I downloaded and installed Ubuntu 8.10 (codenamed the Intrepid Ibex) when it was first available for download on the 30th of October. The install was a breeze and there were no special additions that I could see, but then I didn’t look too closely.

I usually backup my data and then format my harddisk to install the new OS on my laptop, and just do an “upgrade” on my server. I like to know how the OS will detect my laptop’s (now moderatly old) hardware. I run Ubuntu on a Thinkpad T60p which I bought before Lenovo offered a Linux option.

There were several things I was happy about. Most the hardware worked properly (kinda: more on that later), and I had no problem connecting to my wireless network nor connect to my bluetooth mouse and phones. Installing all the software I wanted wasn’t a problem at all. When I downloaded Flash (flashplugin-nonfree) I was pleasantly surprised to see the new version of Flash installed (10.0 r12). It is more stable than the previous version and it is yet to crash Firefox. Compiz is on by default with moderate animation. Also, encryption seems seamless and easy-to-do; an additional plus for people who want to keep their data private. Finally, the new version of ATI display driver also comes with the mighty 8.10 which is apparently a big deal.

Now with the problems. When compiz is on, video playback is terrible, especially in fullscreen mode. It is like watching a slideshow rather than a video clip. I have to disable Compiz to be able to watch video properly, which is cumbersome. Another thing currently driving me crazy is the fingerprint reader: It just does not want to work, and I have tried it with all available drivers (both open-source and proprietary) with no success. Keep in mind that it worked flawlessly in Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron). Another thing that bothers me is that the bluetooth mouse seems to take forever to come back from sleep mode, the mouse’s performance degraded in 8.10.

I’m sure the majority of those problems will eventually go away. The only thing that worries me is the ATI driver which I was hoping to fix whatever problem I have since Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon).