The latest and greatest(?) version of the Official Linux Distribution of Way of the Geek, Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex), is now ready for prime time (just 48 hours before it would’ve had to be called version 8.11).

Among the new features 8.10 sports:

* Linux kernel 2.6.27

* GNOME 2.24

* X.Org 7.4 with improved support for hot-swappable devices

* encryptfs-utils package

* A new “guest user” account for when you need to let someone check their email on your computer

* Samba 3.2

* DKMS (rebuild kernel drivers on-the-fly with new releases)

…And more besides.  The full list of features can be viewed here.

It’s not a really major update from 8.04 (Hardy Heron), but it does bring the kernel and some major components up to more recent versions.  I’ve been running the beta myself for a few weeks and can report that things are at least as good here as they were in 8.04, so I can certainly recommend doing the update.  (Of course, you should always research system updates such as these thoroughly before committing to them, as you never quite know what they’ll do to your specific system until it’s too late.  However, I can report that for me, nothing got broken during the process.)  And you might even want to wait a while; if past patterns hold, the Ubuntu repos will be hammered into oblivion by people jumping all over the update like flies on a cow pasture.

(Of course, if GNOME’s not your thing, there’s still always Kubuntu or Xubuntu.  Kubuntu in particular now sports the KDE4 desktop by default for the first time - 4.1 to be precise - making it an attractive upgrade option for KDE fans.  And Xubuntu, of course, is great for those with older or otherwise underpowered systems who’d like a lighter-weight desktop.)

Up next for Ubuntu:  Jaunty Jaguar, due in April…

If you liked that, try...

1. Ubuntu 6.10 Final Released
2. Ubuntu 7.10 Is Here
3. Review of Ubuntu 7.10
4. Ubuntu 8.04 Released
5. Quick Ubuntu Tip: A Leaner, Meaner GNOME

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