Ubuntu 8.04 on a Sony VAIO VGN-FE890
This is a follow-up to my Ubuntu post from a few days ago. I've tried out the final version of 8.04 LTS on my Sony VAIO laptop, and found that it didn't boot. Instead, after the Loading Kernel process bar reaches 100%, the only thing that appears on screen is:
[ 42.947514] ACPI: EC: acpi_ec_wait timeout, status 0, expect_event = 1 [ 42.947575] ACPI: EC: read timeout, command = 128
And unfortunately that's where it ends. No CTRL+ALT+DEL, the only way to turn off the laptop is to hold down the power button for 5 seconds.
So apparently there's an issue with the ACPI, and indeed, it's something that's already being talked about.
I didn't actually install Ubuntu on the laptop, but I wanted to check it out from the live CD. My workaround is to hit F6 twice in the boot menu — once to get a command line interface to be able to add and modify the options, and the second time you get a popup. From there, conveniently select the first option, which is "acpi=off", by hitting Enter. Press ESC to close the popup, and hit Enter to boot. Of course ACPI will be disabled, but at least you'll be able to get into Ubuntu.
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Ubuntu 8.04 nearing release
It's getting interesting. Computerworld and ZDNet report a Gartner analyst claiming that "Windows is 'collapsing'". Computerworld is also talking about Ubuntu breathing new life into old hardware.
With that said, The Ubuntu 8.04 release is imminent, and I'm very much looking forward to it. I've been a Ubuntu user on and off pretty much since 4.10, also known as Warty Warthog. 4.10, along with version 5.04 (Hoary Hedgehog) are the only ones with code names that don't follow the letters of the alphabet. There's 5.10 (Breezy Badger), 6.06 (Dapper Drake), 6.10 (Edgy Eft), 7.04 (Feisty Fawn), 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon), and I was sure 8.04 was going to be named Hungry Hippo, but alas, its code name is Hardy Heron.
8.04 is also a LTS version, with support until 2011 and 2013 for desktops and servers respectively. This is similar to version 6.06 which came out in 2006, and will be supported until 2009 and 2011 respectively.
There's a beta version currently available for early adopters, which I recommend you try if you're into trying new things. A nice feature of Ubuntu is that you can boot from the CD to a fully functional Linux desktop system without having to install anything on your harddrive. Sure, it's not permanent, but it's a great way to try it out before making a commitment.
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