Comment 26 for bug 578045

@ Matthew Paul Thomas: Hi Matt, as this bug is assigned to you can you provide an update as to where we are? In your experience will there be any differences in the 12:04 release? I think nerdy_kid is spot on in his suggestions (although not entirely sure about the review process). But I think this could even go further, much like Android versions 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 pull from the same software repositories I believe Ubuntu should do the same for application software. In your experience Matt is that possible? Could the Software-center 'sit above' a number of releases with the same applications packages? Wouldn't this make the life of the packagers easier? Certainly some packages can work across different releases, just take a look at Chrome from Google.

The real value to me of Ubuntu comes from the fact that it is FLOSS software and showcases the best that is available in free as in beer and liberty software. But It is very important to me that the applications I use are up to date.

I realise there is rolling distros like Arch but Ubuntu really is the best chance for FLOSS on the desktop. Even SUSE provides the 'Tumbleweed' repository with their releases now.

In comparison if I use the software center in Mac OSX I can be on Snow Leopard or Lion and get the same software and they will automatically keep up to date without me being forced to upgrade my OS every 6 months. I love Ubuntu for what it is but it seems so conservative and behind the commercial alternatives, which is what this bug report is really about.

I have another related question you might know some information on, if I buy a computer that ships with Ubuntu how does Canonical ensure for example that is able to keep up to date with security and application updates? For example I know of some systems that ship with Ubuntu 10.10 and this support will be ending soon. I really believe that giving someone a machine with a non LTS release of Ubuntu is a problem. People are 'scarred' to completely upgrade their systems but ensuring they are on the latest supported version of software must surely be a benefit to everyone involved.

Anyway enough of my ramblings for now.

Thank you Matt