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Introduction to Ubuntu 8.04 Beta

Mar. 21, 2008 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

Ubuntu preps the next release of its Linux distribution:

The Ubuntu developers are moving very quickly to bring you the absolute latest and greatest software the open source community has to offer. This is the Ubuntu 8.04 beta release, which brings a host of excellent new features.

Note: This is still a beta release. Do not install it on production machines. The final stable version will be released in April 2008.

New Features since Ubuntu 7.10
Xorg 7.3
Linux kernel 2.6.24
GNOME 2.22
PolicyKit
PulseAudio
Firefox 3 Beta 4
Transmission
Vinagre
Brasero
World Clock Applet
Inkscape
Virtualization
ActiveDirectory [sic] integration
iSCSI support
Firewall
Memory Protection
Wubi
umenu
Installation

Ubuntu remains my favorite Linux distribution by far. Looking over this list of new features, a number of items stand out. GNOME 2.2 is obviously a big deal, thanks to the dramatically improved Nautilus file manager. The inclusion of a beta version of Firefox is interesting, but given FF3's schedule, I guess they don't have much choice. Vinagre is a VNC client, providing Ubuntu with a decent remote desktop solution. Brasero looks like an ImgBurn clone. The World Clock applet looks like it was lifted straight out of Vista, which is understandable. Inkscape offers PDF viewing and editing, a la OS X. I had to look up KVM, which is a Linux virtualization platform for Linux: It's part of the Linux 2.6.20+ kernel, and it appears to be technologically similar to Microsoft's Hyper-V in that it requires virtualization support in recent Intel and AMD microprocessors. Wubi is interesting as well: This lets you install Ubuntu under Windows (!) as if it were any other Windows application. I guess it's a replacement for/alternative to running Ubuntu off the CD.

Anyway. Certainly worth checking out. There's a lot going on here.

Discuss this Article 7

brandon.pope
on Mar 21, 2008
I ran ubuntu with a dual boot setup along side Vista. it is fun to play around with and this list of new features is very impressive (why cant MS and Apple move this fast?). However, I always found myself booting in WIndows to actually get things done, and I would boot into Linux to, well, fool around with linux. As far as it has come, I just dont see it as a replacement for any major OS just yet. Ubuntu if by far the closest however. http://www.chipnit.com
lilserenity
on Mar 21, 2008
Inkscape is more of a structured drawing package along the lines of Adobe Illustrator or Freehand. It's very good. Ubuntu has been great for a production system for some time and 8.04 will probably be the last OS update I do for my venerable but rock solid ThinkPad T40.
Avro
on Mar 22, 2008
I tried Suse Linux and while I liked it I found that I could never consider it as a replacement for OS X or XP. I wanted to take a peek at Ubuntu and managed to foul up the triple boot so I was left only being able to boot into Ubuntu. It connected to the Wireless right away and I like the way it handles updates. Until we replaced our Dell with a MacBook we used it all the time and didn't even bother to reinstall XP. This is a very good Operating System and a worthy alternative to OS X or Windows. I have heard that some people are setting up their parents' computers on Ubuntu - it lets them do all the basics without a lot of maintenance hassle.
Waethorn
on Mar 22, 2008
"Certainly worth checking out. There's a lot going on here." ....yet another Linux dist.... *yawn* I'm sure Stallman will be getting his grunts ready with their magic markers and poster boards to make up signs claiming a big victory over "the evil empire", while he sits back drinking his $20 coffee and plans another $50,000 speech to advocate the use of free software. oh, but wait - the plot sickens....Ubuntu doesn't utilize 100% open source software.... score another one for software patent holders ;)
subzerohitman721
on Mar 23, 2008
I played around with Ubuntu and found thats its just like Windows 2000, without any of the polish of a Mac or Windows System. No mainstream file support. You have to go hunt down programs to play MP3's, WMA, AAC, and manipulate iTunes. But no legal way to access to the iTunes store because they don't write programs for Linux. FoxyTunes only lets you access the songs but not the store. Oh that means you guys have no legal way of downloading iTunes natively in Ubuntu. Most video games don't even work natively in Linux. You have to get Wine or some other Direct X or gaming app to play the latest games. Man thats got to suck. Oh, and you guys also use OpenOffice.org. It uses more memory and processing time than Microsoft Office. Come on, this is clearly a blatent rip off of Microsoft Office. I think the only reason Microsoft is not suing the pants off these guys, so that Microsoft doesn't look anti-competitive. I guess you have to throw the Linux guys a bone now and then. Now even Ubuntu is copying the Vista look and feel. There is an theme that now adds the Vista Start Menu and "Aero" theme. If these guys want to copy Vista so much, yet hate Microsoft so much, why do they always copy the latest stuff in Windows every 6, 12, and 18 months later? I see Ubuntu as the 6 to 18 months behind the curve of the computer industry OS. It was so frustrating playing around with Ubuntu. I deleted that crap off my hard drive faster than you can say, "Windows Vista Ultimate Edition Upgrade, Please!" Why be always behind and playing catch up to Microsoft and Apple? I'd rather be one the forefront with Vista or even worse yet a Mac. While great for the people who have no money, I'd rather save my bucks and buy the real thing. I thank you Paul for the article, but really. Does anyone take Linux seriously anymore?
Waethorn
on Mar 23, 2008
"Oh that means you guys have no legal way of downloading iTunes natively in Ubuntu." I can confidently say that most people that advocate the use of free software couldn't care less about paying for music either. There are already numerous free, albeit illegal, unlicensed codecs on the market for Linux, including Bluray playback support. What's breaking a few extra copyright laws to these people? Someone should honestly query Richard Stallman on what kind of music he has on his MP3 player, and how he obtained it. (Of course, making $50-75,000 per appearance advocating free software, he can afford to buy whatever the hell he wants to listen to.)
Waethorn
on Mar 23, 2008
Ok, a quick "trip" to Richard Stallman's personal webpage brings me to a few conclusions: 1) As is usual, why is it these OSS/FSF/Linux douchebags can't design a half-decent webpage? HEY STALLMAN! EVER HEARD OF THE W3C? 2) "Trip", as indicated above, is a pun on the amount of pro-marijuana sentiment on his page. Go figure. (Have you seen the guy??!? A hippy pot-smoker if you ever saw one!) http://tinyurl.com/3e2ewe 3) As is usual with "anti-censorship whacko's", all their boycotting is just another method of censorship. Honestly, his page has the word "boycott" no less than 9 times. Likewise, "marijuana" shows up 6 times. However, it's nowhere close to the word "boycott". 4) "Nader for President"??!?! Ok, this guy is completely off his rocker!

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