No Ubuntu Update For Me

For the first time in ages I am not downloading an update to Ubuntu. On Thursday the 12.10 version was released to the masses and from what I have read its a good release with lots of bells and whistles. They have further refined the Unity desktop to interact more with the Web. However I am sitting this update out.

Since switching to Linux Mint a couple of months ago I have been very happy with its performance on our slightly older hardware. There is something good to be said about the MATE desktop environment. I am very pleased with Linux Mint and how it has a classic feel of earlier Ubuntu releases with all the power of the long term supported Ubuntu 12.04 at its core.

Ubuntu is going onward and upward in features and technology which seems to be slowing it down a bit. They have abandoned the 2-D version of Unity which is what I used on my laptop so it would run at its best. 

It wants to compete with Windows 8 and I think that’s great. Microsoft and Apple need some competition. However they need to be sure the widest array of hardware configurations can run the operating system with little problem so that they can a much bigger adoption. I like what Linux Mint has done by offering multiple desktop environments so it can be something for everyone.

What happens in the future will be interesting to watch. As for me I will continue to download updates and keep Linux Mint 13 (Maya) going as good as I can. 

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Ubuntu 12.04 Release Day!

Today is the release of Ubuntu 12.04 which is code named Precise Pangolin. For those who don’t know Ubuntu is a free, open source operating system much like Windows or OSX. It is Linux based. I have been running Ubuntu for about a year and a half with little problems.

 Ubuntu comes loaded with everything you need to get on the web, view and manage pictures, listen to music, view videos and write and produce documents and spreadsheets and much much more. You can also download additional apps and tweaks for free. There is great tech support in the Ubuntu/Open Source community if one has any issues or needs help.

Today’s release is going to be a long term release which means it will be supported for a number of years. From what I read there is a new kernel and many improvements to the user interface. Of course there will be changes from version 11.10 which is what many are using now. 

I am excited about this as I am every time a new release comes about. There will be lots of buzz about it today and perhaps it will trend on Twitter.