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Earlier today I downloaded the beta release of the new Ubuntu x86 OS. I've always been a pretty big fan of the Ubuntu distrobution and use the 7.10 (gusty) release as my Counter-Strike: Source and SSH2 server.

Let me first say that, I was extremely displeased to have been unable to successfully run the new beta release in VirtualPC or BOCHS.

Introduced in this new release is the Gnome 2.2 interface. I honestly do not have anything to say about this 'improvement' as it looked exactly the same as whatever gnome version was previously implemented. I did notice that when performing two file transfers at once, it showed a split view of both transfers, but then again, it may have been in the previous version as well without my knowing.

Transmission (a bittorrent client + gtk interface) was a friendly sight to see as this was one of my favorite built-in programs from the Fedora 9 distrobution. I have to say, I love this program and am extremely happy to have seen it integrated into the distrobution CD.

I am also happy to announce that a firewall has finally been included in the distro. I don't care what anyone says, even if you are on a linux box, you can still get hacked and are still vulnerable to a plethora of attacks and malicious software. The firewall is extremely easy to use and does the task well.

Away from serious applications, the new desktop effects are AWESOME. =) I do miss one very cool one from the 7.04 release where the windows would act like goo and kind of ooze to where you dragged them. The 3D-Cube virtual desktop is very fun to mess with btw. =)

Well, it is late, and I am tired, so I shall wrap it up.

Looks: 8
Functionality: 9
Stability: 9
Security: 6

Overall: 8

I would deffinately recommend this distrobution to just about anyone, from the curious to the 1337.

But, just like XP->Vista, I will probably not upgrade my server until some of the release bugs get fixed.

I've been using the beta for just over a week, and am loving it. Ubuntu seems to get better and better every release.

LFS64, plan9 > fedora > ubuntu, arch > debian > winxp in my book :)

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I haven't tryed Fedora in a long time, what's it like these days?

fedora is fedora, stable and trusted.

don't forget slow.

After using Fedora 9 on the same box as the ubuntu beta, I can honestly say that there is a HUGE speed increase when using ubuntu. I don't know exactly why, but boot times and general execution times dropped dramatically in ubuntu.

I don't really LOVE the F9, but the F8 was ok.

01000101 wrote:don't forget slow.

After using Fedora 9 on the same box as the ubuntu beta, I can honestly say that there is a HUGE speed increase when using ubuntu. I don't know exactly why, but boot times and general execution times dropped dramatically in ubuntu.

I don't really LOVE the F9, but the F8 was ok.

After trying Ubuntu a few months back, coming from Gentoo, I'd have to say the same thing about Ubuntu. It was miserably slower than my Gentoo setup, and for some reason, I felt 'cramped'.

Nice package management, and easy installation, however.

I supose there will allways be a faster linux dist, but humour me, what do you think is the fasten, most efficient, etc.?

I'd have to go with either Ubuntu 7.04 x64 or Knoppix as the fastest large distro's. As for lightweights, I'd go with either LinuxMint or Luit.

LinuxMint looks interesting, but it seems to me that it's lagging supporters and as it need to be maintained and developed on a regular basic I believe that is a problem.

Maybe I'm wrong.

Gentoo ?

I've never used Gentoo, and you are beyond correct about Linux Mint and the lack of support. I read somewhere that it hasnt been updated in like 3-4 years. =)

I've read a lot of reviews at this point, and still xubuntu seems to be the best distibution for me.

XUbuntu = Ubuntu + XFC.
I dislike the interface of xfc, not because it is underdeveloped or anything, just because it doesnt fit my taste. I perfer gnome and despise KDE.

I follow you in the gnome vs. kde view, however, I do feel that gnome, like kde, is a total overkill for my needs, so im basicly looking for something ligthter, while still keeping a nice look and the needed functionelity. However, there is more to an OS than the desktop enviroment and it's the the real confusion starts because I simply don't know enough about linux.