Ubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04 launched into beta, our hearts

It's only beta at the moment, but the open source community just kicked Ubuntu 8.04 out into the wilds. As you'd expect, the update brings an increment to Ubuntu's quaint, alphabetical naming convention. In other words, the new Hardy Heron will supplant the current Gutsy Gibbon as we make our way towards an October release of Intrepid Ibex. Got it? Good, now do yourselves a favor and check out Ubuntu's latest. Then decide for yourself if Hardy Heron's April 24th go-date means something special for you.

[Bobs @ Mar 21st 2008 4:17AM]

It seems like just yesterday that Gutsy graced my hard drive

[OneLove @ Mar 21st 2008 10:56AM]

will it play crysis?

[YoMomma @ Mar 21st 2008 1:09PM]

OneLove: no it won't because its linux, nothing runs on it.

[Chebwa @ Mar 22nd 2008 1:21AM]

@YoMomma

You speak the truth, and so the Linuxians have come to downvote you. Prepare yourself.

[Veacross @ Mar 21st 2008 4:18AM]

I love ubuntu, but when your dyslexic eyes read it as "Hairy Hardon" you know somethings wrong.

[Chebwa @ Mar 21st 2008 4:24AM]

Dyslexic... or horny?

[mushrooshi @ Mar 21st 2008 4:27AM]

I say 'horrormones'

[Jonathan @ Mar 21st 2008 4:55AM]

... Takes note that this comment was right under a Ron Jeremy avatar. Dressed as Mario.

[mushrooshi @ Mar 21st 2008 5:16AM]

What is the difference between horny and perverted?

[Bobs @ Mar 21st 2008 5:47AM]

My avatar is peverted.

[aurispector @ Apr 1st 2008 3:38PM]

I'm still waiting for "Potent Platypus"

[The_Steven @ Mar 21st 2008 11:59AM]

You too, huh?

[ark_v2 @ Mar 21st 2008 1:05PM]

I think "Hardy" is enough.

[mushrooshi @ Mar 21st 2008 4:28AM]

I always get that warm fuzzy feeling when I hear about Linux...

The series of OSes that everyone thinks will never make it... but it will end up being cooler.

And then we will be best friends.

[Tom Reinke @ Mar 21st 2008 5:36AM]

Kinda like those guys I knew in high school that smoked, were cool, and weren't going anywhere with their lives?

At least with linux I can get things done. :P

[fusion @ Mar 21st 2008 4:32AM]

Ubunto 8 sounds interesting, but ''Hardy heron's'' weird name

[Mike @ Mar 21st 2008 8:40AM]

his avatar is from newgrounds's super mario parodies page. It's been replaced by a new picture, but i'd remember that picture forever lol

[mrkorb @ Mar 21st 2008 5:02AM]

I vote Jaunty Jackalope for the J release.

[Jonathan @ Mar 21st 2008 6:00AM]

Jumpy Jackal, OR
Journalistic Jaguar, OR
Juicy Jellyfish, OR
Judeo-Christian Jaybird, OR
...
Jobless Japanese Marbled Salamander (Hynobius naevius)

[Randy @ Mar 21st 2008 7:36AM]

I proposed Illicit Ibex but that one was rejected. :-(

For 9.04, I propose Jerky Jackalope.

[Steve @ Mar 21st 2008 11:41AM]

What, no "I" release?

I'd like to see

Incontinent Iguana
or
Irascible Ibis
or
Ignant Internetizen

[peshue @ Mar 21st 2008 5:31AM]

I still wish they could've called it Hungry Hippo. But besides that I'm looking forward to Wubi since it's such a pain to get OSX, Windows, and linux to all play nice together.

[Karl Viklund @ Mar 21st 2008 5:38AM]

And who cares???
Cheap inc for Ubuntu. It's a BETA for gods sake!

[Reader @ Mar 21st 2008 6:15AM]

I was going to make a thought out reply, but I figured I'd check your profile first to see if I could make fun of you for being an Apple zealot. Instead, I found that you are simply an idiot.

[Alexkass @ Mar 21st 2008 5:46AM]

i'm running 7.04 anly for the linux commands.

unfriendly, crappy OS. either you go windows (xp, vista) or MacOSX. linux were, are and will be (forever) out of the game.

[Matt @ Mar 21st 2008 6:09AM]

You ought to try proofreading your comments before submitting them. Anyway, I don't think Linux is unfriendly. It can be a pain to set up, but that's because device manufacturers don't provide Linux drivers, so the device needs to be reverse engineered. If you buy a PC with parts you know will work with Linux, you won't have any problems. As far as being out of the game, Linux is in widespread use as a server OS, as well as running 85% of the fastest computers in the world.

[Jonathan @ Mar 21st 2008 6:26AM]

Says the person with a Tux Vader avatar?

That's like hating a rival football team but using pictures of its mascot for your online avatars. =p

[Jonathan @ Mar 21st 2008 6:27AM]

(My previous reply was to Alexkass, to clarify)

@Alex

Anyway, unless your comments were poorly veiled sarcasm, I disagree. :)

Open source clearly has a future. (Firefox? GIMP? OpenOffice? And on and on and on?) Linux couldn't possibly fit in there somewhere. *rolls eyes*

Not to mention it's funny that this website you're viewing is probably running on Linux. Now, I see you've used the word "unfriendly" but to be "user-friendly" the user first has to know how to actually *use* a computer. Anybody who fits that bill should have no problem running Linux.

[r3loaded @ Mar 21st 2008 6:32AM]

@Matt

As much as I want to love Linux, it's still a pain. I have an Intel HD audio compliant Realtek sound chip in my laptop. In Linux, for the sound to work, I have to open up a terminal (whatever that is), run some sudo command....oh wait, I first need to run apt-get so the installer can install - WTF? Then I need to edit modprobe.something or other, change a couple of lines etc. etc. Hopefully, after rebooting the sound works....wait, the SPDIF isn't working!!

This is exactly the type of setup routine that shouldn't be happening, how are newbs ever going to use it? In Windows, I just doubleclick the setup.exe, click next, wait a bit, DONE! Windows isn't perfect, but it's a hell of a lot easier to configure and manage.

[Alexkass @ Mar 21st 2008 6:41AM]

this is my story. i know that a lot of users like opensource.

i sporadicaly use ff but i need ie for work. i tried openoffice but i found it like baby-toy when compared with msft office 2007.

if you want a well supported unix based system go for MacOSX and not for linux.

i unfortunatly work only with windows (2k, nt server at work and vista at home) and only make some testing (for some lesson in college) with ubuntu.

[Danny @ Mar 21st 2008 8:53AM]

@r3loaded:

You're quite right.

As for myself, I dual boot Ubuntu and Windows XP (only for games). In my opinion, it's impossible to use Ubuntu without ever touching the command-line. For me, that challenge of making that program work is fun. Most people think Linux is hard, because they're used to Windows. If Linux would be the first operating system someone would use, it would be really easy for them (or just like windows, or a little more).

But don't get me wrong. Yes, Ubuntu really needs to be more user-friendly, OR people have to get used to the command-line. :P But it's really easy with a guide, it just tells you "copy this, this, and this". Also, it IS possible to make a batch file that includes all of those "sudo blah blah" into one Setup icon, but your sound card manufacturers are too lazy to make it.

[Mikee @ Mar 21st 2008 10:00AM]

@Jonathan - With the three open source apps you listed, only Firefox has become really successful and has a major future to it.

GIMP hasn't and will continue to stay stagnant in market share. Really, GIMP needs to do what Mozilla did with Firefox and re-create their flagship application with a new one that has a new interface and better features. It has been said time and time again that GIMP's interface is awful. Unless GIMP changes their interface, it will always be inferior to Adobe Photoshop. (BTW, GIMPShop does not count. I've used it with GIMPPortable, and there is no difference. The program still uses 3 main window/apps to work.)

OpenOffice, while an excellent application, hasn't really put a dent in MS Office, and frankly, is lagging behind it (especially with Office 2007). That doesn't mean OO doesn't have a future, but at the moment, it doesn't look like it will ever be more than "that OTHER office program".

[/dev/urandom @ Mar 21st 2008 12:05PM]

@r3loaded

So complain to Intel then. It's always the manufacturer's fault, whenever a device is not supported under windows, yet linux is always to blame, if a device does not run on it. How did that happen?

[mattbates @ Mar 21st 2008 1:23PM]

I first installed linux about six months ago, and being a total programming noob it was kind of a challenge. Not knowing how to install codecs and all that was kind of annoying. But, at least with ubuntu, they have killer online user support. Anything I needed to do could be found by searching "installing flash in firefox gutsy."

Anyway I just got a new computer and I got everything set up in a couple hours. Knowing the basic terminal commands and to look in synaptic for codecs and such made it a snap. I'm fully comfortable with it now. I think if it had some better support from the mainstream manufacturers and such that it could easily be a competitor.

Not to mention I don't have to f'ing restart every time I install a program. Most of the time I dont even have to restart the program I just updated. Awesome.

[Mikee @ Mar 21st 2008 2:26PM]

@mattbates

Most mainstream applications today for Windows do not require a restart after installation.

If anything, I would say that requiring a restart has become more common in Linux over the years. Just about every time I update my system now-a-days in Linux, it requires a restart.

[Craig B. @ Mar 21st 2008 5:23PM]

I know this is about Ubuntu, but it is Linux (and the generic OS was mentioned), so I have to give my 2 cents.

I think that most people that have had to deal with the frustration and complicated nature of Linux probably haven't used some of the most recent versions. I don't remember the first OS version I tried, but I remember the second version was Redhat 8. That was a huge pain to set up, especially when there were errors or aspects of the OS that didn't work and you needed to customize them.

I next went to Fedora 3. Much, much better, but still, too many problems.

I recently bought a Vista machine. When I tell you it's been a nightmare with Vista, that would be an understatement. I re-installed Vista, but popped on Fedora 8 dual-boot so I had at least some other backup system. While I had to make 2 file modifications (insert a total of 3 lines) upon first running Fedora 8, I have been otherwise extremely impressed. In fact, that's also an understatement. While I don't have my wireless network set up yet, aside from that, everything is working fatastically - extremely smoothely. I think that many people would be very impressed with the ease of use. Too many people are discouraged because the serious nerds customize and tweak, and so one gets the erroneous impression that you must do that to have a basic, functioning system. You don't.

My Vista is working fine now after having re-installed it, but I will say this: I'm very glad I put in this Linux version, because it provides a fully functning, easy to use, and integratable (yes, I can run MS Word under Linux and use a shared FAT drive for my documents, images, i.e., non-windows system files) program that can be both a viable alternative, as well as compliemnt, Windows Vista.

Looking at how far its come, I think once we hit Fedora 12 (and the comparable for the other versoins of Linux), any potential issues a user may have, will be able to be handled in a very user-friendly manner by the OS.

[LordZargon @ Mar 21st 2008 6:16AM]

Well, I would consider going back to Ubuntu, but no Linux distro likes my wireless network, even with ndiswrapper. Ubuntu with Gusty Gibbon would just crash on network settings and other distros do the same.

Linux isn't always fun and games (wait? doesn't Windows have all the games?). I love both Windows and Linux; but sometimes one or the other doesn't love me back :(.

Lets hope this one's gonna work!

[UKNigel @ Mar 21st 2008 11:16AM]

Try give Zenwalk a whirl, it seems to specialize in wiFi support, and the kernel is built with some better wireless drivers than most of them in Ubuntu.

Or, if you're lucky and happen to have a broadcom wireless card, you can get native drivers for that.

[SimonRichards @ Mar 21st 2008 6:28AM]

Finally, with the 2.6.24 kernel, I can use my wireless card!

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 21st 2008 7:06AM]

Where do you get October release? The version number isn't an incremental system. It stands for the Year.Month of the release. 8 = 2008, 04 = April. If it were October, it would be the 8.10 (which consequently IS the next version after Hardy.)

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 21st 2008 7:09AM]

Ugh, nm, I don't know what I was reading. Must get some caffeine...

[Kaminix @ Mar 21st 2008 7:55AM]

Speaking of Linux, sure you don't mean Kaffeine?

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 21st 2008 7:58AM]

I'm a Gnome guy myself :p I do however use KDevelop in Gnome, but I haven't tried running Kaffeine.

[UKNigel @ Mar 21st 2008 11:20AM]

Kaffiene isn't worth it. Stick with G-MPlayer, it's far superior.

[zargon @ Mar 21st 2008 8:22AM]

Why is Ubuntu the only one that seems to get any press around here?!?

It is great that linux is getting any press, and Ubuntu has made huge strides in bringing linux to the people, but there are other distros out there.

It is just that Ubuntu is over hyped.

emerge -uavND world

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 21st 2008 8:40AM]

You may think, and it may be "over hyped", but look at it this way. If Ubuntu gains ground and brings in developers that improve something, anything, then that usually spreads to other distros. All Linux benefits from any one distro being popular. Just because it's not your flavor doesn't mean that you are not benefiting. Different distributions offer different things. Ubuntu offers easy access. Those that want more can look at one of the other distributions when they learn that it's not really that hard. I would never, for instance, have my parents learn Linux on Gentoo. I wouldn't want to have to support it for one thing. Being the "Computer Guy", they call me for virtually everything. My parents just bought a new TV. Since I'm the "expert" on technology because I'm a programmer, I should know everything there is to know about LED light engines and all that.

So you should encourage people to look at anything Linux. Even if it isn't your brand.

[meist3r @ Mar 21st 2008 8:44AM]

The reason Ubuntu gets so much attention is the simple fact that apparently they did many things right from a marketing perspective. There are brilliant communities out there that give you support for almost any kind of *nix derivate but Ubuntu went a step further. SuSe and RedHat are doing similar things for business support but afaik Canonical is the first to actually offer (payed) support to home customers, not only through the forums. And another reason why Ubuntu is so popular is the installation and operating method. It's so freaking easy to install a system from a LiveCD, not that many distributions do that right now. Also the people that use Ubuntu are very enthusiastic about it because once you get it up and running it's easy to use and very stable (unless you try to run Windows 3D applications in Wine or anything that involves the craptacular ATI drivers).

I can see a new pattern emerge here, there are the MS fanboys that are simply too lazy to switch because they are playing games all the times and use cryptic applications that need .NET framework or some shit. Then there are the Apple fanboys that just can't get over the fact that they want to fornicate with a piece of hardware (the OS is more like a complimentary gift so you can cuddle afterwards w/o really having to care what the machine is thinking right now). And finally from the depths of server centers and basement code sweatshop arises the Linux fanboy, underestimated at most but he knows more about his system than you do, his software runs on all hardware (yes even on Apple, PS3, many toasters) and he simply has the most control over his system. A and yes he is filthy rich and smiling all the time because he doesn't have to pay for anything on his system and still musn't watch out for the pirate police.

I belong to the latter category. Ubuntu GNU/Linux ftw!

[zargon @ Mar 21st 2008 11:39AM]

Don't get me wrong, Ubuntu is a solid distro and they have done a lot of things write. The advertising has done wonders and they have done an awesome job of linux just working. Though, I do not know if Ubuntu, at the beginning was the result of a lot of advances specifically. It probably has drawn more developers into the open source community now, that are writing code for linux and all distros benefit from. In fact, I am really close to installing Ubuntu or possibly Debian on my parents aging and spyware infested PC.

I am just getting a little pouty, my my distro, Gentoo. Rarely has major releases, but I am not sure I have seen many if any Gentoo articles on here. All I am saying is spread the love!

[Chip @ Mar 21st 2008 10:26AM]

"here are the MS fanboys that are simply too lazy to switch because they are playing games all the times and use cryptic applications that need .NET framework or some shit."
I don't think lazy has anything to do with it. Apparently MS users are motivated enough to buy an OS over one that's free.

The real reason MS users don't switch is Familiarity, Ease-of-use, Compatibility, Applications and Leisure-programs or
FECAL for short.

[dweechin @ Mar 21st 2008 3:08PM]

Motivated? Don't you mean idiotic? Am I the only one who thinks that's just stupid? I'm sorry, but I just like using a stable operating system without major security flaws, and programs that work on my older machine -without having to "ctrl+alt+del" for the crappy task manager when applications constantly freeze. I also like being able to change just about every aspect of my system to my liking. Games? That's what my PS3/XBOX 360 is for. I can't argue about gaming, yeah you pretty much have to have DX 9 or DX 10 to run decent games, but that's not what I use my computer for.

Compatibility? The only reasons programs aren't "compatible" with Linux, is because manufacturers don't want to invest time or money to create their software or drivers for an operating system that only a fraction of the population uses. The truth is, if more people used Linux, we would have exponentially more software and fully supported hardware. That's not an flaw of the operating system, that's a flaw of the manufacturers. Hell, let's take it one step further... shall we? Linux users were so MOTIVATED, they created a complete solution for users who wanted to use Windows based programs on their Linux box - WINE. Yes, it's true that not all programs will work in WINE, but it's constantly being updated.

But yeah, you're right. I should be paying $249 for an operating system, because that way I can be a REAL consumer and flood the call centers in Bombay when I can't figure out how to open the DVD drive, or click on an .exe file.