Ubuntu 16.04 xenial xerus review in Spanish (full analysis)

A couple of months ago, the final version of Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus, the new LTS version of the Canonical operating system based on the Linux kernel, was released. Ubuntu is probably the most popular distribution among users and certainly one of the most recommended for newbies or those who have little knowledge about the penguin operating system. We tell you all the most important news of Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus to help you get started in the world of Linux.

Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus Review: What is Ubuntu?

Ubuntu is a free operating system based on GNU and on the Linux kernel, Ubuntu includes its own desktop environment called Unity and was developed to replace the traditional Gnome 2 that it had used from its first version until the arrival of Ubuntu 11.04 in April of year 2011. Its name comes from the homonymous ethic, in which the existence of oneself as cooperation of others is spoken of. The Ubuntu operating system is geared towards the average user, so it has a strong focus on ease of use and improving the user experience. It is made up of multiple pieces of software that are distributed under a free or open source license.

Ubuntu is owned by Canonical, a British company owned by South African businessman Mark Shuttleworth, which offers the system for free, and is financed through services linked to the operating system. Unofficially, the developer community provides support for other Ubuntu derivations, with other alternative graphical environments to Unity, such as Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, Edubuntu, Ubuntu Studio, Mythbuntu, Ubuntu GNOME, and Lubuntu.

A new version of the Ubuntu operating system is released every six months and is supported by Canonical for a period of nine months through security updates, patches for critical bugs and minor program updates, an LTS ( Long) version is released every two years. Term Support ) which is maintained for a period of five years in the desktop versions and three years in its server versions.

Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus desktop environment

The desktop is one of the aspects that has evolved the most since the arrival of Ubuntu 4.10 Warty Warthog in 2011. Ubuntu used the Gnome 2 desktop from its first version until Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal, which meant goodbye to Gnome 2 and the arrival of Unity. Gnome 2 was for many years the desktop that mastered GNU / Linux thanks to its good performance, its ease of use and its high customization options.

Ubuntu 4.10 Warty Warthog

Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus

Ubuntu currently relies on the Unity desktop, a fork of the Gnome Shell designed and maintained by Canonical for its own Linux distribution. Unity was born with the idea of ​​making better use of the vertical space of small Netbook screens, so its taskbar has traditionally been kept on the left side, something that can be very strange to users of Windows and more traditional interfaces. for GPU / Linux.

Unity was harshly criticized in the beginning for being extremely heavy, something that is ironic of an interface designed for Netbooks that were not teams that stood out for their benefits. Much of the blame for Unity's high resource demands was due to the Mutter window manager which turned out to be very slow on low resource computers. Fortunately, this problem was solved in later versions of Unity with the incorporation of the Compiz window manager, providing a notable speed improvement in its early stages of incorporation in Unity development.

The Unity interface is made up of three main elements:

The pitcher

The Unity launcher is located on the left side of the screen and is used to house the shortcuts to the different applications that the user wants as well as to list the windows that are open. Unity also includes several quick access menus for applications, numerical notification counters, and progress bars for some applications. By default the Unity launcher is always displayed but can be configured for self-concealment, just like the Windows taskbar.

The application dashboard

The next element of Unity is the application dashboard, also known as Dash or Dashboard and which is used to access all the user's applications, files, music and videos. It includes a search engine to be able to locate everything in a much faster and more comfortable way.

The menu bar

Finally we come to the menu bar that is located at the top of the screen and is used to display the menus and indicators. At its extreme right are the different indicators that give access to system, time, sound, network and messaging options.

Unity improvements in Ubuntu 16.04

Ubuntu 16.04 arrives with the latest Unity 7.4 version that includes numerous improvements among which we can highlight a better HiDPI support for very high resolution screens, including the drawing of cursors or a better integration with the file manager, in which the Trash or connected removable devices, which from now on you can quickly format from the panel. Another important change is the possibility of placing the panel at the bottom of the screen with the Unity Tweak Tool application, available in the repositories. Finally, we highlight that online search is deactivated by default, thus putting an end to a dilemma that began in 2012 and has caused the rejection of many users. Starting with Ubuntu 16.04 it will be the users who decide on their own if they want to activate and use this function.

Unity offers a new paradigm of desktop in Ubuntu that can be very strange and cause rejection in some users, it is one of those things that either makes you fall in love at first sight or you hate it with all your might. However remember that one of the pillars of GNU / Linux is the great freedom it offers the user, if you do not like Unity you can download one of the alternative versions of Ubuntu, such as Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Ubuntu MATE and Lubuntu that are based on Plasma, XFCE, MATE and LXDE desktop environments respectively, all with a much more traditional design. If you miss the classic Ubuntu with Gnome 2 you can try Ubuntu Mate that is based on the Mate desktop that is nothing more than a continuation of Gnome 2, it is like using the Ubuntu of the first years.

New software center and Snap packages

Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus has brought the end of the "Ubuntu Software Center" to the benefit of the new "Ubuntu Software". In Ubuntu Software Center it was released at the end of 2009 coinciding with the arrival of Ubuntu 9.04, it was an application from which users could graphically manage all the packages and applications available for the operating system. From the beginning it was a very heavy and slow application, although it was undoubtedly a great tool for less experienced users.

With the arrival of Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus Canonical has decided to give the folder to the Ubuntu Software Center and has replaced it with Ubuntu Software, a new application to manage programs and packages that is still a copy of Gnome Software with some modifications made by Canonical. The new Ubuntu Software offers a much faster and smoother operation, although it has some shortcomings that make some users prefer the old Ubuntu Software Center. Actually, both applications do is offer a graphical user interface for a much simpler and more intuitive use of Ubuntu's apt package manager.

A much bigger and more important development than the disappearance of the Ubuntu Software Center is the introduction of Snap packages in Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus. Snap comes with the intention of greatly simplifying software management in Ubuntu and offering a new paradigm very similar to the one we can find in Windows and Mac OS X in addition to the different mobile operating systems such as Windows Phone, Android and iOS.

If you want to learn more about the management of the software and the revolutionary Snap packages introduced in Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus, we recommend reading our post Learn about the Ubuntu Snap packages and their advantages.

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Install Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus on your PC

Ubuntu installation is very easy thanks to the Ubiquity graphical interface that greatly simplifies the process. The first thing we must do is access the official website of Ubuntu or some of its derivatives such as Ubuntu Mate and download an ISO image for installation. We will have access to the 32-bit version and the 64-bit version, we will have to choose the one that best suits the needs of our computer. Basically we will choose the 64-bit option if our PC has 4 GB of RAM or more, otherwise it is advisable that we install the 32-bit version.

You can check all the details about Ubuntu installation in our post How to install Ubuntu 16.04 LTS on your PC step by step.

If you are not completely sure that you want to install Ubuntu on your PC you can start testing it with a virtual machine, this consists of creating a virtual computer inside our real computer to be able to install Ubuntu and test in a completely safe way without making any changes to our HDD.

How to install Ubuntu 16.04 LTS in VirtualBox

The GNU / Linux features allow you a third option to be able to test it without having to do any installation on your computer, either real or in a virtual machine. You can run and test Ubuntu directly from a pendrive to see if it is to your liking.

Run a GNU / Linux distribution from a Pendrive

You no longer have an excuse to test a Linux distribution in a completely secure way and give this free alternative Windows operating system a try.

Final words and conclusion

Ubuntu is a free operating system and based on the Linux kernel, it can be a great alternative to Windows for many users. The latest stable version released is Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus which is also an LTS version so it will have great Canonical support for 5 years. The LTS versions are recommended for the majority of users, while the current versions with support of only 9 months are more suitable for the impatient who want to try the latest news.

Ubuntu offers a very different experience than Windows, largely due to its user interface that proposes a completely different paradigm. However, if Unity is not to your liking, you can install one of the alternative versions with a more traditional desktop environment if you feel more comfortable. Unity 7.4 introduces a few improvements and new features in Ubuntu 16.04, despite this, it is only a few days since the future is represented by Unity 8 and its new window manager Mir that will be available throughout the next versions of Ubuntu.

Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus also offers a new Gnome legacy software hub for smoother operation, although it still has several bugs it is quite promising and we hope Canonical will get it ready very soon. We also do not forget the Snap packages that come to drastically break with the traditional management of the software in GNU / Linux. Snap wants you to have the latest versions of each program in your distribution and wants to make the installation and uninstallation process easier, there is still a long way to go but the beginnings are always hard and the first step has already been taken.

In short, Ubuntu represents a great alternative to Windows for those users who do not need to use the Microsoft operating system, do not want to pay for its license or simply decide to bet on free software and all its advantages.

Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus

INSTALLATION

APPEARANCE

PERFORMANCE

OUT OF THE BOX EXPERIENCE

PERSONALIZATION

EASY TO USE

8/10

A great free alternative to Windows.