Oh right, Ubuntu 8.04 is out today - but you already knew that

Filed under: OS Updates, Linux, Canonical

Oh right, Ubuntu 8.04 is out today - but you already knew that

by Brad Linder Apr 24th 2008

Hey, did you hear that there's a new version of Ubuntu out today? Yeah, we know, we're shocked too. But seriously, Canonical comes out with a new version of its popular Linux distribution every six months, so we're starting to feel like the product launch isn't particularly big news. And of course, we've been installing and trying test builds for the last few months. The truth is, we imagine that many Download Squad readers have been running Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron for at least a few weeks if not months already.

That said, Hardy Heron is a pretty significant release, because it's considered an LTS or Long Term Support release. That means Canonical will offer 5 years of support instead of its usual 18 months, making Hardy Heron a good choice for enterprise users.

Here are a handful of things that set Hardy Heron apart from Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon, which is so last week:

Firefox 3 beta is the default web browser
Install Ubuntu from within Windows using Wubi
Updated Linux kernel and new versions of Gnome and KDE desktops, with the option of using KDE 3.5 or KDE 4 as the default desktop for Kubuntu
New BitTorrent Client
New VNC client
Virtualization software built into the kernel

f you've never tried Linux before, Ubuntu comes as a LiveCD. That means you can check out the operating system without harming your current OS and file system by burning the disc image to a DVD and booting your computer from the disc. It's a perfect try before you buy sales pitch, except there's nothing to buy. If you like what you see you can install it for free.

Are you running Hardy Heron yet? What do you think so far? What did Canonical get right, and what still needs some work?

Tags: hardy-heron, linux, ubuntu

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Steve said 12:08PM on 4-24-2008

The default web browser is a beta? Er...

Matt said 12:14PM on 4-24-2008

i'm running it now and its pretty solid (except for the fact that many extensions and add-ons aren't compatible as of yet).

nizzy1115 said 12:46PM on 4-24-2008

I am waiting for Fedora 9 thank you. May 13 is its release date.

Daniel said 1:57PM on 4-24-2008

Annoying that Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty doesn't work at all in Ubuntu and I can't get any drivers to work from Creative's website.

But I guess thats a passing problem.

Ubu Walker said 9:28PM on 5-14-2008

@Daniel
Lack of working X-fi drivers is a linux-wide problem, but I have had success uninstalling ALSA and using OSS drivers. It should work in the latest Ubuntu release, but I haven't tried it yet...keep an eye on the forums.

alienvenom said 9:57PM on 4-24-2008

Yes, it's Linux wide as all modern distributions use ALSA. Check here for the status of all Creative Labs' cards:

http://alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Matrix:Vendor-Creative_Labs

TurboFool said 3:01PM on 4-24-2008

I wonder if this one will finally work with my Abit AB9 motherboard. Never worked with Ubuntu before, and seems to be a known problem.

Philip (Fernando Rocker Defence Force) said 3:02PM on 4-24-2008

Well this is the day I do my first ever install of Linux.

Sensai said 4:59PM on 4-24-2008

Welcome to the world of tomorrow!! But seriously, have fun with it. If you need any help, feel free to ask. :-D

Today snuck up on me too, but has been a pretty big one: 9 month anniversary with a girlfriend (jeah, we do the month thing; we're college kids, it's a big deal), beta of Opera 9.5 came out, and now this.

Cool cool cool...

Philip (Fernando Rocker Defence Force) said 9:58PM on 4-24-2008

Wow you put your GF over Linux, what a loser!

dc said 3:32PM on 4-24-2008

I was disappointed. They made it sound like it's a major release, when actually not much has changed. It's just an incremental update. The only thing major about this release is that it has LTS... which I could not care less about since I install almost every new release and have never needed support from Ubuntu.

When are they going to make the UI look nicer? That is what will get more consumers to use Ubuntu. They keep saying a new look is coming but it never does. I'm getting tired of the look (I know you can change it however you like, but I'm lazy).

All in all, it's still Ubuntu and it's still the easiest to use Linux distro. I like it. I think it's the future of OS. Can't beat free and it does everything most people need.

artyom said 6:30AM on 4-25-2008

i am a bit disappointed myself, but for a different reason. it seems sluggish compared to the 7.10 release. no honestly. firefox is buggy and as was pointed out above many of the extensions don't work. plus something weird is happening to my compiz and awn. thinking going back to 7.10.

Elaine said 7:53AM on 4-25-2008

I've been using Hardy Heron for a few days: I did a dist-upgrade last week to the release candidate. I had already been using Firefox 3.0, so that wasn't a big change. Compiz and Screenlets have some more options than before. Compiz is still tough to tweak the way I like, but I finally have a setup where I really like Compiz, and prefer it over the "traditional" gnome desktop.

I've been using Ubuntu several years, and am glad that release to release doesn't present some of the glaring jolts that it used to. Even if I approved of the change, rapid switches in the UI can be disconcerting.

I think the Ubuntu team is trying to balance flash and dash with improving the underlying technologies and hardware recognition. Works for me.

PhreakNJ said 9:23AM on 4-25-2008

Well if you want to try a new look for ubuntu, try gOS, it's a Ubuntu derivative that comes pre-loaded on some Everex machines, it's pretty slick, there are two versions Rocket and Space, rocket is a unique green look, and then there is space which is a more Mac'ish look, if you add the Ubuntu repositories you could pretty much add all the apps that you could put on the regular Ubuntu with the new look, if you want more info look in the Everex website or their website is under thinkgos. I liked the fact that it had Ubuntu stability and support with a new look. If I'm not mistaken I believe they are both based on Feisty Fawn but Space uses the newer Compiz and has the AWN.

Wally Wilson said 1:11PM on 4-26-2008

I've been testing/trying the Ubuntus (Kubuntu) for a long time, and their hardware detection was never quite up to par. Hardy Heron (8.04) has come a long way toward greatness when it comes to hardware detection. I was pleasantly surprised (don't tell my friends). I think they finally got a lot of things under the hood running on a level that will really help broaden their base.

Clive said 3:39PM on 4-27-2008

I have been trying to install Ubuntu with Wubi and i have had no success :(. I just keep getting an error 15 message so i might try using UNetbootin do see if i am successful

sobranie said 5:01AM on 5-02-2008

1st time user trying to install Ubuntu and, like Clive, all I get is error 15. I can run ubuntu from disk (without installing it) which gives me a feel for the application but hey, I haven't got the time to fart around with this method.
Anyone else with same probs/work arounds etc pls??

Robert said 12:15AM on 4-30-2008

I've never installed a Linux distro before so I decided to take an old box I had laying around and install Hardry Heron this past week. I must say as a Windows Guy, if this is a good example of a 'stable' Linux build then Linux sucks.

Ran the standard installation and since them, things that worked, no longer work. Opera's HH build installs but doesn't start. To play the 3D chess I had to (attempt) to install 2 other Python files required. The 2nd one is an older version of the one installed so it keeps complaining it needs the older one. Try to install the older version and it won't because the newer one is already there. Wobbly windows worked after install but trying to update the Python OpenGL broke it I believe (reverted back to basic for the desktop) and it goes on....

That being said, I'm going to keep at it for awhile and see where it gets me. I'm from the DOS world so the command line and archaic syntax doesn't really frighten me but if this is supposed to 'compete' with Windows, it's got a LONG way to go. :)

anymno said 10:05PM on 4-30-2008

What ever guys, all that i do know is that UBUNTU + ME = HAPPY, and heron gives me the jives to dance the macarena with it. (A good thing!)

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