I have now been using the latest release of the Ubuntu Linux distribution for many weeks now (yes I did start using it before it was actually released, I just couldn’t wait), and feel comfortable giving an educated statement about it. I am using the 64bit version, mainly because I think there are almost no reasons left to stick with 32bit if you have an actual 64bit system, and also because I would like to see progress made and by using it want to make a contribution to the establishment of 64bit as a standard. Ubuntu has a semi-annual release cycle, with a so-called “LTS” release every couple of releases, meaning every now and then they put an extra effort into releasing a really rock-solid version that they will give long-term commercial support for, hence “long term service (LTS)”. Version 10.04 (released month of April 2010) is such an LTS release, and that is one of the reasons it has been highly anticipated, the other is because the previous release was a major letdown by many accounts. But aside from that, it boasts a polished new interface with a new corporate design, a set of decent improvements to usability and increased support for cloud-based services, which include an online music store.

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