Discussion on:

Upgrading Ubuntu 12.04 to 12.10

I just upgraded to Release 12.10 (quantal) 32-bit following your instructions and it went smoothly.

As I understand the version scheme, there is no scale difference between the jump from 11.10 to 12.04 and the jump from 12.04 to 12.10. The numbers are not major.minor versions like you would normally expect to see in software versions, they are simply a release date within the semi-annual release schedule. Version 12.04 is simply the April 2012 release while 12.10 is the October 2012.

I would suggest a more accurate determination of the risk involved in using an update verses a clean install would be the upgrade from a Long-Term-Support (LTS) version to a non-LTS version. In this case, the upgrade from 12.04 to 12.10 is actually introducing more risk by using more cutting edge components. Personally, I have had VERY FEW issues with using non-LTS versions over the LTS versions, but the risk is there.

AMusnikow mentioned installing a 32-bit version... I am more curious about how the increasing prominence of 64-bit architectures is affecting the development of core components. How much of a 64-bit version of a distro is still dependent on 32-bit components and are applications being optimized for the newer technologies? How quickly is the divide growing between distros designed for modern PCs and those that specialize in keeping older PCs alive.

I haven't had any past problems with Ubuntu upgrades. The main issue I face (for a variety of reasons) is sloooow connection speeds. It would be nice if there were a command line switch to start the upgrade and delete the obsolete packages automagically. That way I could start the upgrade and let it run over night if needed.

I upgraded on a older PC which took about 90 minutes ,rebooted and up came 12.10.
The thing I have noticed is the PC is much slower on responses, but it is probably due to the PC being old, however I like the presentation,although it takes some how-to on my part.

is that really all you have to offer? And then to call Unity "outstanding"?

wow.. speechless .. dumbfounded ... more like irritated, and bewildered ... that you would be on perk-o-late rather than cover this with a more even keel that would provide substance for both camps.

ie.. there are those of us that hate unity and have switched away from beloved ubuntu because of it ... usually the same camp that hates this Windows 8 metro bullsh*t ... I don't have a tablet, and any OS that doesn't theme-atically update according to the abilities of the PC in this day and age.. is wrong. Just plain wrong.

Years will shows this comes back again ... in cyclic design ... the "all over the place" mouse gestures will again be replaced by the simplified "start button" like concept ... where your menu items are within a few inches rather than everywhere all over the screen (ie. hot corner gives you a plethora of iconic finger selectable icon areas, etc)

Again ... you people you're not on a tablet why should you have to mouse 3/4ths of your 22 inch monitor to get something done?

Thank Jack for the introduction on how to upgrade. I been using Linux for sometime now and when ubuntu introduced unity, it served me well from day 1. I love unity!!. I work as an IT consultant, and have deployed linux into 3 small business. I use to get calls all the time, with previous versions, calls such us, My desktop icon has disappear and can raise an invoice, can't find writer, can't find calc, etc. This are engineering shops, they don't know and they don't care what system they use as long as it works. All of the above issues disappeared with the introduction of Unity. And it is so much easer for training the non technical people, all you do is tell them about the supper key, and to type what ever they want and that is it.

Great job Ubuntu, with Unity I can support linux and keep my full time job!

12.04 is long term support (LTS) and 12.10 is not. For servers and desktops in production (business environment)- the suggested norm is to stay with LTS releases. Except for may be very small shops, a desktop refresh every six months is not feasible.

Unity is the End of ubuntu

How about the steps to do this from CLI?

Wow, loading that 2.4 MB, 1920x1080 image (screenshot-from-2012-10-14-153647.png) was painful - please create a thumbnail for it!

And you like compiz, then don't upgrade to 12.10. because compiz crashes more frequently than I breath. Without compiz I have to suffer through Unity. I like my Cairo that works, and it works in 12.04 so does compiz..Which is why Cairo works so well. I have sperately installed and then disgarded 12.10, just to see the diference, and the only difference I see from .04 to .10 is Amazon Phoning home to the mothership on every keystrooke you make....