Ubuntu

Should I update my version to Lucid 10.4.1 ?

Asked by Jennifer

I have Hardy 8.4. Update manager indicates LTS release Lucid 10.4.1 available

Are there problems in that release? Should I upgrade?

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NICO697 (skyline697) said : 		#1

Yes Lucid 10.4.1 is the most recently and stable version. Hardy is only supported by ubuntu until support until May 2011, for this reason you should updated your system to the most recently version.

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Jennifer (jrcurry) said : 		#2

What I meant was, are there problems with this version? If so, what? Is it better than the Hardy 8.04 that I have?

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GaryW (gnubyexample) said : 		#3

There is no wrong answer without knowing more about your situation.

If this is a desktop system that uses very common hardware then I'd be more likely to say Yes

If it is a netbook or laptop that came preinstalled with Ubuntu 8.04 then I'd be leaning more towards No.

Answers to these 4 questions will help with a decision:
(1) Are you thinking about upgrading to solve an existing issue?
(2) Does the machine struggle with speed and ram already?
(3) What video card is in your machine?
(4) Is there a must have feature of Ubuntu Lucid that you have read about and want today?

Here is a useful post that you might find helpful:
   http://gnubyexample.blogspot.com/2009/11/managing-your-ubuntu-every-release-or.html

If you decide to stick rather than twist then that article I just mentioned above ( http://is.gd/eWl7a ) will show you how to stop being prompted.

The comment about May 2011 for the end of new security updates is relevant but how much of an issue that is to you today, will depend on the answers to questions posed above.

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Launchpad Janitor (janitor) said : 		#4

This question was expired because it remained in the 'Needs information' state without activity for the last 15 days.

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Jennifer (jrcurry) said : 		#5

Gary: No, I dont have an issue other than having 10 updates every week, which means my system does need updating. I have a very slow internet speed. I think I attempt to surf too quickly and my screen stalls and dimms out frequently, so I that is not normal. I dont know what video card is in the machine as it was already installed by others. This machine was donated. No, I have not read about any features of Lucid. The reason for asking is that when I do install the updates, I notice the Update Mgr. reads: 10.4 version can be installed.

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GaryW (gnubyexample) said : 		#6

Understood.

(2) Does the machine struggle with speed (CPU) and Ram already?

...could be maybe worth exploring before you make your final decision

Here is a screenshot of the resources tab:
   http://is.gd/fngbM

Access this via System --> Administration --> System Monitor
or if cannot find then try hunting down menus for 'Gnome System Monitor'

Would be good to have an idea of the percentages for CPU and 'User Memory' so as you know
where you are today.

The 'system' tab will show your CPU model, which might be a hint as to the age of the hardware
you have.

The reason I asked about video card is that (finger in the air figures), there is a 90% chance that your
upgrade would go okay. A 10% chance that it might not (depending on age and makeup of hardware)

Now there are plenty of articles to get you started if you end up without a working display after an upgrade,
here are two:
  http://gnubyexample.blogspot.com/2010/04/ubuntu-lucid-monitor-resolution-check.html
  http://gnubyexample.blogspot.com/2010/03/ubuntu-lucid-nvidia-and-ati-cards-will.html

(for future reference, no need to digest those articles right now)

My point is that if you do upgrade and end up without a working display, then the first thing you will need
to know in order to get some help is "What model of video card does the machine have"

With just a 1 in 10 chance of failure lots of people would just press the upgrade button and be done.
My advice is to do what you feel is best, but having to hand some information about your video card,
before you begin, should only take 5 minutes of your time.

Ubuntu has a 'system testing' menu option which can help (you can just skip all the tests except video
card). Video card test will give you the information you need.

Example screens shown here:
   http://is.gd/fniMr

If you are terminal happy, and find the 'system testing' route a problem, then a copy of
/var/log/Xorg.0.log
would do instead.

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Jennifer (jrcurry) said : 		#7

Memory is 494.1
Swap 39.1
Process 2.66 gig Celeron
system percentages kept changing from 6 to 20
Kernel Linux 2.6.24-28
Gnome 2.22.3

When I entered
/var/log/Xorg.0.log

It says Permission Denied

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Best GaryW (gnubyexample) said : 		#8

Okay that makes things a bit clearer.

Here is a very very unoffical memory guide for Ubuntu

Ubuntu Hardy 512 meg
Ubuntu Karmic 768 meg
Ubuntu Lucid 1gig

Ubuntu is becoming feature rich and there is a price to pay I am afraid.
Each release adds more desktop integration - and running a full Gnome or KDE desktop requires you to keep up with memory requirements.
Lucid added gwibber and desktop-couch and that is why I would recommend 1 gig of memory minimum for Lucid.

My guess is that your memory is quite old as this is a donated machine, so I will not say that the solution is to get more memory.

My advice is to run *less* of a desktop rather than more.

Donor machines like these are great for a bit of light web browsing and email, but that is as far as I would go. Ubuntu, Gnome, Firefox, and Flash all fitting into 512 meg of memory is a bit of a squeeze and I'd say just lose the Flash would be one easy solution.

Options:
(1) Stay on Ubuntu Hardy, stay away from flash heavy sites, bin the computer in May next year when Hardy is out of support.
( See footnote on how to stop the prompting to upgrade)

(2) Stay on Ubuntu Hardy, try a lighter desktop like Xfce.
( It will take some getting used to for sure, but if your funds will not stretch to a new computer in the next 9 months then worth the investment of your time)
( See footnote on how to stop the prompting to upgrade)

(3) Upgrade to Ubuntu *Karmic* (9.10) and try a lighter Xfce desktop
( You will need some local help$ with this and it would not be as straightforward as pressing a button)

An analogy (please localize to suit):
   The donated computer sounds like an aging Austin Mini car, it just about gets up to 65mph on the motorway and people beep you from behind sometimes. Somebody said that a new autobahn has just opened with no speed limit and most cars drive at 100mph plus

The important question is not "how to get to the autobahn?"

The key question is: How to keep using the car in a reasonable fashion, knowing that in less than a year it'll be off to the scrapyard.

Footnote: The following article has a paragraph "Final points for extra clarity:"
   http://is.gd/fnEbQ
......which gives a hint on how to set Prompt=never

( you might need some local help to get this done)

( when I say local help$, I mean somebody who is a bit handy with Ubuntu and will visit your office as a favour )

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Jennifer (jrcurry) said : 		#9

Thanks to Gary for the wealth of information he provided in both messages. It was more than I could have hoped for and wonderful clear explanations which can help me to decide how to proceed.

I am very grateful to you, Gary.

Cheers and best regards.