Ubuntu 9.10 'Karmic Koala' released, could decide your OS fate
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Oct 29th 2009 8:31AM
posted Oct 29th 2009 8:31AM
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what's the percentage of people who actually use this? i would think it's well less than 1%.
out of my 100 contacts on msn at least 10 use ubuntu!!!
No problem boss, its does't matter what percentage of people use this, but what it gives to the bunch thats uses it and i am happy person in thats bunch using it.
Even if you are right, SO WHAT?
My music server has been running on Ubuntu for last 2 years - can't wait to upgrade it!
Well, I do... obviously.
And for those interested - they didn't do away with the Add/Remove Programs option - it's just deeper within the menu button. Synaptic is still there, too.
It's not an amazing update from Jaunty - but represents a worthwhile progression.
If that's important to you, then your are just another cheep that follows what everybody else.
I'm a Karmic Koala user and I can tell the experience has been wonderful so far, It had some bugs but I'm using the release candidate version. I can't wait to install the final release, will be tonight I hope. I also have it installed on a USB key, it boots and shutdown fast, using the USB key just because I want to be able to load my own OS regardless if I'm in a different system, try that with OSX or Windows...
what's the percentage of really smart people in the occidental world ? :)
@reisa it's an important update if you've got an intel graphics device (like many laptops). I've noticed a marked improvement in video performance with the new UXA acceleration.
Whatever it is, it's increasing.
1%?
That many?
im pretty sure ubuntu is the 3rd most popular desktop OS in the world second to windows and mac os, so a lil bit more than 1%.
What's the percentage of people who actually have a Ferrari? (pardon the publicity)
Does it mean anything? No.
Grow up, get a life, whatever...
@linuxamp
You're right. But the Intel seems to be fixed in Jaunty, too - right? I have Intel graphics on my laptop, and the Compiz performance was originally excluded -- then I did the workaround and it worked OK -- and sometime between then and now it's become top-notch. I figured that it had been fixed.
@EI8HT
You got downranked because your question seems condescending. Maybe you didn't mean it that way. It probably is less than 1 percent who use Ubuntu, and the average Windows user probably shouldn't switch. But this blog is the kind of place where a lot of users "get" Ubuntu and other Linux distros.
having looked at you profile and read most of your posts, it fair enough to say that anything you posts should be low ranked if not already by now. to coin a phrase "you are the weakest link... goodbye!"
guys, it's a valid question, and downranking anyone who doesn't know much about linux is only going to alienate it more, so let's be a little more constructive.
you're right, desktop marketshare is probably around 1%, but a majority of the websites you visit are probably hosted on linux. most handheld gadgets use linux in one form or another, like mp3 players and gps units. with the number on android phones on the way, i would say linux is becoming pretty successful. these devices all have a specific purpose, so it is easier to forgive that they aren't windows. hopefully netbooks will open this up more, as distros like moblin 2 serve the netbook's purpose better than fullblown windows.
i think most people are tied to one or two apps that make full-time linux a dealbreaker, but virtualization is helping with that.
cheers to conanical, it is good to see innovation and competition, no matter what os you use.
You also have to account for people using Ubuntu in a second machine or in a virtual PC.
For me while i am using Windows 7 on my primary PC, i use Ubuntu in my HTPC , i also use Ubuntu in a virtual PC from time to time.
Considering just the computers that connect to internet, Linux has a 1.84% market share. Counting on servers and pc's which doesn't connecto to internet the share could be higher.
http://www.w3counter.com/globalstats.php
http://www.osnews.com/story/21035/Ballmer_Linux_Bigger_Competitor_than_Apple
You're getting down-ranked for the condescending and obviously derogatory manner in which you presented your question,
I run it on my web server farm and it is fantastic. Other ISPs do too, and it's lightweight JEOS edition can handle more clients then Steve Balmer weighs.
Sorry Mark and other Microsoft Fannie boys, some people have applications for *nix based security and no registry to screw with all day. It just works.
"i think most people are tied to one or two apps that make full-time linux a dealbreaker"
I fall into this camp. If Adobe would release a Linux version of CS4, I would switch in a heartbeat. Dare to dream.
Sure, Steve, it just works - after you've installed Windows wireless card drivers and disabled your ATi Radeon card like I had to do.
Hey, you never know: maybe the geeks who dig Linux will actually get behind Ubuntu and make it the de facto standard which would give it a chance. But no, they'll probably be too busy promoting yet another tedious variation on a theme.
As for operating systems, I'm agnostic but not unrealistic.
@pnomadewolf
Awesome!
I think the main thing is that most desktop users have no real incentive to switch to linux these days even though linux has become more user friendly than ever before although on occasion you'll still run into hilariously nightmarish problems trying to get stuff to compile and install...I think I spent a solid 30 hours trying to compile a bittorrent client at some point by getting everything required one by one before realizing that it just wasn't gonna happen on my linux installation and just using a different client...which then had it's own serious stability issues. Might explain why so many people just run uTorrent with wine on linux.
But in all seriousness most people just surf the web, and since so many people can't even be bothered to switch from IE to Chrome or Firefox 3.5 even though they're not any harder to use and a bajillion times faster means that there's no chance in hell they'd switch to linux especially when all the programs they need are already in Windows. And frankly there's still a lot of things that really only run on Windows so I'd only dual boot or run a VM at best.
For server use though there's really no comparison with the kind of performance you get on normal, budget, hardware. Linux is way better, although honestly a lot of the best stuff is still run straight up command line and editing various files in emacs or pico or whatever.
Yes it is shame the world is cursed with the 'defacto' standard of CSS2 and IE6. If only Microsoft would release a self updating browser that doesn't require a reboot, was 'pro-active' vs reactive, and supported standards beyond 1998.
I would actually like to know this percentage. Not out of sarcasm or anything, but simply from a developer point of view. To me, once an OS hits about 4% market share, it becomes a target for some app dev, to test browsers, special site features, etc for. Or simply to factor in for special code to compensate for problems.
@Steveorevo
Or supports standards at all, instead of having to be (in the words of one of MS's IE project managers) "tricked into executing correctly using test cases."
Also I would like to point out that linux is not only popular on computers but on "non computers". Android and other cell phone OSs are linux based. I think the PS3s OS is linux based (can't remember). And so forth. Ultimately that is what will drive up the software quality in linux.
However, my biggest problem with distributions of Linux is that they are generally an atrocity to look at. I don't want to work with Windows 95 beta anymore. There are a lot of other issues that are at hand before Linux becomes a popular OS, but the amount of ugly is one of the bigger ones. Most don't look marketable (Mint does, which is basically Ubuntu with a pretty interface, but even Mint isn't that good looking), which is a key reason the Mac OS is growing so fast.
Just in case you are wondering, I'm a lifetime Windows user who has used (for work and school) Linux based OSs.
@Steve
I think you're confusing IE and Safari. As for 'standards' go away and find out with 'de facto' means. In business no-one really gives a shit about W3C.
@pnomadewolf Except Ferraris aren't free. :) But your point is otherwise valid.
@ Mark Anderson
Yeah, like my company. If our product isn't working on IE6/IE7/IE8/whatever because the browser doesn't adhere to W3C... we tell our customers to point the middle finger at Microsoft. Not our problem.
Its really, attitudes like yours which fragment technologies and cause both the customer and me personal headache. I don't worry or care too much, because people like you are getting buried by Google by the minute.
This whole thread is related to a known bug.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/1
It's being worked on.
I have to say Ubuntu got me some brownie points with the lady when her HDD crashed on her laptop. I just loaded Ubuntu up on a usb key no problem, force mounted the HDD and transferred all the important files off. Now I can't talk any shiz against something I downloaded in a few minutes and recovered my data for free.
Does anyone know what version of ALSA the 9.10 release comes with?
Every time I attempted to update it it on 9.04, it'd mess up my flash installation.
4.5 +
That's cause 9.10 doesn't comes with ALSA (by default). It comes with Pulse Audio which is superior. Read the post.
PulseAudio is layered on top of Alsa, it doesn't replace it. OSS would be the alternative to Alsa, and Ubuntu most definitely doesn't ship with OSS.
Unfortunately no, I don't know which version 9.10 is using, but I can check tonight when I get home.
9.10 uses ALSA version 1.0.20 but it's a customized version with a lot of backports from 1.0.21. It does have native X-fi support thanks to the new driver.
@rendezvous65: Really? I played with the beta yesterday (livecd) and my X-fi wasn't detected, only the crappy onboard realtek soundcard.
Messed with 4front's implementation wich uses OSS for a while but still no success.
They've replaced DMIX / Alsa with PulseAudio.... they really should layer PulseAudio on top of Dmix, though. Most people aren't the audiophile I am and don't care about the impact on quality resampling and software mixing have on their applications.
In general, 9.04 sucked for sound, and they once again had a half-done KDE installation. Both are reasons why I use OpenSuSE instead. Notably, however, sound hasn't been much of a pleasant experience on 11.1 either.
Ahhh! That image is playing games with my eyes. Here comes my breakfast!!!
Breakfast? I'm just having dinner, you must be living somewhere weird...
i was thinking the same thing
Well judging by his avatar and your username, you are correct, you live nowhere near each other. Maybe he thinks you live somewhere weird...did you ever think of that?
Uhm... no :D
That's not broccoli in the brownies. Just an FYI.
You think that image is bad, wait for the next release Ludicrous Lama!
You're just lucky they didn't accept my patch which changed the default background (and all the OS naming) to Karmic Khameleon, and played a 30 second sample of that awesome song as your startup sound.
Beware of my next patch, for Lusty Luchador!
That image definitely made me think of this:
http://www.kerrydean.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/wolf-inspirational-quotes-messages.jpg
He lives somewhere weird because it's in a different geographical location than you? That may be one of the dumbest comments ever.
Can't believe people are downranking Swede for a pretty funny comment. It's a joke. I got it. Lighten up!
Guys, he posted at 8:36, my time.
A less scary user experience is always a good thing. But it always seemed that Ubuntu did a great job of creating a good user environment. I would rather have U's text boot mode that windows "safe mode" any mode anytime.
Interesting... I wonder if eventually Ubuntu will turn into something like the Unix-based Mac OS X, making it more "user friendly" (but with power under the cover for advanced users).
MacOS is FreeBSD(Unix) based.
Yes it does. You can use Ubuntu Server or Ubuntu Desktop, the difference is that Desktop comes with alot of 'desktop' oriented stuff, like X, a full Window Manager, Office Compatible applications, a cutting edge browser, Flash support, etc.
Then there is JEOS which is a super skinny version that is perfect for server farms and running in Virtual Machines.
Kbuntu is lighter still and perfect for the older Pentiums in the World, granted there are even lighter versions from that for i486s and i386s. Not to mention Playstation3, old Apple Power PCs, etc.
im already downloading!! ya have to scan the mirrors for updates!!
its not been released yet, i am just curious to know how you are downloading?.
they update the servers one by one then update the site. if your sad enough you can sit with some of the bigger servers directory listings and refresh them till one works!!
im using http://ie.releases.ubuntu.com/karmic thats in ireland but its dog slow!! im not the only one in the know it seems!!
@premvik He/she might be downloading the RC. Unlike Windows, installing the available Ubuntu release candidate and running an update later will update you to the final.
its the new release!! gone past the RC on that server!! 71kB/sec tho :(
Realesed, now upgrading
The one im downloading says:
ubuntu-9.10-desktop-i386-iso
Is that definitely the final version and not the RC?
You (probably) want this one (downloading at max speed for me):
http://noncdn.releases.ubuntu.com//releases/9.10/ubuntu-9.10-desktop-i386.iso
Or the torrent:
http://noncdn.releases.ubuntu.com//releases/9.10/ubuntu-9.10-desktop-i386.iso.torrent
@Johannes
Thanks for the links.
Downloading @ full speed, and the size confers.
No "breaking" love for Linux? :-(
In fairness, is it really "breaking" if it's been scheduled for months?
Awesome news? Yes.
Breaking? Not so much.
Uhmmm... it's not out *yet* - that's the Release Candidate. The full fledged final 9.10 will be out later on today, this isn't "done" yet, aka RTM one could say.
A bit early on the info and the links...
Thought so---Ubuntu forums and the IRC channel say nothing about the release yet. It isn't out yet.
some of the servers have been updated past the RC stage!! it wont be long before the world can get it
It is out on some of the mirrors, if you dig around in the forums you can find links to mirrors that have been updated. I think the official website won't be updated until all of the mirrors are updated or they feel like changing the site.
if you daydream of punching small animal, it may be time
Sorry but the link you give to us is the Release candidate (beta) it's not THE 9.10 ... actually, the Ubuntu site say: Coming soon !
Epileptic unfriendly OS.
I'll be updating from the RC tonight!
Albeit the Desktop installer isn't released yet, anyone who has the RC can already update to 9.10.
It's ok as a second OS or in a VM for work but it is to hard to say no to Win7...
I also connect my laptop at home to the TV screen About to give up on TV in general but Ubuntu just makes the process hell.
I like ubuntu when it comes to stability, no matter what i do it keeps on going but its still very much a work in progress something i don't feel at all with 7, it's probably the first time M$ came out with a product I don't see the need for a SP1 for lol..
*Ahem* dual-boot.
*ahem* Wubi.
Dual boot doesn't really work for people who are on their computer all day. Having to restart your PC to get in to the other OS is a real pain in the ass, unless your boot times are like zero.
Yeah, LOL man! LOLzzzzzzzzz!!!!!
Windows 7 is Vista SP3, you're just paying for it this time.
indeed, im running Opensuse 11.2 RC 2 athough it hasnt been released as i was on RC 1 and the updates it the repo's yesterday.....
Help a newb here. How does all this work that these programmers do get rewarded? Besdies just "satisfaction" is there a fiancial incentive somehow to program and update ubuntu/ linux?
does there need to be one?
They get a fast, stable, secure OS that they can customize to their heart's content.
You can buy a commercial support and a lot of companies do. Also, Canonical may have deals with their partners, who offer closed-source commercial software for Ubuntu.
The programmers get paid money, ubuntu has other streams of revenue so they can offer a full modern OS for free and still make money in other ways like support, ubuntu one, infrastructure deals etc.
http://shop.canonical.com/
That's how.
Canonical and other linux vendors hire a fair share of linux developers.
Ubuntu uses a cunning system where developers from Red Hat, Novell, Sun (as long as it still exists...) and other companies do the work, and Canonical takes the credit.
(no, really. kernel? no major Canonical/Ubuntu contributors. X.org? Nope. PulseAudio? Nope. DeviceKit/HAL? Nope. GNOME? Maybe a couple. NetworkManager? Some, but the most significant work is done at Red Hat. OpenOffice? Nope. Mozilla? Nope. Doesn't get any better however far down the list you go.)
Everyone wants a shot a the champ(windows) but always gets knocked out by the first round(linux, osx).
"champ"? Really? http://www.top500.org/stats/list/33/osfam
@linuxamp lol nice try but average users wants nothing to do with linux just ask bestbuy 99% of the linux netbooks returned the next day for windows based netbooks.
You're using a sample size of 500 to disprove his comment? Wow -- try this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_desktop_operating_systems. And don't get me wrong, I love Ubuntu but let's not pretend that it's overtaken Windows.
so you're saying you need a supercomputer to run Linux?
I feel bad for the windows ME and 98 users...
@Sergio
443 out of 500 super computers can't be wrong....
I don't need a supercomputer in my home.
does anyone know when Ubuntu 9.10 final version is being launched?
It's been the 29th of October for a while now xD
I want to really try it to see if it's worthwhile ... one of my favorite things about this new version is that the GnomeShell already comes pre-installed, and I really like it.
If anyone running Karmic wants to try it, just type:
gnome-shell --replace
in the terminal.
I am looking forward to trying this out. A few months back I was given an old P4 2.0 GHz machine for free for helping a neihbor set up a couple of new computers and a home network. I installed the 9.04 version just to see what it was like. I had never used Linux but I had heard all the wise cracks on tech site forums about how people didn't want to have to compile there own drivers all the time, no software available, and so on.
Well I was very surprised to find that the install was extremely fast, found all my hardware and setup the network and went out to the internet with only one dialog click. I played around with it for a few days and found that finding and installing every application was as easy if not easier than on windows, just check the boxes in the application catalog and click install. No cryptic messages at all, no command line mumbo jumbo, and the OS updater does what Windows update should be doing and keeps the whole computer updated.
I was actually very surprised at how much educational and child development focused software was available and how you could make the whole UI be kid friendly and simple.
We have a bunch of windows discs for educational content and kids games like Dora and Barbie type stuff that my daughter has been asking for so I wiped it and put XP on it. The weird thing is that I found that the NetworkAnywhere wireless G card was not found by windows and not having a disc for it I had to run a cat5 cable across the dining room to get on the net and download it and that required a lot more on XP just to get on the internet. I actually had to find drivers for a few things to get it to work 100%. I chalked it up to XP being older and it was a pre-service pack disk so I thought SP3 would probably have solved those issues.
I have vista 64 installed on two SLi gaming rigs but i had a vista 32 disk so I tried that on the computer next. Just tinkering around. I also didn't have drivers for the card and the video was stuck with the VGA driver resolution just like XP. Had to go through all the same hoops to get it working right and this computer had an older ATI card in it, so that really seemed weird to me that they didn't have generic drivers to work with it at least.
I ended up giving it to another neighbor who didn't have a computer at all with one of the pile of XP copies I don't use anymore on it. But i came away with the feeling that if there were commercial applications available on Ubuntu that were the same caliber as the Windows/OS X versions there really wouldn't be that hard of a sell to get them to compete with windows. People argue that there are free apps for everything, but I tried a lot of the applications on it and stuff lick Gimp are great for free apps but they are not in the same league as Photoshop, and Open Office may be great but its not MS Office or Corel's Wordperfect suite.
If they could get the apps to that level and maybe clean up the way the menus are down, the drop down menus have way too many choices for the average user even before you install the applications. Every aspect and setting on the whole system does not need to be reachable from the main menu. Way too cluttered. Hope this new release fixes some of that.
Canonical and the Ubuntu community have plans for a Software Center (Centre if you're across the pond!) which will eventually be capable of offering commercial software alongside open source and free stuff. Frankly, I suspect that Windows and Ubuntu are starting to converge a bit.
Windows is moving towards a more Linuxesque system with automatic driver downloads, device stage, and has access to services like Steam for buying games online while Ubuntu will soon have facilities for commercial software in the repositories in addition to the free stuff. I suspect one day in the not too distant future no one - Linux or Windows - will install software with CDs or DVDs.