Answers to: What are the factors that you consider/weigh before upgrading to a new Ubuntu distro?

Answer by Jazz

Jazz — Wed, 05 May 2010 09:50:18 -0400

Depending on your use of Ubuntu, there are several things you should consider before upgrading. If you are running ubuntu server, your main priorities should be security and stability. So upgrade only if you have to (in my experience, because of incompatibilities or because support ended).
On a desktop, things are usually not that strict. A good idea is to read the official forums for a while, to see if any of the new bugs affect you.

In any way, waiting a bit before you upgrade is most often a good idea. By the time you decide to finally dist-upgrade, most of the bugs will have been pointed out by other users and probably already solved.

Most importantly, make backups before you upgrade. If you do, the worst thing that could happen is that you have to reinstall. Having your /home on a separate partition is also advisable.

Using this tactic, I hardly had any upgrade problems.

Regarding the factors that I consider worth upgrading:
- solved compatibility issues
- improved stability
- improved speed
- improved ease of deployment
- on desktops: new software versions

Showstoppers are simply the opposites.

Those factors may be different for you, though. Why not write down what is most important for you, and then rate a new release accordingly. You may even find that another distribution fits your needs better! Don't be afraid to try. :)

Answer by John Bernays

John Bernays — Wed, 05 May 2010 04:31:22 -0400

I Second the Other Two Opinions, I am running LINUX/UBUNTU 8.10 on a 455 P-3 IBM Think-Pad 390x, and Ubuntu Automatically Mounts my 2 Different PCPMIA Cards, I can even "hot Swap" it Logs me into the EiFi auto, it Works good on PocCasts, the Windows Media Plig-ins, Real Media Plug ins ETC. all work Great...& I am a DUMFPHKOF! If I UPGRADE to 9. Whatever, NOTHING WORKS!

]I it even WORKS although my BIOS are 1999, & OUTSIDE the RANGE! It Fixes the Wrings & Sufrs Fine! I however, have a couple problems...I will CREATE a SEPARATE Question about them...

Answer by george

george — Tue, 04 May 2010 22:48:19 -0400

If it's not broke don't fix it. Easy as that.

Answer by charl

charl — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:55:40 -0400

I personally upgrade from when the Release Candidate came out. But also because I like being part of the final testing. So For as long as I used Ubuntu, I always wanted to best of the best, regardless of how long it took me each time to set everything the way I wanted it again. Part of the fun, and you learn new tricks along the way.

But on the flipside, if the system you have is working for you, and there isn't anything really you need in the new version. Stick with it, even more so if it is your main machine. Downtime is the last thing you want.

My 2 cents.