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Ubuntu, the remarkably popular desktop Linux distribution that tries to bring the latest and greatest open-source programs every six months, arrived Oct. 18. The Gutsy Gibbon Ubuntu 7.10 Desktop Edition includes improvements in advanced plug-and-play printing, enhanced browsing and the option of a smooth new user interface built on top of the new GNOME 2.20 desktop.

The distribution, based on Desktop Linux's survey of Ubuntu's download sites and mirrors, seems to be, as of 11 a.m. EDT, available on all sites. Just because a site has the new release doesn't mean you'll be able to download it. We found that about half the sites were already at maximum capacity and not allowing any more users.

The latest version of Ubuntu includes numerous new features. In particular, its hardware support has been improved. Besides better plug-and-play configuration for printers, the new Ubuntu includes automatic firmware installation for Broadcom Wi-Fi cards.

Laptop users will also be pleased to see improved support for display systems. With Gutsy Gibbon, full external VGA (projector) support is available out of the box, with easy reconfiguration when hardware is switched. Mark Shuttleworth, Canonical CEO and Ubuntu's founder, believes that Ubuntu 7.10 now offers the best VGA out support for laptops of any Linux distribution.

Ubuntu 7.10 users now have full read and write capability for all Windows partitions, including NTFS files. This is especially useful for users with dual-boot Windows/Ubuntu systems. This support comes from NTFS3G--an open-source, freely available read/write NTFS driver for Linux. While this will allow users access to Windows XP and Vista file systems, users are not encouraged to try to run disk-intensive Linux applications, such as the MySQL database, off NTFS drives.

Pentru cei care nu au incercat Linux, este vremea sa incercati si "altceva", iar Ubuntu, mai ales prin aparitia ultimei versiuni 7.10, este cel mai bun moment sa o faceti. (KIWI Linux 7.10 - Linuxul în limba românã vã invitã ºi el sã scãpaþi de dependenþa de Windows!)
Versiunea "Server" va pune la dispozitie, preinstalat, pachetul LAMP (serverul web Apache, interpretorul PHP si serverul de baze de date MySQL), cele mai populare instrumente pentru publicarea paginilor web (atentie, setarile de securitate sunt alese pentru nivel maxim, deci nu permite implicit acces din exterior, ca la mai toate versiunile Ubuntu).
Ubuntu se vrea cel mai "uman" Linux. Il recomandam la maxim! Get Ubuntu! :)