The 5.04 version of Ubuntu Linux is freshly released, and is now running on my test machine. I must admit, I am really, really impressed by how quickly Ubuntu has become a mature and useful operating system. Things that are most impressive to me:

• It only takes up one ordinary CD blank. Yes, one. Yes, it doesn’t include everything in the universe, but it does include a very nice Gnome based desktop, and all the applications that get installed by default look like they are part of one seamless distribution.
• The Synaptic/apt package manager stuff works simply. Almost childishly so. It would be very easy for almost anyone to keep an Ubuntu system up to date.
• Ubuntu is committed to be free. Not just open, but actually free.
• Ubuntu is dedicated to providing high quality multi-lingual support. As an American, I know it’s unfashionable for me to say so, but that’s pretty cool.

There are a couple of small caveats: my system has a Savage chipset videocard (actually, built onto the motherboard) and the DRI stuff that makes playback of dvds and the like fast is not yet ported into this release, so it doesn’t as yet make the best DVD player. But I’m really happy with it. If you are bored with your older, staler distributions, think about giving Ubuntu a try.

Addendum: There is a review of the new Ubuntu release on forevergeek.com.

Addendum^2: Don’t like Gnome? Prefer KDE? Then what you are looking for is Kubuntu.