Ubuntu 8.04 - One day to go

Ubuntu, a popular Linux based operating system is getting a new update tomorrow, version 8.04 known as Hardy Heron will be available for download for the first time.

It was many years ago and before I had an Internet connection that I was playing with Redhat, one of the early Linux distributions. I installed it from a PC Format cover disc. Once I had got through the installer I was presented with a command prompt that awaited instruction. I have to admit that I had no idea what to do - I did not really know that much about computers back then so had no experience to “guess” things or figure them out, none of my friends knew how to use Linux and I could not go online.

This was about 13 years ago, now things are much better, Mandrake (another Linux) took us a step forwards with an implementation that loaded a graphical interface by default, this interface was similar to Windows and made things much easier to work around.

Today, Ubuntu are almost certainly the leader in providing a version of Linux that is easy to use - Why? Because it is extremely easy to install and use, it comes with everything you will likely need as an average computer user, it’s pretty good looking and it supports loads of hardware.

I’ll be downloading Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron tomorrow along with many other people. I am hoping it will have improved support for my 8800GTX Graphics card.

You can view a list of new features on the Ubuntu website some of which are:

• Firefox 3
• Gnome 2.22 (The window manager)
• PolicyKit (allowing administrators better control over user permissions)
• Brasero (Better CD/DVD burning)
• Transmission (BitTorrent client, highly popular on the Mac)
• WorldClock App (It’s not a computer without a worldclock now is it!)
• Umenu (Install Ubuntu inside Windows as an application)