I have used the last two ubuntu LTS server releases for production dedicated servers. Never had a problem. Its very good stuff for mainstream production systems.
I came to ubuntu from FreeBSD. One of the many things I liked about BSD systems is the secure-by-default attitude. Ubuntu server comes close to this in a default install.
As much as I fear for the direction Ubuntu heads in terms of "free software'" and commercialization sometimes, I really admire their release schedule: Consistent, regular releases, with an overlaid schedule that emphasizes reliability and robustness. The best of both worlds!
What's to fear? The nature of free software is robust to commercial interference (by design), and didn't Red Hat prove that the relationship is generally mutually beneficial? Don't we want free software in the data center?
Sorry, that wasn't clear. I wasn't referring to the incompatibility of free software and commercialism. I was referring to Ubuntu's gradual shift away from their promise of always being free. Specifically, I would point out the recent "branding" updates to Firefox - that basically trick the user into accepting packages that merely promote Ubuntu. There's nothing inherently evil about it - but it was out of style for them, I think. There's also constant additions of packages and kernel modules that aren't REALLY 'free', etc...
So what I really meant is that as Ubuntu gains popularity, I've noticed more and more that they're concerned with things other than providing a truly free OS. Not that I blame them - it's only natural as a company grows. But sometimes it worries me what will eventually become of Ubuntu.
I don't, I think that kind of things are exactly what they should be doing. There are plenty of "100% free" distros like Debian and Fedora; Ubuntu shouldn't mimic them and instead should do whatever is the best for end users.
They will start using Unicode characters. Since this will be totally unpronounceable, they will change their slogan from "Linux for human beings" to "Linux for our robot overloards."
They've actually never had an "a" release, because they didn't start the sequential letter thing until Dapper Drake. And they've already had two "h" releases - Hoary Hedgehog and Hardy Heron, so they're definitely not afraid to reuse letters.
I can't wait for the publicity catfight that will ensue when Mac OS X 10.7 Lynx comes out and there's already an Ubuntu version with the same name. And a version number of the form 10.xx - this is just too good to be true.
Here's the status page which says that Apple used to have a trademark on 'Lynx' for 'Computer Operating System Software' but not anymore because they weren't doing anything with it:
http://tarr.uspto.gov/tarr?regser=serial&entry=78271639&...
I came to ubuntu from FreeBSD. One of the many things I liked about BSD systems is the secure-by-default attitude. Ubuntu server comes close to this in a default install.