Ubuntu 10.10, codenamed Maverick Meerkat, emerged from its burrow this month with some important changes. The user interface got a lift from some theming improvements and a new default font. Usability got a nice boost from a wide range of design improvements and feature enhancements in the Software Center and Ubiquity installer. Canonical's effort to clean up the notification area took another step forward with the addition of playback controls in the sound indicator menu. The latest version of GNOME is included, with a handful of minor improvements, and the F-Spot photo manager was replaced with Shotwell.

One of the most significant changes in Ubuntu 10.10 is the introduction of Unity, a totally new netbook environment that has some promising design characteristics. Although Unity is an impressive offering, it has some kinks that need to be worked out before it will be ready for mainstream adoption.

In this review, we will take a close look at 10.10's changes, with a focus on how these changes impact the Ubuntu user experience. Unity's scope and significance for Ubuntu make it an especially important part of this release, so we decided to devote a considerable portion of the review to exploring its features.

Installation

The Ubuntu installer, which is called Ubiquity, is built to operate in a Live CD environment. It consists of a configuration wizard and a simple slideshow that describes features of the operating system while the software is being installed. Ubiquity was redesigned for Ubuntu 10.10 with an improved visual style and several noteworthy new features that were introduced to simplify and speed up the installation process.

One of the most significant improvements is that Ubiquity can start formatting the filesystem and copying the necessary files while the user is still answering configuration questions. The installation begins immediately after the user completes the partition configuration step, so this feature noticeably reduces the total installation time. During my tests, I was able to perform a complete installation in less than 15 minutes.

A progress bar at the bottom of the window allows the user to monitor installation progress while completing the rest of the configuration steps. When the user reaches the end of the configuration process, the installer will show the feature slideshow while the installation continues.







The slides were overhauled for the new version. Although the topics in the slideshow are largely similar to the ones that were displayed in the previous version, the new slides have a stronger emphasis on individual applications. The slides display short summaries of key Ubuntu features, screenshots of included applications, and short lists of software that is available for the platform.