Three weeks ago I installed Ubuntu 10.10 on my laptop, because I was having problems again with NetworkManager again on Arch Linux. I wanted something that didn’t require me fixing programs that don’t give me a decent error message, because I only use my laptop for work and school.

It took an hour or two (or three) to install and configure everything. Replacing programs, choosing a GTK theme, looking for a nice wallpaper. Almost no command-line actions were required. Only when I wanted to add some new software sources and a kernel with the CK patchset. I don’t mind doing things with a terminal, it even goes faster, but non-technical users like GUIs so I guess it’s a good thing.

There are some things that I don’t like. Like Nautilus. It takes a while before it appears and on top of that it’s ugly. I haven’t been able to find a PPA for Thunar 1.2, but it looks like it is included in Ubuntu 11.04, so I’ll wait for that one.

It’s not as responsive as the previous Arch Linux installation and the start up time is also longer, but I’m pretty happy with it besides that. Look at that nice screenshot.

(Click for larger image)

I’ll keep Arch Linux on my desktop PC since it’s much easier to change things, it’s faster (depends on what you install ofcourse), the AUR is awesome and I have the time to configure stuff.

Tags: Ubuntu Review