What should Ubuntu Eee 8.10 consist of?

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Ubuntu 8.10 is soon due. Hence Ubuntu Eee 8.10 will be released in the beginning of November. But what should Ubuntu Eee 8.10 consist of?

  • Base it on Ubuntu Intrepid – you can read more about these features over at ubuntu.com

    • Nautilus file manager has tab support and Eject icons for removable drives in Places sidebar
    • File Roller archive manager now supports ALZ, RZIP, CAB, TAR.7Z file types also
    • This release brings much better support for hot-pluggable input devices such as tablets, keyboards, and mice.
    • Linux kernel 2.6.27. This is a significant release with better hardware and numerous bug-fixes which is believed will provide overall improvement for Ubuntu 8.10.
    • Encrypted private directory
    • Guest session
    • Network Manager 0.7, which comes with long-expected features
    • “Last successful boot” recovery entry
    • DKMS. Allows kernel drivers to be automatically rebuilt when new kernels are released.
    • Samba 3.2
    • PAM authentication framework
  • OpenOffice 3 ?
  • More closed source codecs, sun java and windows fonts ?
  • Customized kernel by Adam
  • Fixes fixes and customizations run at boot time by Ferry Hendrikx
  • Netbook remix mode / Regular desktop mode – changer

Do you have ideas for what we should include?

Screenshots from phoronix and tombuntu

Related posts:

  1. Call for help: Ubuntu Eee 8.04.1 Feature Page
  2. Ubuntu Eee 8.04.1 release – live – hour by hour – Day 1
  3. What to expect of Ubuntu Eee 8.04.1
  4. The road from Ubuntu Eee 8.04.1 RC to GOLD
  5. easypeasy vs Jolicloud = Install Jolicloud in easypeasy

163 thoughts on “What should Ubuntu Eee 8.10 consist of?”

  1. I guess that netbook remix/standard desktop change button is the most important thing, because I guess many users expect this to be done.
    OpenOffice also should be inclued, because all users have to install it anyway. And may be integration of windows fonts could be a good thing, because for novices in linux it can be difficult to do it by themselves. I know it’s a not good opensource way, but as soon as we have preinstalled Skype, it’s OK.
    And, by the way, the most important and compulsory – modification of a new kernel :)

  2. I think all the codec for music and video should be already install and the open office 3 is a must have…

    Jon keep up the good work

  3. Just a quick note to let you know that after the round trip from PayPal, a lot of error messages fill the screen (appears it’s trying to call some sort of “thank you” function).

  4. I totally agree with Alain de Carolis. I’m really wary of loosing functionalities by switching from Xandros to Ubuntu eee, that’s why I still keep observing this site instead of installing, although I’d like to free myself from that un-updatable Xandros mess. But is an updatable system which doesn’t really work a better solution? Certainly not.
    The hardware is quite standardized, so getting it to work at it should should be possible.

  5. I hope to see 8.10 working 100% with my 900A.

    I hate Xandros, but at least that distro was working as expected.

    With Ubuntu eee my wifi barely workd, no functions buttons (at least no all of them), no internal mic.

    After everything works we can start discussing about features.

  6. Jon,

    My requests, in some kind of order:

    1. Faster boot time if possible.
    2. Longer RC-testing period with more iterations before gold. 8.04.1 RC2 hasn’t solved my 901′s issues with wireless toggle and suspend mode.
    3. Windows fonts and codecs would be GREATLY appreciate. The default serif gives me a lot of trouble in FF3.
    4. Lots of love for 900/901/1000 Eee models.
    5. Open Office 3. I have to say I like the collection of installed software with the current version!

    Notes: I am a fan of NBR, but I see why others want the option of KDE.

    Thanks, Jon!

  8. In my opinion, what we need is a good system that works out of the box with a easy NBR on/off switch, a few apps to get started surfing the web, a media player with good format support and a (stripped down) Office sollution will do for me.
    Games and other apps like Gimp, is something I find easy to add later. But then again I’m a advanced user who propably has forgotten how it is to be fresh… Anyway:

    Everybody has their taste of what they wan’t/like and I think that YOU (Jon) must decide who your target audience is, and make your choice based on that.
    As long as you keep the possibility for customization open for the advanced users, you will have a winner.

    Good luck choosing the features.

    I’m a happy camper on a 900 running 8.04 who cares more about smooth running, user friendly systems than fast bootup time and tons of Apps.

  9. Lu, Johan, please clarify what’s not working on 901 and I’ll check it out.

    edd, it will be possible to upgrade :)

    geraldcor, thanks! We’re going to try to get the data first hand to be able to test ubuntu eee on it and so on however. Thanks again

    stani, that Would be nice!

    OK, so ideas I’ve got now are:
    Games, Light weight release, full disk encryption (wouldn’t home directory be enough?), VLC instead of Totem, Wine, Remove unneeded packages, Improve boot time, netbook changes (embed Nautilus, super button to Home, link to Add / Remove…), Mozilla Prism, Jackfield / widgets

  11. I think making the Add/Remove app for apps available by default, and embedding it in System Utilitys category would be nice.

    And the NetbookRemix – Desktop switch is a must.

  13. Jon, I saw a blog entry about getting info on various other netbooks and the commands to use to get you the info. I can’t find that post and I was looking forward to getting you the info on the olpc. Do you still need/want this info?

  16. It is necessary, that customisation of connection about the Internet through Bluetooth DUN/PAN and GPRS worked “from a box”.

  17. My current setup is EEEbuntu with the custom kernel from http://www.array.org/ubuntu/ which makes a great combo. I’ve also added the Netbook remix stuff, and find it to be fantastic.

    For the Netbook remix, a couple of changes I would like to see.
    1) I wish the Gnome switcher dock app that is simulating “tabs” could have an X (close) like a Firefox tab. 2) I wish that when you click on a folder from the right side of the “Go Home” app it would open in the center of that app, the same as the left side “App Categories” do. Basically, I’m looking for Nautilus to be embedded into Go Home. I think similarly embedding Gecko might be interesting, but Nautilus is more important.

    Also, mapping the home key to show the Go Home app is absolutely critical. This can be done using the keyboard shortcut preference app, but really this needs to be done by the distro.

    Cheese by default (with working camera/mic).

    I think Mozilla Prism might be a nice touch for shortcuts that launch Ajax apps (Google Notebook, Google Docs, etc) since it provides none of the Firefox chrome that just consumes precious screen real estate.

  18. cut down boot time.
    Mandriva shows impressive progress in this.

    With SSD and fixed set of hardwares, Ubuntu Eee should try achieve some boot time improvements :)

  19. I would also install instead of Totem VLC player by default if possible. Wine by default might be nice thing.

    i would also cleanup system more from not needed packages.

  20. agree with call for full disk encryption
    +
    will this be an update from 8.04.1 on will a fresh install be required?
    keep fighting the good fight :P

  23. I’d like every necessary codec and font. The less I need to install afterwords, the better. That being said, how about a lightweight release for all of us that don’t want Gimp, OpenOffice, and other local crap? The web browser is my weapon of choice these days, and only Photoshop is truly necessary besides that, so a web version of Ubuntu Eee would be sweet.

    And yes, you need decent codecs and Microsoft fonts to truly enjoy your web experience. ;)

  24. Jon, I think OpenOffice 3 is a must. The EEE (and other “netbooks”) are made to be portable solutions for when you’re on the road or on the streets. OpenOffice is a very efficient tool for solving problems, and its updates in the 3rd version are welcome for this kind of usage (specially when we talk about compatibility — who knows what kind of file types are going to pop up out there?).

    The new network manager is a must, also. I have installed it in both old and new Ubuntu EEE, and it works great (although my cell phone operator doesn’t) through GPRS (I’ll get 3G only in november). In my city and in my region, it’s hard to find open or public wi-fi internet access. However, cell phone networks are widespread, some of them work even in wild beaches and offshore.

    I also think all games shouldn’t be dropped off. Basic ones like Solitaire, Mines or Mahjongg should stay. I don’t think they’d weigh enough to make Ubuntu EEE significantly heavier.

    Actually, as long as cam and mic, office tools, file and hardware management, wi-fi and GPRS/EDGE or 3G work out-of-the-box,the rest is just a bonus.

  25. I think whatever it will consist of one thing for sure it must be complete – all hardware must work under it including the 901. It must be so good that Asus couldn’t resist replacing this over the orignal Linux! ;)