easily by the end-user. Nautilus works well for burning CDs and DVDs and handling network shares. MP3 encoding required some work, but interacting with an iPod was optimal. Read more at http://apcmag.com/node/6574

  • Ubuntu: where to from here? - Sam Varghese writes that Ubuntu will eventuall need to include proprietary software to only compete with Windows for marketshare, but also other Linux distributions. The Ubuntu Live CD does not provide drivers for a comon wireless card, which decreases the chance of Ubuntu being adopted. Instead, the Mandriva 2008 Live CD and PCLinuxOS allow the users to copy drivers from a Windows partition. Applications like Flash will need to be installed by default to attract the average desktop enthusiast. Sam thinks Mark Shuttleworth will receive criticism if such moves were made, but they are necessary to get larger marketshare. http://www.itwire.com/content/view/14966/1090/

  • How Is Ubuntu Doing as a Server Platform? - Timothy Prickett Morgan discusses how it is difficult to "assess how well or poorly Ubuntu is doing on servers." Similar to other Linux distributions and companies like Sun Microsystems, Canonical does not release the number of licenses under support. Open source mail server vendor Zimbra and content management software maker Alfresco Software say Ubuntu is used second most as a deployment platform. There are two high-profile companies using Ubuntu on servers: "The WayBack Machine, a historical archive of the Web, is powered by 1,500 Ubuntu servers, and Joost, the free TV programming site, is also powered by Ubuntu." http://www.itjungle.com/tlb/tlb102307-story07.html

  • Ubuntu 7.10 is outstanding - Jeremy LaCroix writes that "[it's] not a perfect release, and it does feel somewhat rushed, but it is a step in the right direction that will ultimately lead to a more stable long-term support release this spring." Games such as Neverball, Frozen Bubble, Tux Racer, Chromium and Doom 3 worked as expected. Jeremy notes that "even with desktop effects enabled, performance while playing 3-D games on my system didn't seem to drop." http://www.linux.com/feature/120112

  • Windows to desktop Linux in three easy steps - Neil McAllister provides compelling reasons to try Linux: free, secure, compatible, lightweight, and well supported. He discusses downloading ISOs directly or using BitTorrent. To check hardware compatibility, Neal recommends trying the Live CD for a thorough test drive. http://www.linuxworld.com.au/index.php/id;1796074138;pp;2;fp;16;fpid;0

http://architectfantasy.com/?p=1

In The Blogosphere

  • Vista versus The Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon 7.10(Rupert Goodwins) - I'm currently using seven computers. Well, not at this precise moment (just three, as it happens), but darn it if I'm not proud of the fact. Of those seven, three run XP, one runs Ubuntu 6.06, two are now on Ubuntu 7.10, and one is Vista. My Ubuntu boxes, I love. Then there's the work Ubuntu computer, on which I do just about everything when I'm in the office. On Friday, I decided to update it from 7.04 to 7.10. That took a single click - no, honestly - in the system software manager, and about ten minutes downtime. And 7.10 is really rather nice; I find myself enjoying the various windows animation gimmicks more than I expected. The upgrade at home has not been so splendid. So I decided to reinstall from scratch, which means that certain problems I solved for 7.04 are now back again (in particular, a stubborn refusal by the system to set the resolution of the screen properly. XORG.CONF). But again, the experience was mostly fine. Having used Ubuntu for the best part of a year, I'm a fan. Then how come I'm so much more at home with Ubuntu than Vista? It boils down to one abiding impression: Ubuntu goes out of its way to get out of your way, even if it doesn't succeed all the time. Vista goes out of its way to be Vista and enforce the Vista way. You must conform regardless of the implications. http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10006217o-2000331777b,00.htm

  • Why I've moved from Vista to Ubuntu 7.10(mattloney) - I've been using Windows since it was battling for desktop supremacy with GEM in the early 90s. In the mid 90s I spent several years producing newspapers on Apple Macs. Since the late 90s I've dabbled with Linux, but there have always been compelling reasons to return to, or stick with, Windows. No more, for two reasons: Vista, and Ubuntu 7.10 (ala Gutsy Gibbon). Ubuntu has the slickest installation I have yet found in any OS. It also has a wonderfully useful and responsive 3D desktop, in the shape of Compiz Fusion. Ubuntu is fast, and is like a fresh breeze blowing through after my weeks of gazing at Vista, waiting for something to happen. Have we reached the beginning of the tipping point? I think we may just have. http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10006214o-2000331758b,00.htm

  • Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part 1: Applications(Randall Kennedy) - I'm sorry, but it needs to be said: The new Ubuntu sucks - at least when compared to Windows Vista. Yes, it's free. And yes, it's better than the previous release, Ubuntu 7.04 "Fiesty Fawn" (Yawn?). However, at heart it's still just another Gnome-based Linux distribution and, as such, remains well behind the curve when it comes to desktop sophistication. Case in point: Search. Much noise has been made about Canonical's decision to switch to the newer Tracker search engine. With Vista, search isn't simply an afterthought. It permeates every nook and cranny of the Windows shell. Bottom Line: Ubuntu, like all Linux distributions, is supposed to be all about power and choice. However, when stacked-up against Vista's robust, pervasive integrated search mechanism, Ubuntu looks more like a lightweight poser than a real challenger. http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil.html

  • Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part 2: Compiz Fusion(Randall Kennedy) - There's this video on YouTube. It's all about the new "eye candy" in Windows and Ubuntu. The whole demo takes place against the backdrop of a pulsing bit of techno beat, making for a decidedly surreal experience. It's Ubuntu with Compiz Fusion enabled - a.k.a. Linux on crack. Of course, like most attempts by the Linux community to parrot Windows Vista, the aforementioned "eye candy showdown" misses the forest for the trees. Yes, Vista includes some new UI effects and animations. However, unlike Linux and the whole Compiz Fusion head trip, the effects in Vista serve a practical purpose. Bottom Line: Is Vista Aero "eye candy?" Yes, but with a purpose: To make the user interface easier to understand and navigate. By contrast, Compiz Fusion is nothing more than a me-too attempt to make Linux look prettier than it really is. http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil_1.html

  • Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part3: X11(Randall Kennedy) - It's a rite of passage. All new Linux users must face that ultimate test of courage and conviction: Fixing a broken video card configuration. Way back when (circa 1992), we "bleeding edge" NT users had to suffer through all sorts of video card-related maladies. And with no command line-only environment to boot into, we were truly and utterly hosed. Then someone at Microsoft got smart, and developed the "VGA boot" option. Yes, with Ubuntu, you too can experience what it's like to render your desktop inaccessible. In fact, with Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon," you now have two (count ‘em, two) separate (redundant?) control panels from which to launch your video mal-configuration odyssey. So, everybody, let's call up Mr. Peabody, fire-up the "wayback machine," and party like it's 1992! With Ubuntu! http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil_2.html

  • Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part 4: Applications(Randall Kennedy) - An operating system is only as good as the applications that run on it. Combine that with the old saw, "you get what you pay for," and you begin to appreciate why a thriving, commercial, 3rd-party development community is essential to building a lasting presence in the marketplace. Without it, you get something like, well, Ubuntu. Yes, Ubuntu ships with applications. And yes, you can download whole bit buckets full of additional ones from the various repositories. However, quantity rarely yields quality, and in the case of Ubuntu's application library (and that of Linux in general), the quality often falls well below the standards that most PC (or even Mac) customers have come to expect. http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil_3.html

  • Why Ubuntu (Still) Sucks - Part 5: Epilogue(Randall Kennedy) - A few weeks back I posted a decidedly less antagonistic series of missives about the departure of Mr. Con Kolivas from the Linux kernel development scene. And while I expected to take at least *some* heat for daring to comment on such an intimate Linux political issue, I was genuinely shocked by the level of vitriol emanating from the various respondents. After the dust settled, I realized that I had totally misjudged the Linux community. When I started out, I honestly bought into all the hype about "sharing knowledge" and "working together." Instead, I got a glimpse of the *real* face of the Linux community, the immature, mom's basement-dwelling, pimple-faced geek side that the Red Hats, Novells and Canonicals of this world don't want you to see. And while I take no pride in my methods (I actually *like* Ubuntu and plan to install Gutsy x64 onto several of my production workstations this weekend), I do take some measure of satisfaction in the outcome: Here, for the whole world to see, is the face of the Linux community - every "f-this" and "n-word" that preserved for all eternity in the digital ether of cyberspace. http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisedesktop/archives/2007/10/why_ubuntu_stil_4.html

  • Software Review: Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon"(Kevin Eagan) - It may have taken a while, but Linux is finally starting to inch its way out of the dark corners of hobbyist computing and onto the battlefield between Microsoft and Apple. Sure, Linux has dominated the server market for a while now, but for the most part, its desktop and home computer offerings have, until recently, depended heavily on hacking and command-line skills. That's something the average computer user doesn't want to bother with at all. Then came along Ubuntu, a Linux distribution promising to be "Linux for human beings," something even grandma can understand and use. Ubuntu sponsor Canonical has released a version of Ubuntu that is elegant, fast, and easy to use straight out of the box. Ubuntu 7.10, also known as "Gutsy Gibbon," shows us that Linux can finally play with the giants and conquer some territory along the way. http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/10/20/153643.php

  • The Perfect Desktop - Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon"(o.meyer) - This document describes how to set up an Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon" desktop. The result is a fast, secure and extendable system that provides all you need for daily work and entertainment. About 23.000 packages are available in the repositories. This howto is a practical guide without any warranty - it doesn't cover the theoretical backgrounds. There are many ways to set up such a system - this is the way I chose. http://www.howtoforge.com/the_perfect_desktop_ubuntu_gutsy_gibbon

  • Ubuntu 7.10 Gibbon swings on the Asus Eee(Rupert Goodwins) - The Gibbonfest continues. We've just had an Asus Eee in to look at - the £220 laptop that everyone who's seen it is going to buy. It's one of the hottest things in the office this year. However, we inherited the Eee from another reviewer, who had accidentally nuked the Xandros Linux OS with which it had been supplied. Since we couldn't find the binaries to reinstall the Asus custom version of Xandros, and had Ubuntu 7.10 CDs sitting around, we thought we'd give the Gibbon another spin. The performance is great - Ubuntu is very comfortable with the 900MHz Celeron, and while it does have a CPU cooling fan it's inaudible. You won't have the greatest of times with the VGA resolution or the rather spongy twee little keyboard - but they're very usable. http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10006278o-2000331777b,00.htm

  • Ubuntu Linux – So Close to the Masses but Massively Far(Mike) - Ubuntu Linux is one of the best open source solutions that the world has ever seen. It is a free and powerful operating system that includes, by default, most of the tools that people need on a daily basis to get work done on a computer. It is a matter of time before Linux becomes more widely used but I’m afraid that it is just not yet. Computer users demand to play games and almost all games are made for Windows. Businesses require usage of Windows only software and often cannot afford to train employees on new computer systems. Ubuntu, the forefront Linux distribution, has most support from amateur and professional developers. It has the momentum to become the de-facto operating system for some. Ubuntu just needs more time to mature for the majority. http://www.blog.mikehmayer.com/?p=144

  • Ubuntu / Kubuntu Linux 7.10 Review - Fantastic!(Mike Ederhart) - I recently wrote an entry here on my technology blog about Windows Replacement with Linux, and specifically how I was looking forward, with great anticipation, to the final release of the Ubuntu and Kubuntu 7.10 Linux distributions. I can now report that after reviewing the Final Ubuntu "Gutsy Gibbon" 7.10 release (in particular the KDE desktop flavored Kubuntu 7.10 distribution), a Windows desktop-replacement is finally here! This latest round of Linux distributions, in particular the Ubuntu and Kubuntu 7.10 releases, show all signs of being completely capable of a full Microsoft Windows desktop replacement operating system product. After seeing the power and simplicity of this latest distribution release, I really don't know why so many people have never even tried Linux. Perhaps it has most to do with the fact that Microsoft has worked deals with nearly ever major manufacturer to include it with ever piece of PC hardware shipped, since otherwise if new computer buyers had to go out and choose an operating system (and actually pay for it separately), I have a feeling they'd quickly discover that not only can you save money on an OS, but also enjoy similar features, power, and flexibility without being tied to Microsoft forever. And, I haven't even discussed all the great free software that comes with these Linux distribution, or can be freely downloaded for use. http://suretalent.blogspot.com/2007/10/ubuntu-kubuntu-linux-710-review.html

In Other News

On October 20th, Tiago Faria has founded the Ubunteros Tribe on TribalWars, a free browser based MMOG. The story takes place in a medieval village that will grow, develop and fight other villages. Please read all about how to join the fun and basic recommendations here: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/TribalWars

http://www.linux-hero.com/rant/explanation-ubuntu-hard-drive-wear-and-tear, http://mjg59.livejournal.com/77672.html (figure out where to put this).

Meetings and Events

Monday, October 29, 2007

Scribes Team Meeting

  • Start: 8:30 UTC
  • End: 9:30 UTC
  • Location: IRC channel #ubuntu-scribes
  • Agenda: Non set as of this publication

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

====Kernel Team Meeting ====

New York Loco Meeting

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Edubuntu Team Meeting

Community Spotlight

Updates and security for 6.06, 6.10, 7.04, and 7.10

Security Updates

Ubuntu 6.06 LTS Updates

Ubuntu 6.10 Updates

Ubuntu 7.04 Updates

Ubuntu 7.10 Updates

Bug Stats

  • Open (35992) +1193 # over last week
  • Critical (19) +1 # over last week
  • Unconfirmed (19410) +629 # over last week
  • Unassigned (27515) +958 # over last week
  • All bugs ever reported (132161) +2200 # over last week

As always, the Bug Squad needs more help. If you want to get started, please see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BugSquad

Infamous Bugs

Translation Stats

  1. Spanish (16658) -1049 # over last week
  2. French (38347) -839 # over last week
  3. Swedish (51364) +849 # over last week
  4. English-UK (51513) -5213 # over last week
  5. German (65397) -330 # over last week

Remaining string to translate in Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon", see more at: https://translations.launchpad.net/ubuntu/gutsy/

UWN #: A sneak peek

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