Ubuntu 8.10: what's new, Doc?

By Sam Varghese
Friday, 31 October 2008 06:48

Opinion and Analysis

Why do people climb Mount Everest? Well, because it's there, I guess. Why do so many people dislike George Bush? Saves a lot of time, I guess.
Why do people keep downloading every new release of Ubuntu? You've got me there - for the life of me I can't figure it out. I know why I download the release and install it on my test PC - so that I can file one more column.

But the remainder of those who keep indulging in this exercise - don't they have a life? Is downloading Ubuntu and installing it that much of a joy or a pleasure?

What is really new from release to release? There are new point versions of software - as the granddaddy of all tech writers, Robert X. Cringely, put it, something like the difference between position 46 and 47 in the Kama Sutra, where the former has no pinkies extended.

I've noted a few new things that make a difference in Ubunut 8.10 which is known as Intrepid Ibex, surely a frontrunner to win the Stupid Names for Software Releases competition. (You could go one better with Arsehole Armadillo, though.)

One of the additions is a tool to clean to out cruft from the system, something called system-cleaner. But then it's only new to Ubuntu - Debian has had this for a long time with both cruft and deborphan, the latter to clean out unused libraries left behind when software is uninstalled.

A second is an app that lets one make a bootable USB key using an Ubuntu image - you can then run the whole caboodle from that key. Sure, I know of people standing in line to do this. People are ditching desktop PCs by the load and using USB keys at work instead - the last figure I counted was about 12 million.

There are a lot of claims that the "overall desktop experience" (whatever that is - clue me in if you know what that collection of buzzwords means) is better in Ubuntu 8.10. Sure, the wallpaper is nicer, the artist was probably a little better in terms of ability that the man who created the Hardy Heron background. But overall what has really changed?