My take on Ubuntu Intrepid 8.10 (K/X/Ubuntu)

[James Finstrom]

I am using kubuntu 8.10 on a dell vostro 1000 I installed as an rc and
install required a restart of x (ctrl alt bksp) but went flawless out
of the box. I have been through a few dozen updates including 3 kernel
involved and all still does well. The vostro 1000 is dells low cost
business line and at the time was not sold with linux as an option
because they couldn't sell linux on consumer desktops. My only gripe
is the transition to KDE4 which I have been resisting but specificly
4.1.2 included in this release allows some customizations like using
classic KDE app menu. I have had to learn to change my habbits like
not allowing my desktop to become an icon wasteland but that is a good
thing too I guess.  Over all I have been with ubuntu 2 years and each
update has made it that much better that's why I don't thonk twice to
follow the release cycle. One note after two dist upgrades my system
was in bad shape so this round I did a clean install and OMFG batman
what a difference.

On 11/5/08, Josh Coffman <josh at computeristsolutions.com> wrote:
> Thanks, I appreciate the review. seriously.
>
> On Wed, Nov 5, 2008 at 4:56 PM, Jim March <1.jim.march at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I'm running Intrepid right now on a Dell laptop with an Intel
>> 965/X3100 graphics card, Intel HDA sound, Pentium dual core (basically
>> the "low end" dual processor) with 2gigs RAM.
>>
>> This lappy was bought at Beast Buy on sale for $500 so it's hardly "high
>> end".
>>
>> There are two things Intrepid is giving me over Hardy:
>>
>> 1) Better dual-monitor support.  System>Preferences>ScreenResolution
>> is working *exactly* like it should, period, end of discussion right
>> there in the GUI without any funky xrandr command line BS.  I can plug
>> in an external monitor, detect it, adjust the resolutions of both and
>> the relative layout of an expanded desktop unless I choose mirror
>> mode.  It "just works".
>>
>> 2) I get Network Manager GUI controls for my Verizon cellular modem.
>> I use a KPC680 in my ExpressCard slot.  It too "just works".  I'm
>> experimenting with sharing it over Ethernet tonight with a friend's
>> rig and will report back.  Before it was a matter of wvdial scripts
>> and weird glitches associated with that.  Performance is great.  I did
>> have to do some tuning in /etc/ppp/options setting both
>> "lcp-echo-interval" and "lcp-echo-failure" to "0" to correct a
>> "disconnect after five minutes" problem.
>>
>> Other than that detail, I'm not seeing any downsides with Intrepid.  I
>> understand there are new drivers in the works for both ATI and NVidia
>> for the new Xorg variant (which in turn is what's allowing killer
>> dual-monitor support).
>>
>> If you don't need these features, there's little reason to switch.
>> The minor improvements include a "guest mode" that's pretty slick (log
>> in as you and then set it to "guest" and whoever you loan your rig to
>> can't get to your stuff) and an encrypted private subdir in your home
>> directory.  I always use whole-disk-encryption off the alternate
>> install CD anyways so that's a non-issue for me.
>>
>> Note that my Alpha-to-beta install still had glitches once Intrepid
>> went gold, and it refused to update to the newest kernel version.  So
>> I had to do a clean install with the release edition...this is fairly
>> common (and very annoying) about alpha/beta-testing Ubuntu.  A
>> Hardy-to-Intrepid update now should be OK.
>>
>> Hope this helps,
>>
>> Jim
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James Finstrom
Rhino Equipment Corp.
http://rhinoequipment.com ~ http://postug.com
 Sometimes for it to "just work" you have to think outside the box!
Phone: 1-877-RHINO-T1 ~ FAX: +1 (480) 961-1826
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