Analysis Ubuntu 8.10
Analysis of Ubuntu 8.10
Canonical has just released a few days ago the new version of its popular Ubuntu operating system on two fronts, server and desktop.
We get in the version Ubuntu 8.10 just six months after we delight with 8.04.1.
You can download the Ubuntu 8.10 analysis pdf
They are not just a list of changes that occur with the newcomer to the user but not too visible.
This time we want to try the desktop version to be the best known and most used and useful for our homes and / or companies.
I leave a list of the most significant changes that can be found in the new version over the previous.
After Tod team-os.es make a small analysis of it to share with you our views and with some minor problem we have encountered.
New features in Ubuntu 8.10
Ubuntu 8.10 ships with respect to the previous version:
Gnome 2.24: with tons of bug fixes and new features such as:
Nautilus: the file manager now supports tabs and buttons to "remove" removable media in the sidebar.
File Roller: The compressed file manager now supports ALZ formats, RZIP, CAB, TAR.7Z
Further information on the project web www.gnome.org
Xorg 7.4
This latest version offers much better support for devices "hot" as graphics tablets, keyboards, etc. At the same time allowing most users to work without a configuration file (xorg.conf). A new graphical mode, in Safe mode, will help solve the problems with the graphical server.
Kernel 2.6.27
The appearance of the latter kernel gives us a substantial improvement in the hardware recognition and correction of many errors. You can find details of all changes in www.kernel.org
"Encrypted private directory" or Encrypted private directory:
Ecryptfs-utils package was introduced in Ubuntu "main" allowing us to have an encrypted folder in your home directory.
Guest Guest session or session:
Button Fast User Switching now provides us with an extra entry called "guest", or guest. This function creates a temporary account with no password and no privileges. This account can not access any personal space of other users, or store information permanently. That is, an account will be volatile perfect to let someone use your computer momentarily.
Network Manager or Network Manager:
In version 0.7 we can find a list of changes to be expected for some time, management of multiple devices simultaneously, device management and 3G connections, managing network paths, etc.
DKMS:
This technology will allow us that when we install a new kernel image, the reconstruction is not necessary drivers are avoiding further that date.
Samba 3.2:
Includes a lot of improvements such as IPv6 support, better integration with the latest versions client / server Windows, etc.
Totem BBC plugin:
The Totem media player now includes a plugin to play all kinds of free content hosted by the BBC.
UFW:
The setup of the firewall (iptables) now recognizes the name of certain applications associated with network configuration, so that we can refer to them when to allow or deny its operation, eg ufw allow <service>
Besides all these improvements we find numerous changes in the face Ubuntu virtualization with Xen, JeOS, etc, especially in the server version. In this new version of Ubuntu, Canonical has included an application that will allow us to dump an iso of the system to a usb pen can install from a usb.
You can find more information about changes in the Ubuntu web site: www.ubuntu.com
INSTALLATION AND COMMISSIONING
When installing the new Ubuntu will notice little change compared to previous ones, except for a couple of details such as graphic display of hard disk layout that we want to configure for installation.
And a tab that is included in the user creation screen to allow automatic input of the user in question:
As we discussed the rest of the facility has remained largely unchanged.
For people who do not know that it is one of the most simple, with fewer questions to user and faster whereas in a fairly modern pc in 20, 25 or 30 minutes we installed a complete operating system with applications These will enable us to perform many of the most common tasks like browsing, using email, listening to music, burn cds / dvds, photo editing, video conferencing, use removable media, performing any office work, handle all types of archives and so long.
While it is true that to enjoy our films we install the necessary codecs and flash plugin for firefox, a task that I can guarantee is made with a few clicks and in about three minutes, thus leaving a system ready to work . In general we can say that the installation and commissioning of the Ubuntu 8.10 has not changed only with respect to the previous already excellent. Perhaps we will see in subsequent versions can work very easily with LVMS and RAID configurations, including two equipped with encryption.
FIRST START SYSTEM AND GENERAL USABILITY
Nor did we find in this respect excessive changes from previous version. It provides a different wallpaper for the input pattern Gdm (session manager) and the desktop background. The menus are the same as we used to see in Gnome and Ubuntu 8.04.1.
Speaking of developments, we can find a new program under the administration menu that lets you create an installable image to a usb pen from an image "iso"
As shown we can book a space to store data permanently in flash drive if we want to use it as a one livecd.
Other new features for the user can see them in the network connection manager. The new manager brings many changes, on the other side needed, since in the previous version did not allow us excessive configurations, we find them now is standing for ethernet, wifi, wireless broadband, vpn and dsl:
Editing the Ethernet device allows much greater control than before, including an encryption module (802.1x) certainly interesting:
For the rest of the connections we have plenty of options at our disposal even a wizard to configure our wireless connectivity devices. No doubt the network manager was a very necessary and Canonical apparently has hit the mark, hopefully work as expected because in our facility we had to enter the data again and again in both interfaces (eth0 and eth1) it does not values were maintained after the closure of the operator, preventing achieve network communication. Now it runs without problem, know why that detail was able to produce initially.
I find it very interesting also to include a configuration for VPNs, making it clear that Ubuntu is not just concerned but usability of the system security. In future articles of this distribution, and once I've tested publishers, we discuss the reliability and convenience of the transmission system generally and specifically with regard to VPNs.
Canonical indicates that there is possibility to use an encrypted directory on the new version of Ubuntu, but if we want this functionality to install the package ecryptfs-utils which are simply the tools necessary to manage an implementation of encryption that is found in the kernels from the 2.6.19.
After installing this program (from synaptic by the way) execute the command ecryptfs-setup-private that we ask in the first instance our system password, and then we asked for a password for encryption.
Finally we run mount.ecryptfs_private and theoretically obtain a directory called. Private (note the starting point, which makes it hidden) that things will supposedly encrypted.
Anyway the package ecryptfs is more likely because it has several tools to change something if we want the functionality that Ubuntu has given us.
Another interesting new point is to create a guest account or "guest." From the user switch applet, by clicking on "guest" will open another session graph identical to that we are using, without asking password or any information to seniors. This new session will create a temporary user in our system (all automatically), it will log into your graphical session previously opened and may use the unprivileged, with the possibility to store data temporarily, until the end of this session, at which time the account will be deleted, and all files and changes the user may have made will be lost forever. A perfect score for your computer temporarily provide someone to perform a quick or casual work.
There are more changes in the ink but try to improve internally, nothing we can observe with 3 clicks 
OVERVIEW AND PERSONAL OPINION
It is clear that Canonical is and has been making significant efforts to offer the finest product possible, be seen in many small details that make the experience of using Ubuntu is different from other distributions that are offering much longer in the picture computer.
How can you explain but has superseded, in terms of number of users, and developed such well-known distributions like Mandriva, OpenSUSE, Fedora, direct competitors like user in such a short time?
From my point of view this result is precisely the result of taking care of small details which make us very little to fault with the overall functionality and stability of Ubuntu, and in many cases small details that just stupid and annoying the user by not allowing him to perform with confidence and common operations as simple as using certain USB devices, using options such as standby or hibernation, or just to share folders on our network with a few mouse clicks.
Ubuntu right now is focused on users who want to stop using Windows non be crazy to go back to users who want to have to walk two systems fingering or know something else, and I would venture to say that for users who do not want to deal with the settings anything to have a fully functional within 30 minutes, after all how comfortable we all love. I think that if Canonical is in this line, listening to users, fixing the small differences that may have the system and providing application solutions to what the standard user desktop, has enough future ahead. Decisions will like some and dislike others, but it is evaluating the product as a whole, as a whole.
My personal experience is now about 2 months working almost daily with version 8.04.1 on a Dell Inspiron 6400, and about three months with the same version 50 desktop PC's hardware changed. With regard to the laptop could only request the wifi LED lights when connected to a wireless network and when the lower energy saving lighting lcd, to restore that back to the stop light in exactly the same intensity as now is a little darker than it was. As you can see we are talking about things that affect virtually nothing to the usability and system stability.
The rest have all gone naturally: card reader, wifi, laptop external buttons, touchpad with "scrolls" sleep function, etc.
I find it fascinating to install in 19 minutes (the time it took me to install the system since it started the cd until you restart your computer to complete the process) an operating system with all the added software that allows to make 99% of the work more common, with all the hardware properly configured and ready to be used after being well almost all free, hence free and legal to finish.
I have not thoroughly analyzed the system yet, although I've done a few tests to search for and locate faults tickle usability, and the result is really impressive. Things just worked. Ubuntu is obviously no panacea, there are things need to be polished, reworked, or simply changed, but I think a system with more features than originally appears (the policy editor, I refer to the session server options Gdm, etc ...) not particularly convince me that some applications suffer from functionality including letting you take the usability in some areas. Anyway package pools are quite large, allowing us to mitigate any specific need is not covered with the installation.
Speaking a bit more now than the new version:
There has been an interesting list of changes, perhaps not long for the user but in the background. People who have problems with a particular device is likely to find in the new kernel 2.6.27 the solution to their problems. It has also been talk of users who have had problems with the management of wireless networks (not my case) the inclusion of the new version of NetworkManager could give them a way out. In general terms I find little difference when using the 8.10 and the previous Ubunu.
I have not quantified stopwatch in hand, but gives the impression that the new version boots faster, including applications such as Firefox or Gimp also seem to take less to run. However, the latest version (remember that it is not LTS) I have not worked so successfully as his predecessor. I have found in "clean" installations with frosted windows, a fact almost unknown to me in 8.04.1, repositories to access and download very slow (we assume for the load), any problems installing proprietary video drivers, and other details . Overall, the experience with the version 8.10 has not been as satisfactory as with the 8.04.1, even when upgrading to the new system, I found some things broken, such as applet network configuration manager, the fund screen and other details that while not unduly affecting the usability, left no sense at all satisfactory.
There will be users who have found comfort, stability or friendly product on Ubuntu, and being particularly staunch user of Gentoo, Ubuntu has pleased me greatly, for his very fast installation with no difficulty, for general usability is achieved with the default installation , because things just work (at least to me), that it is noted that many details have been careful, and that user-level stability is more than noticeable. Finally I would like to add a listing of pros and cons that I find the system. A priori only recommend upgrading to the new version if you need due to problems in some type of hardware, or who want to have certain specific versions of software installed. For those who have a fully operational 8.04.1 (with their stick or not) I think it's best to wait until the next LTS version which I believe will bring a degree of finesse that I found on the Intrepid Ibex.
I leave you a summary of pros and cons that are interesting personal capacity:
PROS:
- In general the installation of both versions is very fast and without any complications.
- The system once installed you have configured all the hardware probably fine, without having to do anything.
- The system provides software tools for general and more than enough for a standard desktop user.
- Users will find a wealth of software available in the repositories.
Most want to do operations are simplified to the maximum, since burning a dvd, going to create a user to share a folder with Samba is just a few clicks.
The ability to perform the updates automatically and silently be welcomed.
The installation without any effort on the video drivers for Nvidia cards and AMD-ATI can bring some power to the desktop and other applications.
The subject (theme) provided by Canonical for Gnome gives it a pleasing while providing a solid appearance.
It has also thought of more advanced users who want to use tools such as client "terminal server", the policy editor, enable remote access to graphical server, use Evolution in an Exchange environment, the ring of encryption keys, etc..
We can find almost everything the system perfectly translated for people whom English is a barrier to them.
It provided much help files, also translated.
For a distribution of the "automatic" use of resources is strangely content, despite the response and power are not the protagonists, even with Compiz enabled and heavy applications open with 512 megs of ram should not have too much problem.
The fact that each version six months out "new" exudes a feeling of continuity, of concern for developers and seriousness to Canonical, also keeps the illusion of users.
We have lot of information online, if we have problems we refer to the help guides, wikis or third party sites that are sure to serve us something.
That is mainly distributed in a CD image that can be installed it on many machines.
Now we can also install from a usb pen.
Canonical does a great effort to facilitate their product to the most possible platforms, with versions for desktops, servants versions, mini versions for dumb terminals, etc..
The versions of almost all the software you want to use are fairly current.
We hardly find with extensions that are not associated programs will be easy and work with compressed files, images, pdf documents or music in various formats.
The installation of accessories such as video codecs, audio and plugins for the browser are just a few clicks and even fewer minutes.
CONS:
During installation I have not seen an option that would allow me to install the distribution in space is already installed before, always suggests changes in the partition or use the manual mode partitioning.
During the installation might be a good idea to e l user could interact more.
Select packages that do not want to install or vice versa, any chance of working with LVMS, RAIDS, partition encryption, etc.
I do not understand why, or that the advantages of not having a root password for when you have to perform various management operations rather than having to type "sudo" before each command, in addition to having to be putting the password user over and over again in different tasks that require it.
The broad outlines performance does not give the feeling of being just high, especially the response, however the resource consumption is moderate.
It gives me the impression that the software of choice is the best that could be incorporated, as a user of KDE until very recently I can not propose alternatives that meet, but some software like the F-spot or Rythmbox, to name one I think not even remotely satisfied with the task expected, seem to me that is simply useless.
There is another software that lacks much functionality as the Totem and Brasero, despite the work they have to play it well.
It is strange that he has not been included in version 3.0 of Openoffice at 8.10, as not being LTS if he had problems with the office suite could be arranged for the next version of Ubuntu or by a corresponding patch.
Maybe it would also be necessary to find more tools for the user and improve existing ones.
The fact that there is perfect all the internal changes that lead to better distribution, but sometimes those improvements are invisible to users.
To conclude that together we can really do this list of pros and cons largest independently to me what is clear is that Ubuntu has distanced himself so brutal in a very short time, there remains considerable room for improvement as always, but by day today I think is the best desktop alternative for those who want to live with Linux every day, a breath of fresh air from what we saw in recent years and that for some reason has not come to our desks so clearly.
Greetings to all readers of Tod-OS .
Ecol Strip
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