So Ubuntu 7.04 (code name Feisty Fawn, if you are unfamiliar with the Ubuntu naming convention) has been out a few weeks now. Only this weekend did I get the chance to load Feisty on a couple of systems; and all I can say is – Holy hand-grenades Batman, this thing is really flippin’ sweet!

To start with, installation on my build up desktop was lights out easy. Auto detected everything (just a minor resolution support issue on the Nvidia 6600 card), and I was up and running in no time flat. I quickly threw on my favorite OSX styled Gnome themes, turned on the basic three-D effects option; shame this is not on by default, and then it was time to install and config some apps.

I was particularly happy to find that NTFS read/write support is now just a couple of clicks away in the apt-get interface. RDP support was pre-installed, wonderful news for all the windows servers I need to support.

Installation on the HP NC8430 was a little more tricky, but really this was more due to the ATI X1600 and Intel WiFi drivers than anything. It was very surprising that Ubuntu 6.10 and the 7.04 betas worked off the live CD great, but the 7.04 release did not. After doing some research it appears this is due to some config in the X server with ATI X1xxx chipsets – argh, AMD/ATI!!!! Fortunately I was able to find a work around using the Alternate disc (Click Here), hopefully a 7.04.x patch will debut and resolve this, as it would be nice to have a Feisty disk that works from a live boot.

The Intel 3945 drivers where another story. I have yet to be successful getting the wireless manager to connect to my WEP Access Point. Like the ATI driver issue, this is well documented on the Ubuntu forums, but the solution alluded me; for now, I’ll operate in a wired configuration.

Overall Ubuntu 7.04 has me very impressed! I’ve used Linux and Ubuntu in that past, but for the first time in my career I’m starting to look at it as a serious replacement for Windows (especially Vista.)

The next step is to integrate Linux into daily work. On the plus side, many apps I use are already cross platform, but others are going to require the use of WINE or migrating to a native Linux app (It’s that Love-Hate thing with Outlook.) I’ll keep you posted on my progress.