Archives

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Review Canonical Ubuntu 10.10

Six months after the release of Ubuntu 10.04 it's time for an update. Compared with the previous edition have been subtle changes this time. Unless you hold a mini laptop.

Ubuntu 4.10 LTS was an issue, which means that Canonical publisher of that version gives long term support. Typically, the LTS release after a little less spectacular. Yet, there are 10.10 (code name Maverick Meerkat) a number of innovations that are worth watching.

Easy installation
The installation is done in each case with any version of Ubuntu float. The number of tough questions is limited to a minimum during installation and all drivers are widely applied. Unless something exotic in the PC, you sit, you can start right away.

The interface was only six months ago renewed. Passed by the way, because the brown tones of the past, everyone is tired. Maverick refresh only a GUI element: the system font. Not revolutionary, but it does look like Ubuntu is just slicker.

With version 10.10 put Ubuntu next steps towards the cloud. The Ubuntu-One service is fully integrated so that your bookmarks, contacts and even synchronize folders in the cloud. You get 2 GB of storage free for everything you need to subscribe - about the same model as Dropbox.

Canonical also promises a Windows client so that data can be shared across platforms. During our tests have regular Ubuntu One offline. Burden of childhood diseases?

Tremendous speed gains on netbooks
For netbookbezitters Maverick Meerkat is a big step forward. Netbook Edition install Unity, a light version of the graphical interface. This is not a faint imitation of the standard version, but a totally new GUI that key functions such as icons in a strip at the left edge of your screen.

The advantage is that the bottom bar disappears, what netbooks with limited vertical resolution is a bonus. Unity should also Ubuntu ready for the future, because the interface works with new multitouch support.

Somebody's going to Cannonical clearly believe that Ubuntu will get a spot on netbooks with touch screens, or tablets.

Canonical Ubuntu 10.10
Price: free (December 2010)

PRO: good update for netbooks, integrated cloud features, improved installation.
CONTRA: for PC only modest update, Ubuntu and Windows Mobile clients for One still missing.

No comments:

Post a Comment