Software > Operating Systems

Good Karma – Ubuntu 9.10

By Paula Graham

Released in September 2009, Karmic represents a significant departure for Ubuntu – leaner, meaner but gentler on the non-technical user. There's a radical overhaul of the way Ubuntu handles hardware, reduced boot times and a much friendlier approach to finding and installing software.

Following on from the article Ubuntu 9 – Linux for Human Beings Hits The Spot this articles takes a more comprehensive look at Karmic and whether upgrading is the right option.

New versions of Ubuntu  are released in April and September each year and so Karmic is 9.10 (2009.Sept). For larger-scale deployment, Long Term Support (LTS) versions are released every 2 years and supported for 3 years on the desktop and 5 years on the server. The next LTS will be Lucid Lynx 10.04 (so 2010.April). Each release comes in a variety of 'flavours' including the Ubuntu Dekstop, Server, Studio (multimedia), Edubuntu (schools), Netbook Remix, Xubuntu (older PCs/laptops), Wubi (installs as a Windows application), and Ubuntu Portable Remix (runs on top of Windows from a USB stick).

Whether it's worth upgrading depends on how you use Ubuntu. On your personal computer or netbook, you'll probably find the advances in Karmic outweigh the hassle of reinstalling. Or if you're having problems with buggy hardware, an upgrade to Karmic may well improve things – the Netbook Remix, in particular, has much improved hardware support for Netbooks.

On the other hand, if you have quite a few desktops and a server then you might want to wait for the Lucid LTS. If you do decide to upgrade, backup your data and do a clean installation rather than upgrading from 9.04 to 9.10 automatically – unless your 9.04 installation is still as pure as the driven snow, it may corrupt and break minor stuff in the upgraded system.

User Interface

The new user interface is very easy on the eye. The icons and menus are attractive and navigation is clear and simple. Ubuntu tries to use everyday language in menus so if you're not 'techie' you've still got a fighting chance of working out what 'Places', 'Preferences', 'Appearance', 'Sound' or 'Power Management' means. All system admin and preferences menus are two clicks away under System in the main menu so no confusing 'rabbit warren' menus with no hope of remembering where stuff is even if you managed to find it the first time. The whole thing is just tidier and clearer. 

Under the main menu, System → Preferences → Appearance gives you a graphical interface to personalise the desktop – you can even set up Mac-like special effects. Icons drag and drop between the desktop and top and bottom bars, or shortcuts can be added by right-clicking on panels and selecting 'Add to Panel'. System → Preferences → Assistive Technologies takes you straight to accessibility options. You can also tick 'enable assistive technologies' during the installation and accessibility features will be set up automatically for you.

The graphical disk mounter, which was annoyingly buggy in 9.04, is working beautifully in 9.10. The keyboard shortcuts editor, which has been buggy since 8.10, is also fixed. Nautilus (the file manager) feels smoother and more responsive and is also freshly appealing to the eye.

Hardware

HAL is being deprecated in favour of DeviceKit. USB hotplugging is already a lot smoother than in 9.04 and bugs in bluetooth file transfer with my old Nokia also seem to have been ironed out. There's improved support for Intel graphics and sound chips and my Intel HD is finally belting it out as its makers intended with a greatly simplified user interface. Skype  is 'just working' without fiddling with sound card settings. Syncing cals and contacts to the Nokia can still involve pounding a commandline for half an hour unless you use a third-party service like Scheduleworld (like I do) in which case it's effortless and pretty reliable. All in all, the hardware improvements are significant – this alone makes it worth upgrading for Desktop users.

Software Centre

Finding and installing software was always a bit of a challenge for users migrating from Microsoft Windows to Ubuntu so Karmic has a new Software Centre (Applications → Software Centre) to make life easier for new arrivals. The Software Centre is organised in categories which drop down lists of software choices. Just choose your software and either click to install or visit the website for more info. Couldn't be easier! Experienced users can still use synaptic, gdebi or aptitude.

Karmic also features Quickly which makes it easy for developers to create new applications for Ubuntu (much as they do for Firefox or iPhones) so that the range of available software for Ubuntu is likely to increase sharply.

Boot times

Ubuntu is on a mission to reduce boot time to 10 secs – Karmic isn't there yet but boot time is already noticeably shorter, as is load time for bohemoth applications such as Open Office. Power saving is also improved.

Privacy and security

Ubuntu's security is already somewhat legendary and Karmic can automatically encrypt your home directory so no one can access your data if you lose your laptop. There are also tweaks to security in handling documents received from the internet.

Cloud Control

Ubuntu One is an online sync service which places an eponymous folder in your 'home' directory. Register with Ubuntu One and it will automatically sync anything you put in that directory to an online storage space. You don't have to download a file, edit and re-upload it (and lose track of versions), it just syncs changes as you save your edits. You can also access and share files through a web interface if you're not on an Ubuntu PC.

It could ease backup problems by providing an off-site copy of your most important files – it shouldn't be used for full system backups but if you're currently using a USB key it's probably an improvement. Ubuntu One can also sync Evolution contacts. It's still beta at the moment but Ubuntu plans to add a lot of functionality. The freebie has a 2 GB limit but you can upgrade to 50 GB for $10 per month.

I particularly like Ubuntu's approach whereby you retain control of your data on your local computer (barring subpoena) unlike Google-style cloud services where everything is stored remotely so if you lose your account or the system glitches you could lose your stuff. Ubuntu One's T&Cs are governed by English law and there's a UK address to complain to. That's a respectful way for a global company to treat local users.

Karmic server also integrates Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud with EC2 compatibility making it relatively simple to set up private or hybrid cloud computing services.

Try it without committing

You can use Ubuntu without changing anything on an existing Microsoft Windows setup. Wubi installs just like a Windows application and gives you a fully-operational Ubuntu installation. It can be uninstalled just as easily with the normal Windows 'add and remove programs' dialogue.

More info about accessibility:

For more information visit Ubuntu accessibility