Muted is one way to describe the press reaction towards the latest release of Ubuntu, which went live on October 17th.
But there is a likely explanation for this. Firstly, Ubuntu 13.10 was far from being the most exciting release of the year, which will have made it hard for those not ‘in to Linux’ to find much to enthuse about.
Secondly – and more importantly in terms of column inches – the release happened to coincide with that of Windows 8.1, a sizeable update to Microsoft’s desktop and tablet operating system.
But what about the websites and publications that did give over some space to the Saucy Salamander’s sashay into the wild? What did they say? Let’s take a look.
Press on Ubuntu 13.10
Steven J Vaughan-Nichols of ZDNet offers the most enthusiastic response to the release in an article headlined: “A great Linux desktop gets better”. Taken with Unity’s new Smart Scopes in particular, SJVN states that, after a little tweaking, he has grown to“really like” using the feature.
Linux User & Developer Magazine – following on from a beta review in which they described Smart Scopes as “both very interesting and extremely worrying” – were more constrained in coverage of the final release, simply offering a quick overview of what users upgrading can expect to find.
In the wider technology world, The Next Web, Engadget and The Register also fulfil basic reporting duties, telling their readers about the minor changes brought with the release.
Ars Technica serve up their always dependable in-depth analysis, concluding that while it’s “hard to get excited [by 13.10]” non-LTS users should upgrade to benefit from security patches and fixes.
On the Ubuntu Touch front the popular Android blog Android Authority describes the first stable* release as “lacking in several key ways”; while Gigaom also cut through the spin to say: “[Ubuntu Touch at present] doesn’t offer users a real alternative to Android”.
SlashGear, meanwhile, focus more on the opportunities for mobile devs interested in Ubuntu Touch by highlighting some of the features of the Ubuntu SDK available in Saucy.
The Real Critics
That’s a cross-section of what people (mostly) paid to review it think. But what about those who use it through choice – i.e. you?
Let us know your take on Ubuntu 13.10 (both on the desktop and on phone) in the cavernous comment space below.