[en] Ubuntu 9.10
The new version of Ubuntu was released a bit over a week ago. I've been running it since the Release Candidate and after the official launch I felt the need to completely reinstall it on my computer (wanted ext4 
). Describing Ubuntu 9.10 in 2 words: it's great. I love the improved notification system and enjoy the new icon set. Overall it gives the impression of a better constructed operating system and it's even simpler to use that previous versions.
Also, I've started to completely manage my pictures and my music with Rhythmbox and F-spot. Although I have used Rhythmbox to play music for the last 1 year, I've never trusted it's library and I wouldn't even think of F-spot. I am quite happy with both of them. I've quit on using Gnome-do in favor of the deskbar applet and tracker (for indexing).
It's been really hard to find some issue to complain about in the new version, but I did it, I found some things: the trackpad isn't always working correctly (cursor jumps all over the place), but that's because my computer's trackpad is weird and the multiple displays set up process still isn't as fast as I wished, but considering how much it has evolved in the last 2 years I'm confident I won't have what to complain of in version 10.04.
And we get to the fail part: Evolution. I just can't seem to be able to like it. I've tried to use it for a few days, but then I went back to Thunderbird. I tried Thunderbird 3.0 Beta and it rocks, unfortunately it doesn't support the Zimbra plugin yet so I went back to the stable version.
Biggest plus for the new version are the improvements to the sound system which, taken together with Skype's decision to start working on the Linux version of their software means that I can now have lengthy conferences over the internet with my parents or my friends making me be even less dependent of Windows. Skypeing was actually the last thing I used an installed windows for since a Win XP virtual machine ca do just fine with iTunes (iPhone sync) and my windows only Internet Banking site.
Well, if you haven't upgraded yet go and do it, and if you think it's not such a big pain to do a clean install, backup your data and switch to ext4 for better performance. Can't wait to see what 10.04 brings.
