Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 LTS: Noble Numbat

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS “Noble Numbat” is prompting mixed reactions: many welcome its long-term support, improved polish and enterprise features like AD integration, while longtime users lament shifts in the desktop experience, increasing reliance on Snap packages, and larger installer images. Hardware support remains a key concern, especially for newer laptops and Bluetooth audio, with some noting Linux-friendly vendors and delayed kernel support as practical workarounds. Others highlight netinstall options, autoinstall for fleet deployment, and alternative flavors or distros (e.g., Xubuntu, Pop!_OS, Debian + XFCE) as ways to retain a stable Linux workflow tailored to their preferences.

LTS, Support Lifetime, and Stability

  • Several commenters value Ubuntu’s LTS promise as a signal of long‑term stability and support.
  • Confusion over 24.04’s “10‑year support” is clarified as including Extended Security Maintenance, free only up to a small machine count and non‑commercially.
  • Some feel Ubuntu quality or direction worsened after 18.04, but others report smooth multi‑year daily use with only occasional manual fixes.

Desktop Experience, Snaps, and Flavors

  • Older users who liked pre‑Unity / pre‑GNOME‑3 Ubuntu often dislike the modern default desktop, citing usability issues and Snap friction (performance, config paths, version lag).
  • Some switch to alternative desktops (Xfce, KDE, i3) or other distros (Pop!_OS, Debian, Mint); others are happy after customizing Ubuntu heavily.
  • Ubuntu flavors like Xubuntu are praised for lightness, but their LTS support window is shorter than “main” Ubuntu.

Bluetooth, Audio, and Wayland

  • Bluetooth headset use remains a pain point. Many describe low‑quality mic+audio behavior as a fundamental Bluetooth profile limitation, not Ubuntu‑specific.
  • Workarounds include using the laptop mic while keeping headphones in high‑quality A2DP mode, or relying on headsets with dual endpoints.
  • Experiences vary widely: some report flawless Bluetooth on Linux, others can’t even get basic audio reliably working.
  • Blurry apps on scaled Wayland desktops are tied to Xwayland; apps need native Wayland support to look sharp.

Installers, Image Size, and Automation

  • Noted ISO size growth from CD‑scale to ~5.7 GB; some attribute a large chunk to bundled NVIDIA binaries.
  • Several miss tiny “netinstall” ISOs; others point out Ubuntu still offers a small netboot option.
  • Autoinstall and remote config are discussed as ways to approximate MDM‑like enrollment; long‑term management may require tools like Landscape or custom scripts.

Hardware Support and New Devices

  • Hardware support on new laptops, especially with proprietary or poorly documented components, is still seen as hit‑or‑miss.
  • Some argue this is a vendor issue; others note that, regardless of blame, the practical outcome is more friction than on Windows.
  • ARM server images exist and can be turned into desktops; Apple Silicon desktop support status is asked but not answered.

Containers and Enterprise Manageability

  • 24.04 container images now include a non‑root “ubuntu” user (UID 1000), which can break assumptions in existing tooling.
  • New AD/Group Policy integration and privilege management features are seen as a potential step toward wider corporate desktop adoption.