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Ubuntu 8.04, nicknamed "Hardy Heron," is the most recent release of the Ubuntu operating system. It is the eigth Ubuntu release, on the second long-term support (LTS) release. The Desktop edition will be supported until April 2011, and the server edition will be supported until April 2013.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
30 people have already voted. Do you agree?

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Freely distributed
+28agreedisagree

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Available as a "Live" CD to try it out before installing
+26agreedisagree

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Simple installation through Wubi.
+23agreedisagree

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Available in desktop and server versions
+23agreedisagree

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Excellent usability
+20agreedisagree

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Very easy to install new open source applications.
+18agreedisagree

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Free alternatives to almost any 'commercial quality' programs.
+3agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?

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Not all commercial software has Linux versions or ports
+18agreedisagree

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Missing drivers for most new hardware.
-14agreedisagree

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Screenshot

 

screenshot: default 800x600 desktop of Ubuntu 8.04 "Hardy Heron"

Availability

Ubuntu is free, and will remain free. As with the other releases, it is avaliable in both desktop and server editions. A free install CD may be requested, however the shipping process may take 6-10 weeks. For more information, see Ubuntu.

Installation    

Ubuntu 8.04 has a completely revamped install system, called Wubi (Windows-Based Ubuntu Installer.) It allows users to install Ubuntu just like they install any other program, without having to partition their hard drive. It also allows for easier installs of the full operating system, and migrates users settings, such as backgrounds and bookmarks, to Ubuntu. A version for Mac, Mubi, is expected to be released soon.

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13 comments about Ubuntu 8 . 04 "Hardy Heron"

1.  avatar Omar  Dec 17, 2007 11:05am

A Eee-specific version of Ubuntu was released recently, so I think I'm going to try that out as soon as I can find a cheap SDHC card to boot from. I don't want to mess with the default installation, and I want to make sure everything is hunky-dory before doing a complete switch.

Ubuntu reminds me of OSX in a lot of ways. It has a user friendly interface, but you have access to the deep and powerful Unix architecture underneath. Of course you don't have the SAME kind of usability as OSX, but from what I've experienced, it's not bad.
2.  avatar michaelshores  Jan 08, 2008 8:34pm

I have been running Ubuntu on a pair of notebook computers for about nine months. Initially installed 7.04 on each and have subsequently upgraded to 7.10. The upgrade process was very smooth. I have yet to experience my first system crash. Ubuntu and open source applications can easily meet the needs of 80% of all computer users.
3.  avatar dialupinternetuser  Feb 15, 2008 10:43am

Downloading Ubuntu is much easier than downloading other distro's. I have had experience with Debian before, and I would get speeds of about 20kB/s when I downloaded the OS install CD's, but with Ubuntu I almost maxed out my connection.
4.  avatar exumer  Mar 09, 2008 3:52pm

From experience, ubutnu is very easy to install and use. the menus are very intuitive which helps a person new to linux navigate through their system. the only cons i would have with this operatins sytem is their software package installer (when i try to install plug ins for mozilla, they would not work, i guess due to the wrapper used to install them. which i hate as well), when i tried intsalling ubuntu onto my laptop, it would not support my nvidia graphics card so i could not go past the loading screen. I have found other versions of linux that i like way more than ubuntu, including Fedora, ZenWalk, and Mandriva.
5.  avatar dialupinternetuser  Mar 09, 2008 8:42pm

I ran Ubuntu for about a month on a really old spare computer I came across. It is the easiest Linux distro I have ever installed, and runs nicely. As long as you enable extra repositories and the Medibuntu repositories, all the software you ever need is easy to install, including plugins for Firefox. The only cons were that not all the software you install would get added to the menus, and that all the media organizers aren't that good. They also don't have the sleek look of those running on Windows. The computer I had was too old to try to emulate Window's applications. It also has very good data CD/DVD and ISO creations.
6.  avatar rabidpotatochip  Apr 23, 2008 10:09pm

I run MythTV on an Ubuntu system in my living room. Unfortunately, the kernel in Gutsy Gibbon broke the timing on my serial IR blaster, but downgrading to Feisty Fawn fixed it. Hardy Heron is also supposed to fix it as well, but it'll be a few days before that claim can be tested.

On a semi-unrelated note, while Ubuntu is very simple for the novice to average user the fact that most Windows software can't run on Linux is the biggest turn-off for most people. I think once Wine picks up a bit more Ubuntu will probably ride on that success.
7.  avatar Manzabar  Apr 29, 2008 3:07pm

@dailupinternetuser: If you don't care for Ubuntu's default look, you can change it. Also many of people who prefer how Windows looks tend to like the KDE desktop environment (vs. Ubuntu's default of Gnome). If you want to play around with Ubuntu & KDE you can either install KDE through Ubuntu's package installer or use the Kubuntu version of Ubuntu.
8.  avatar dialupinternetuser  Apr 29, 2008 3:31pm

It wasn't Ubuntu's default look I didn't like, it was Rythmbox's look. Which is harder to change. And JuK, for KDE, is even worse. It looks bad and has no functions.
9.  avatar Manzabar  May 19, 2008 3:33pm

Ah, in that case I'd recommend trying Amarok.
10.  avatar dialupinternetuser  May 25, 2008 5:37pm

@ Manazabar: Amarok is technically a KDE program, which means I need to install a ton of KDE libraries. How does this affect my system? I only want to run GNOME. I wouldn't mind having the KDE files on my computer, as long as they don't do anything.

11.  avatar dialupinternetuser  May 25, 2008 5:41pm

So I tried out Wubi on one of our high schools computers and it installed perfectly. Told it the partition size, gave it a user/pass, hit install and that was it. Very nice. It gave me a boot menu at startup and worked great. It picked up our schools private Novell (ugh) network and prompted me for information. Didn't try putting anything in. Ran some programs, which looked pretty and worked great. Uninstall was just as easy with Wubi, and the school's IT people never knew a thing. (I hope).
12.  avatar Manzabar  May 27, 2008 8:07am

@dialupinternetuser: Correct, Amarok is a KDE program and installing it will install all the require libraries. The only way this should affect your system is you'll have used up more disk space and any future KDE programs you want to try out should have some of their dependencies already installed.
13.  avatar dialupinternetuser  May 28, 2008 9:42am

I'll try that out after I install Ubuntu once I get a new motherboard, processor, and power supply. And case. And probably a new hard drive. Of which I will be getting soon.
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    Key Features:

    License GNU General Public License (GPL)
    Manufacturer Canonical Ltd.
    MSRP $0.00
    Product Line Open-Source, Linux
    Release Date Oct. 20, 2004
    Software Type Operating System, Linux distribution

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