Groovily Going Ubuntu 20.10 Gorilla

Groovy Gorilla is the birth name of Ubuntu 20.10 the next generation computer operating system with latest technology. As its version number suggests, it is the October release this year after the April one 20.04 LTS as traditionally Ubuntu released twice a year since its first inception in 2004. Now I have the chance to see what’s new in Groovy for dear readers who are curious plus how it works on Lenovo ThinkPad. Let’s enjoy! 

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OS Specification

• Name: Ubuntu
• Version: 20.10
• Support lifespan: 9 month until July next year
• Desktop environment: X11, GNOME 3.38
• GNU: GRUB 2.04, Coreutils 8.32, Bash 5.0, GnuPG 2.20, GNOME, Tar 1.30, Gzip 1.10, Debugger 9.2, Wget 1.20
• Kernel: Linux 5.8
• Tools: systemd 246, rsync 3.2.3, apt 2.1.0, dpkg 1.20, snapd 2.47, packagekit 1.1.13
• Applications: LibreOffice 7.0, Mozilla Firefox 81, Mozilla Thunderbird 78, Remmina 1.4.8, Transmission 3.0

Image

Computer operating systems are distributed in image file that name mostly ended with .iso or .img. Ubuntu is also distributed as images we can download, run, preview, and install, and pass it on to our friends. For the 20.10 Groovy Gorilla I use the image not officially released yet or more specifically “final freeze” development version. The image file is named groovy-desktop-amd64.iso by size 2.8GB dated 15 October 2020.

Ubuntu Computers

Right now Dell, Lenovo, Star Labs, and LaptopWithLinux sell their Ubuntu PCs and laptops preloaded. We can now purchase ThinkPad and XPS high end laptops with 20.04 LTS. We have choices with LabTop and Clevo lines of laptops preloaded with Ubuntu too. Not only them, fortunately Tuxedo and Slimbook, the vendors who made Kubuntu Focus hardware a reality, sell their computers with Ubuntu preloaded too. We can expect they all OEM vendors will ship Groovy Gorilla as well later. The availability of OEM computers like that will lift the burden on end-users to do manual installation just like what manufacturers do with Windows computers for decades.

Booting

Ubuntu Groovy gives three installation options namely Ubuntu, Ubuntu (safe graphics), and OEM Install (for manufacturers). 

Automatics

Once installed, Ubuntu Groovy just works on my ThinkPad laptop. All hardware detected automatically. This will make Microsoft users happy.

Appearances

Here’s how Groovy Gorilla looks like.

Identity

Ubuntu has unique identity just like Microsoft Windows and Apple MacOS have their owns. Groovy user sees their computer by its looks. Top and left panels with such Yaru colors blended between purple orange. Now all icons are displayed equally without classification into Frequent and All. Now icons arrangements can be drag and dropped manually.

Applications

Just like any earlier Regular releases, 20.10 updates its applications so they are the latest and greatest right now. As you can see below, it brings LibreOffice Seven the greatest Free Libre Open Source Software office suite today along with latest Rhythmbox Player, Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird, and built-in Ubuntu Desktop Guide.

Now making documents got more excitements thanks to Seven.

Connectivity

Networking works smoothly. Wifi, ethernet, and bluetooth doing their jobs seamlessly on my ThinkPad T430. Everything is instantly detected once Groovy has been installed without requiring additional driver discs or such.

Login Screen

Here's how we logging in to Ubuntu computer on 20.10.

As simple as always without any noticeable changes. However, technically speaking, Ubuntu by default runs under X11 mode while Wayland mode is available to choose from the gear button as depicted in picture above.

Installation

Ubuntu successfully keeps its easy install tradition. Imagine to install an OS only under fifteen minutes, that’s Ubuntu for you, without hassle of separate driver discs neither antiviruses. Groovy finishes very quickly continuing its great tradition.

Resource Utilization

Surprisingly, Groovy uses only about 800MiB memory after a fresh install far better than 1000MiB on the previous releases with GNOME desktop. Its CPU utilization is also quiet.  It even works well on a virtual machine with 2 CPU and 1.5GiB memory done with the friendly tool AQEMU.

ThinkPad Specials 

For Lenovo users especially ThinkPad owners, as i use T430 here's my experience with Ubuntu 20.10. It is a happiness.

• Touchpad: works.
  
• TrackPoint: works, the point and its three red buttons.
• Keyboard: works, plus Fn and Ctrl keys can be swapped from the BIOS.
• Fn combinations: work
  
• Special keys: everything works: mute, up/down, mic, 
• Speakers: work, both left and right.
• Indicators: work, wifi - disk - battery - moon.
  

Afterword

I am excited to review Groovy. I am satisfied. As we could see in this article, everything just works as expected. I wish you find same excitements with Groovy. What do you think about Ubuntu 20.10, o dear readers?

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