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This is an exciting release for the Ubuntu community. The previous release, 8.04, was a Long Term Support, or LTS release. In 8.04, the focus was on stability, to make sure the release could be supported actively for the longer, three year cycle. In the new 8.10 release, included with this magazine, stability is still important, but the focus is on adding interesting and valuable new features, pushing the envelope of expectations for the Linux desktop. Here are some highlights:

• just-released 2.24 edition of the GNOME desktop environment,
• File Roller, the GNOME default archive manager,
• X.Org 7.4, the newest edition of X.Org,
• Linux kernel 2.6.27,
• some long-expected and exciting features have been added to Network Manager 0.7.

There are two DVDs attached to this magazine. They each include the same basic contents, with one big difference. One DVD is for 32-bit installations, the other is for 64-bit installations.

Each DVD includes four versions of Ubuntu: Ubuntu Desktop, Kubuntu Desktop, Xubuntu Desktop and Mythbuntu Desktop. These ship as different distributions, but they each share a common base that has been configured for specific uses and preferences with software that best fits the intended use. You will want to decide which sounds the best for what you want to do.

What's the difference? Each version includes the same basic software, but the 64-bit has a kernel and programs that are optimized to run on a 64-bit processor. In some cases, especially where large amounts of number crunching processing will occur, like video or audio processing and large spreadsheet or mathematics and science applications, there will be a speed benefit. For typical uses like Internet browsing, email , and word processing, the difference is trivial.Table of contents

• DVD Contents
  This magazine comes with everything you need to install Ubuntu on your computer. Both included DVDs offer you full version of Ubuntu and its derivatives. Better still, they offer a demonstration system which will allow you to test Ubuntu without having to install it beforehand!
• System Installation
  Ubuntu 8.10 is designed to be installed easily and with as little hassle as possible. This is something that will require your attention for a little while, but that does not mean it is difficult. For most people, on most common hardware, the process is straightforward and relatively fast.
• Upgrading to Ubuntu 8.10 from 8.04
  For the majority of people, doing a fresh installation when a new version of Ubuntu is released is not necessary. Most desktop users will be able to follow the steps in this article to update their operating system to the latest version without difficulty.
• Personalizing the Desktop
  In a default installation, Ubuntu comes with an unique and easily identifiable look. However, not everyone wants to keep the combination of browns and oranges. If you are among those with other preferences, you are in luck – the default installation uses a desktop called GNOME, which is easy to customize according to your tastes.
• Installing Multimedia Codecs and Drivers 
  Ubuntu 8.10 comes standard with free and open software. This includes community developed drivers for hardware, where the source code for the software is available to be downloaded, viewed, and distributed legally. You can even modify it legally, if you know how, as long as you either do not distribute your changes, or you license your work in the same manner as the work you are using. This software works with most hardware, and also includes the ability to play and view some media types.
• Important Applications
  Ubuntu 8.10 comes with with several great applications already installed. In this article, we will discuss some of the main ones, and also some that are readily available and easy to add to your default installation, to help give a clear overview of some of the capabilities of the distribution that are of interest to the typical and the power user.
• Games
  Here are ten games available under Ubuntu in few clicks only. The list is of course not exhaustive, our aim is only to make you discover several games. To be frank, we had a hard time selecting 10 games only but if we were to introduce all the games we like, we would be forced to issue a special Linux Identity Starter just to cover the topic.
• Basic Ubuntu 8.10 Security
  In this article we’ll be looking at ways to implement basic security measures to ensure your Ubuntu 8.10 desktop installation secure, by looking at the package management, installing a firewall and securing your home directory.
• A Command Line Introduction
  This article is not intended as a complete course on using the CLI. Instead, we hope to teach only a very small sample of basic and useful commands, and hopefully whet your appetite to learn more.
• FAQ
  As much as we would like to believe that everyone will be able to use Ubuntu 8.10 with no problems or questions, we know that isn't the case. This article is dedicated to some of the more common or foundational questions, issues, and information that interest most people. If it doesn't address your question, then look at the last question and answer for places to find further assistance.

Magazine properties: title line: Linux Identity Starter; issue: 2; pages: 36; DVDs attached: 2; price (US): $14.99