The Web continues to buzz about Ubuntu 8.10’s launch. Here are a few links to some initial reviews/opinions about Canonical’s latest operating system launch.

• IT Channel Cast: Ubuntu 8.10, the Intrepid Ibex — Linux is ready for prime time!
• The Unofficial Apple Weblog: Installing Ubuntu 8.10 on a Mac
• Life Hacker: A user’s look at Ubuntu 8.10
• Daily Gyan: 10 things you should do immediately after installing Ubuntu 8.10
• HowtoForge: The Perfect Server, Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex (Ubuntu 8.10)

If you’ve seen other Ubuntu 8.10 reviews — especially server edition reviews — please post comments and links below.

Wow, it’s never a good idea to do an upgrade to a Release Candidate when you depend on the machine in question for day to day operations… But I just couldn’t resist making the move to Ubuntu 8.10 Desktop Edition, code named Intrepid Ibex. Here are some of my initial reactions.

Rewind to 1996. Windows NT gained momentum around that time because Microsoft had clear marketing messages for both NT Server 4.0 and NT Workstation 4.0. Now, Canonical is embracing a similar strategy with the launch of Ubuntu 8.10 Server Edition and 8.10 Desktop Edition.

My day job revolves around early-modern European history, which I study in graduate school.  While most of my fellow graduate students know very much about obscure dead people, computers are generally not their forte: many of them remain unsure of the difference between Microsoft Word and Microsoft Windows, for example.

Even before Linux was created, Microsoft has been scorned by members of the free-software community.  Its products are decried as defective by design, and its sometimes questionable business practices as an obstacle to technological innovation.  That’s old news. What amazes me is Apple’s track record for openness is even worse than Microsoft’s.

Operating systems only thrive if they have vast application support. With that reality in mind, Canonical is gradually expanding its online store for third-party Ubuntu applications. Find details about the strategy on WorksWithU’s sister site, TheVARguy.com.

We continue to expand our Works With U 1000 list, which identifies businesses and organizations across the globe that have made the move to Ubuntu on servers, desktops and/or mobile devices.

There’s been a lot of ink spilled—er, pixels fired—about Canonical’s decision not to offer a graphical interface in the server edition. The debate is understandable. After all, given Canonical’s professed commitment to ease of use, it might seem a bit strange that Ubuntu Server Edition should not come with some kind of desktop environment by default.

First, the good news for Canonical and its loyal followers: Yes, Wikimedia Foundation (the company behind Wikipedia) is embracing Ubuntu on its servers in a big way. This is the latest in a growing list of large and small organizations that are betting their back offices on Ubuntu. Now, the challenge: It sounds like there really isn’t much — if any — money flowing from Wikipedia to Canonical.

One of the three fundamental principles of the Ubuntu philosophy is the availability of software in a user’s native language, whatever that happens to be. While those of us who grew up speaking one of the world’s top 10 languages might never give linguistic freedom a second thought, this is an area where Ubuntu clearly outperforms its proprietary competitors.