The word “Viable” in this case is relative. For hardcore Ubuntu and other Linux distro users, it is not beyond reach to envision a viable desktop in use with occasional visits to Google or the Ubuntu help pages. For Windows and Mac users, that will not make the cut. One thing for sure you have to admit Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 LTS is a step up from Ubuntu Karmic Koala 9.10.

One major difference you would notice with Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 LTS is the drift away from the traditional brown with a tinge of orange that previous Ubuntu versions had become so synonymous with. This is a welcome change. Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 LTS also tends to be a Mac OS X wanna be, with the window control buttons form minimize, maximize and close being shifted to the top left corner rather than the right. This simply brings weight to the remark that Mark Shuttleworth made about making Ubuntu beat Apple’s OS X on features and interface polish.

Ubuntu Karmic koala 9.10 brought in a few performance enhancements over the previous versions of Ubuntu. Following the same trend, Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 LTS was bound to bring in something spectacular to the table. So without wasting any time, lets have a look at what Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 LTS has.

Ubuntu One, Online Backup

Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 LTS introduces an online backup service which in no better terms works kind of like DropBox. It is a service that works seamlessly with those with Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 LTS.

Ubuntu Software Center

The Ubuntu Software Center is introduced in Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 LTS. With this service Ubuntu users now have a somewhat App store that gives access to thousands of free Open Source Applications. About there being an App For that? I don’t know so I will let you be the judge as somethings are best reviewed with time.

Ubuntu ME Menu

Right out of the box Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 LTS is social networks ready. This applications allow the Ubuntu user to access their Facebook and Twitter networks among others, It also allows the user to integrate their other online chat accounts into the Ubuntu ME Menu.

Ubuntu One Music Store and Rhythmbox Music Player

New in Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 LTS is an iTunes like music store and music player. With just a few clicks you can listen to music, buy and download the same with just a few clicks of the mouse. You can also store your music online and listen to it on another computer.

These are the major inclusions that have been introduced into Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 LTS and this is just a start in the evolution of Ubuntu from just being a mere Desktop operating System to a bigger service.

I would quite say that Ubuntu makes the cut as a viable desktop as described above seeing it doesnt yet solve some of the challenges the user faces that Windows and Mac have so carefully dealt with, but I can assure you that Ubuntu is getting there faster than you can imagin. For those who are interested you can download Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 LTS Desktop here and test for yourself the new features this latest Ubuntu Operating System has to offer.