I’m running Ubuntu on the desktops as well as my laptop. Since I first got introduced to Ubuntu in 2008 (I had been a Fedora advocate prior to then) I was impressed with Ubuntu, However 8.04 had minor issues with some of my hardware (primarily the wireless adapter in the laptop) so I opted to go back to Windows XP (hey, I had licences so figured why not).

As you may be aware I had been trialing Ubuntu 9.10 for the past week on USB key installs. The USB key worked well, though the limit on the number of packages I could play with were limited due to a lack of drive space.

I had no problems with hardware, and the software I could install worked well. Very well infact. So I purchased a new 320gig hard drive for the laptop and installed Ubuntu 9.10 onto it. I’m eagerly awaiting the release of Ubuntu 10.04 as I am sure the improvements between 8.04 and 9.10 will be reflected again between 9.10 and 10.04.

I’m still playing with some of the packages, such as video encoding, so far I can’t really fault Ubuntu on the efficiency and stability of the applications. It is ten-fold over what I had experienced in Fedora.

Will I go back to Windows? Probably not. I don’t agree with the costs involved with purchasing upgrades so I won’t be purchasing Windows 7, and Windows XP while SP3 is still supported, Eventually it’ll be phased out which will put XP out of date and vulnerable. Don’t even know why I spent the $$$ on Windows XP really. Just part in parcel of the things we do in life and learn from I guess.

I do still have some minor technicallities as far as a desktop twitter application goes, but I’m sure I’ll be able to sort a decent one out soon enough. I’m using Twitux, and while it’s nice. It lacks in the ability to click on hyperlinks, but really it’s a minor issue.

As far as studio software goes, as I said the video side is working out well and the audio portion is as always, being encoded with Audacity which I have never had issues with on Linux or Windows.

I highly recommend people download Ubuntu and if you are unable to install it, atleast give it a try in Live mode, you may just surprise yourself with it’s abilities.

Fedora 11 is due for release on 26th May 2009.