Ubuntu v5.04 final released

**Derek Meister** · 04-08-2005, 04:39 AM

The final version of Ubuntu Linux v5.04 is now available for public release. You can either download a copy or have one shipped to you free of charge.

Some of the featured software in Ubuntu v5.04 include Gnome 2.10.1, X.org 6.8.2 and Firefox 1.0.2. You can read about all the changes in the Release Notes for v5.04.

Ubuntu Linux is primarily based around a Gnome desktop environment, but if you prefer KDE, you can take a look at Kubuntu, a project that makes Ubuntu v5.04 available using KDE 3.4 as it's base.

If you'd like to try both desktop environments, you can simply install Ubuntu and then issue an apt-get install kubuntu-desktop to install the necessary Kubuntu files, allowing you to choose which DE to use at login.

If you're curious about Ubuntu Linux, but don't want to install it on top of the operating system you already have, you can download a "Live CD" from the link above, which will allow you to boot from the disc and try a version of the OS that lives completely on the CD-Rom. With this you can try the distribution out on your particular hardware with no changes made to the underlying system.

**Udarnik** · 04-08-2005, 11:19 AM

I missed this version because I installed Ubuntu a couple of weeks ago, but this is a beautiful Linux distro that I can't gush enough about. The installation was so simple it scared me ("what? I don't have to enter my monitor's horizontal sync rate? what's going on here?") and the default applications and set-up are very thoughtfully chosen. There's just a sense of rationality to the whole thing that I haven't seen in any other operating system except, perhaps, Mac OS X. I particularly liked how the default desktop has no icons on it, but the menus are meaningfully and simply laid out. Whenever I install Windows I usually spend at least an hour throwing out crap and fixing the stupid default layout. (or with other Linux distros, just getting basic things to work). Ubuntu starts out shockingly clean and usable, but of course all the Linux tweakery is there, too, under the surface for when you're ready to grapple with it.

Anyway, a perfect os for general work.

**DrCrypt** · 04-09-2005, 02:00 AM

Okay, I'm willing to give this a shot, but I need to make sure I can even access the Internet once I'm on. I downloaded the install but it can't actually read my Network connection, which is supplied through a USB DSL modem called the Netopia 3341. I assume that the initial install can't read a USB DSL modem, so I'll have to set it up when I'm actually in Ubuntu.

I did some Googling and I didn't find anyone who'd had a similar install with Ubuntu, but I did find a Linux driver for my modem here. I was hoping someone who'd done the install could tell me what I would do with that driver once I'm in - this'll be my first experience with Linux ever, basically, so I'll need some help. Thanks.

**Derek Meister** · 04-09-2005, 02:38 AM

The readme file has the basic installation directions inside, so from that point you'd want to reboot, login and access the Menu: System -> Administration -> Networking and setup PPPoE.

USB DSL modems. Ick.

**SpoofyChop** · 04-09-2005, 06:23 AM

[EDIT]

Yay! I got it to boot. I had managed to set one of my boot options incorrectly in the bios. It wasn't booting from the drive for some reason.

Impressions to follow.

**EvilIdler** · 04-10-2005, 03:24 AM

I've been running AMD64 Ubuntu with the Kubuntu desktop for a week and
a half now. It's an improvement over my Debian installation.

USB devices and CD-ROMs automount (and no nagging when I pull out
my MP3 player) on this system, but the i386 install I've done for gramps
only automounts USB storage. It's mostly good, though. All the things you
expect to configure if used to a Windows desktop can be done on the
desktop. Scanner tools are also part of the default install.

The #ubuntu channel has been very helpful, so I recommend going there
for some hand-holding (I'm there most of the time now, holding hands
and having warm, fuzzy ubuntu-feelings).

IA32 support: For those who have a few commercial games to play,
I've had few problems with the major ones. UT2004 has 64-bit binaries,
but Alpha Centauri doesn't. Runs well, though. Still not tried the network.

3D accelleration is a bit up and down, but the majority of NVidia and ATI
users seem to get it up. I gave up on the pre-packaged 2.6.11 kernel,
and stuck with Hoary's default 2.6.10. I haven't been able to successfully
compile my own kernel which also could run GLX, which is a first.
I feel utterly useless when that happens.

The default packages are a generally good mix for home office use.
Scribus isn't there, but it's a download away; Synaptic is in the menus
for those who aren't Linux/Unix experts. For those who are, (Open)SSH
is *not* installed by default - at least not the server.

Security: No root password is generated during installation (a very
smooth and simple one, I might add). If you need to do admin tasks,
you do it via sudo or the Administration functions in control panels.

(Creating a root password is optional, if you have extended periods of
root-specific use in mind)

Whether giving the first created user full godlike powers is good or bad
can be debated, and is often on IRC ;)

Dig around the homepages for torrents. There is also a DVD image,
but I dunno how many mirrors have it yet.

I get apt-get goodness and a few neat desktop-related things set up for
me by the distro, so this one's a keeper.

**SpoofyChop** · 04-10-2005, 10:03 AM

Well I checked this out briefly. I'm very impressed at how far Linux has come over the past 10 years. You could easily present this OS to somebody familiar with Windows and they would be able to get things done I'm sure.

Now I just have to figure out something to do with this install other than stare at it.

:?

**XPav** · 04-10-2005, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by SpoofyChop

Well I checked this out briefly. I'm very impressed at how far Linux has come over the past 10 years. You could easily present this OS to somebody familiar with Windows and they would be able to get things done I'm sure.

Now I just have to figure out something to do with this install other than stare at it.

:?

Get cracking writing free software! Down with Micro$oft! Stick it to the man!

:lol:

**EvilIdler** · 04-11-2005, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by SpoofyChop

Now I just have to figure out something to do with this install other than stare at it.

:?

Hah! Even grandpa is ahead of you, then ;)

**Myth** · 04-23-2005, 06:06 AM

Just wondering if anyone using this distro of Ubuntu and an ATI card has managed to get resolution changes working using fglrx instead of Mesa. 3D hardware acceration works great, but unable to change the resolution within the Gnome preferences, or even by editing xorg.conf and restarting X.

My resolution is stuck at 1600x1200. Yeah, I know its time for a Nvidia card, but my 9800 Pro seems to still have a lot of life left in it.

And yeah, Ubuntu is a great distro (I like it almost as much as Suse). Never ran a debian based distro before.

Using latest ATI drivers from their site.

[Edit] Just though I would say, that the Ubunto forums are amazing. I know enough about Linux to get around, but by no means an expert. There is so much useful information there and people like to help each other in plain english, as opposed to snooty "linux speak".

**Igor Muravyev** · 04-23-2005, 08:22 AM

Too many distros..
Apt and rpm do the same thing
Clones go away please

========

I say developers should get together and release a couple of really polished distros instead of constantly forking and releasing a product that's virtually the same bar one exception.

**EvilIdler** · 04-23-2005, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by Igor Murashkin

I say developers should get together and release a couple of really polished distros instead of constantly forking and releasing a product that's virtually the same bar one exception.

As long as they're apt-based, they can fork as much as they want :)
Ubuntu feels really polished, though. Hotplugging/automounting sometimes
holds my CDs/DVDs hostage an extra minute, but they accept bug reports
and do something about them.

**EvilIdler** · 04-23-2005, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by Myth

[Edit] Just though I would say, that the Ubunto forums are amazing. I know enough about Linux to get around, but by no means an expert. There is so much useful information there and people like to help each other in plain english, as opposed to snooty "linux speak".

I'm an expert, but there's still much to learn :)
Try the IRC channel, also. #ubuntu is one big, happy family. If you miss
the snooty attitude for any reason, visit #debian. :twisted:

**Myth** · 04-23-2005, 09:30 AM

Guys thanks for the replies on this and the other thread. I think I will just sit on it for a while until I get a Nvidia card. A couple of threads I saw seem to indicate that this may be a problem with ATI and Ubuntu.

Oh and I am getting sick of typing the following over and over and over...... :lol:

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf_bak /etc/X11/xorg.conf

**Igor Muravyev** · 04-23-2005, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by EvilIdler

As long as they're apt-based, they can fork as much as they want :)

That's exactly the kind of attitude why there are so many distros and unless you have a big distro or you're downloading a major package, you'll probably have to compile whatever program you are looking to download.

**marxeil** · 04-25-2005, 10:03 AM

I'm not trying to troll or anything, it's just that it seems that generally Windows does the job, and I don't know anything about LInux other then that it's free, safe and customizable. So what are the benefits of using Linux? Is there any point in using it on a home computer used for gaming, some office stuff and email?

**Talisker** · 04-25-2005, 11:01 AM