Latest Ubuntu available for download

Canonical has put the final release of Ubuntu 9.04 up for download, just a week after unveiling the release candidate.

Alongside the principal desktop and server releases, Canonical has also released a version for netbooks dubbed Ubuntu 9.04 Netbook Remix. This version of the distro can be downloaded to a USB flash drive, giving users a chance to try it out before they commit.

Among the significant modifications for the desktop version is a customised Ubuntu Mobile Edition (UME) Launcher, which replaces the familiar desktop with a simplified icon-based interface, similar to that seen on the Eee PC.

According to Canonical, Remix will boot in under 25 seconds on most netbooks, and has been tested on the Inspiron Mini 9, Acer Aspire One and Asus Eee PC 1000.

Elsewhere, the desktop version continues the open-source operating system's evolutionary rather than revolutionary development path.

Most of the significant changes can be found under-the-hood including the optional Ext4 file system and the inclusion of the 2.6.28 of the Linux kernel.

The Gnome 2.26 desktop environment brings improvements to Evolution, the default mail client, which can now import Microsoft Outlook Personal Folders and has support for Microsoft Exchange's MAPI protocol. While on the server side customers will be able to deploy Amazon Machine Images allowing them to embark on their own cloud computing adventure.

The Ubuntu 9.04 Server Edition includes a preview of Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (UEC), which the developers said is the first distro to let businesses built their own internal cloud.

The community's attention has now turned to Karmic Koala, which will overhaul the look of the open-source operating system.