Will Ubuntu Linux Break Through on the Desktop?
Canonical, caretakers of the Ubuntu Linux distribution, will
release
its new 7.10 Desktop Edition today. It sports a raft of new features that
just may just give it the best chance to take share away from Windows on the
desktop.
What has some industry analysts all excited about version 7.10's -- also known
as "Gutsy Gibbon" -- desktop fortunes is its 3D graphical interface
along with its automatic printer driver installation. The latter has perpetually
stood as one of the annoying roadblocks for wide audience acceptance of Linux
by desktop users. Many users have walked away from their first installation
of Linux on a desktop machine because they couldn't get it to work with both
new and older printers in their shops.
The flashy new graphical interface may prove to be more than just eye candy.
Linux has had a couple of other graphical interfaces before, but none as rich-looking
as this one. Some are boldly saying that version 7.10's 3D interface, built
on top of the Gnome 2.20 desktop, will give Windows Vista and Apple's upcoming
Leopard a run for their money.
The new version also contains improvements for laptop users. It offers full
external VGA support right out of the box, and can be more easily configured
when hardware is switched around. Also, new support for automatic firmware installation
for Broadcom Wi-Fi cards has been added.
So far, larger IT shops have been more interested in the idea of Linux on the
desktop than in actually having it on their desktops. That interest has
stemmed from wanting to eliminate the expensive licensing fees Microsoft imposes
on Windows users, along with a handful of other technical shortcomings. But
with the underwhelming response to Vista among corporate accounts -- many of
whom claim to have no plans to deploy the operating system this year and even
next -- coupled with Ubuntu 7.10's set of capabilities, the door has never been
more open for a Linux offering to walk through.
Users interested in downloading version 7.10 can go here.
Posted by Ed Scannell on October 18, 2007