All you alternative OS folks out there should run on over to Ubuntu's website and grab the latest version 8.04. Ubuntu 8.04 brings number of important improvements to the popular Linux distribution. While none of the new features are necessarily glamorous on their own, together they make for a significantly more polished Linux desktop. Ubuntu 8.04, nick-named "Hardy Heron," is the second Long Term Support (LTS) release from Canonical, Ubuntu's parent company. LTS release come with official support for three years on the desktop and five on the server, making Ubuntu 8.04 an important release for business customers. It also means that 8.04 focuses on evolutionary improvements that build on the strength of existing features rather than introducing revolutionary new toys. Which isn't to say that this release is lacking in the new feature department; there's plenty to love in Ubuntu 8.04. In fact, if you've been considering making the switch to Linux, Hardy Heron is one of the easiest and best ways to jump on the Linux bandwagon. The main distribution of Ubuntu, which uses the Gnome desktop, has been upgraded to use Gnome 2.22. Although the latest version of Gnome looks much like its predecessors, it adds some great new stuff under the hood.

The most interesting new feature for those looking to switch from Windows is Wubi, a single-click Ubuntu installer for Windows. Wubi neatly eliminates installation hassles like disk partitioning and other details and allows you to install and uninstall Ubuntu (or any Linux variant) just like any other Windows application. Perhaps most welcome is the inclusion of GVFS, which replaces the old GNOME-VFS system. It might look like acronym soup, but the new Virtual File System offers much better ways to manage your documents. With GVFS all your mounted volumes - whether it's a Samba share, SSH connection or local disk - behave in a uniform manner. Also new is ability to pause and undo file operations in the Nautilus file browser. Ubuntu 8.04 also features a new version of Xorg, which offers much better auto-configuration options for setting up your monitor. The new Screen Resolution utility also makes it easier to dynamically change your screen resolution and control a second or external monitor.