I've been using Xubuntu 8.04 “Hardy Heron” on my Macbook Pro Penryn (Early 2008 model) for several months now.

“So far, so good.” That is all I can say when I tested Xubuntu 8.04 RC last night on my Macbook Pro. I didn’t want to wait for tomorrow’s distribution release because I know the download will be slow during that time due to expected heavy traffic. Anyway, the Release Candidate version will almost be the same as the finished product, I think.

When I last checked Virtualbox did not update their repositories for Hardy Heron, its not a problem, their is a hardy package without a repository...So lets install the brand new virtualbox package for Hardy Heron...

Dell is shipping two new laptops with widescreen LCD displays and Ubuntu Hardy Heron (8.04) operating systems with DVD playback. Additionally, the largest U.S. PC maker has started offering Hardy Heron on three models previously available with the earlier Gutsy Gibbon Ubuntu release.

It was with great anticipation that I downloaded Hardy Heron to install on my notebook. As is my usual custom, I downloaded the alternate install CD from the mirror and burned it, then booted from it. I won't go into the steps of the install as most Linux users know how this works.

Ever forget what you had installed and find yourself at a fresh ubuntu install thinking to yourself... Damn now I gotta open up synaptic and search for everything I had... Well fortunately you dont need to do that. With this easy howto you can also restore all your packages that were installed by simply creating a package list and uninstalling every application installed after the list was made.

The countdown for Ubuntu 8.04 finally begins today as now there are only 9 days to go for the official launch of Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron. But before Ubuntu lovers get their hands on Hardy, their biggest anticipation is about the new features and applications coming in Ubuntu 8.04.

As mentioned on Xubuntu.org, the Xubuntu development team is in a great need for testers of the latest version of Xubuntu, 7.10 (the Gutsy Gibbon). Being the good Xubuntu citizen that I am, I intend to spread this message you any potential testers (you) so the Xubuntu team is not flooded with bug reports after the final version is released.

I wrote a preview of Fedora 9 "Sulphur" during its release day and said that I'm going to post an update soon. Now that I have tried and tested F-9 on my 4th gen. Macbook Pro (Penryn), it's time for me to give you a concise summary of the Sulphur experience and how it compares to that of Hardy Heron.