Ubuntu 9.10

Ubuntu is a free operating system built by a world wide team of developers. It features all the applications you need: a web browser, office suite, media apps, instant messaging and much more. Ubuntu is open source alternative to Windows and Office.

The latest version of this operating system has been released and can be downloaded from the Ubuntu website. The new version boasts a faster, smoother and more beautiful interface with speedier boot times. If you are a developer then writing and deploying apps for ubuntu has become easier with the new fun tools. And the punchline is the introduction of cloud computing. You can store and share files and contacts in just clicks on Ubuntu One

Cloud computing on Ubuntu has been implemented on two fronts the Public Cloud that is the Ubuntu Amazon EC2 Cloud and the Private Cloud –> Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud. Cloud computing offers immeadiacy and elasticity in your IT infrastructure. You can easily build virtual systems with minimal in-house hardware requirements.

The new Ubuntu One technology gives you 2 GB of online storage for free. You can easily share files between your own and your friends computers. And upgrade for more storage at a low cost if you need it.

Another new feature is the Ubuntu Software Center a rather bold move by Canonical to migrate from the previous Add/Remove software tool and in future prospects drop Synaptic and Gdebi.

Currently the Ubuntu Software Center is at version 1.0 with the following features:

• Ability to install open source/free software.
• Replacement of the Add/Remove Software utility.

This doesn’t seem much but if you take a look at the plans for the upcoming versions of the Ubuntu Software Center you will be impressed. Ubuntu is trying to mimic the iPhone Application store. In version 2.0:

• Rating and reviewing software
• Replace Synaptic and Gdebi

This will keep unwitty users from installing poor software. The Linux software repositories hold far so many applications and the ability to rate and review these software will filter them from the best to the worst.

Version 3.0 of the Ubuntu Software Center just takes things to the next level:

• Install commercial software.
• Integrate ratings from the Launchpad into the Center

The ability to install commercial just speaks for itself; previously searching for commercial software for Ubuntu was quite difficult and now that the Ubuntu Software Center has taken care of this. It will really set apart Ubuntu as an open source Linux operating system.

These features in plan to be implemented in the Software Center are okay, however Synaptic has been there for quite a while and its ability to fix broken packages can be missed. Users are also used to installing from the command-line using the apt-get command. Without these features the Ubuntu Software Center could pose a problem. A quick work around would be to allow the installation of Synaptic through the Software Center. apt-get is entirely command-line and integrating it in the Software Center will bring problems of users using applications that they don’t rate or review.

The Software is great leap forward but Ubuntu needs users to make it work for them.