Any point to upgrade to 17.10?

[Tlonik]

Hello! Im running kubuntu 17.04 on my laptop and everything is just fine. I just wanted to ask your opinion if there is any point to upgrade to 17.10?
Or may be better stick with current 17.04 and wait to 18.04?

[Jeremy_Ray]

Hello! Im running kubuntu 17.04 on my laptop and everything is just fine. I just wanted to ask your opinion if there is any point to upgrade to 17.10?
Or may be better stick with current 17.04 and wait to 18.04?

There are no more security updates for 17.04, so you increase your vulnerability to being hacked. Someone on here once told me that kiddie porn traders like to use Linux machines to control their bot nets, and I've taken security much more seriously ever since (just did the 17.10 upgrade myself).

[sithlord48]

yes if for no other reason then it makes it easier to up grade to 18.04 later on

[jglen490]

There's almost no reason for moving away from an LTS. I avoid the "in between" releases simply because they have a shorter support period.

[oshunluvr]

Everybody has an opinion and most of them...

...so here's mine;

If you're planning on doing an upgrade to your install, then I agree with sithlord48. If you are planning a new install when 18.04 comes out, then I don't.

While I think I understand what jglen490 is saying, I don't agree when applied to this question. Two years is a long time to not upgrade if YOU have a reason or need for the upgrade. Only you can determine that, and since you're already on 17.04 it seems you've made your choice.

I totally disagree or at least don't understand Jeremy_Ray's comments. Assuming it may be correct that botnets can be or are ever controlled by a Linux machine, that has absolutely nothing to do with the version of Kubuntu you're running or the decision to upgrade or not. While I know nothing about botnets, I did have a personal conversation with the computer security manager of the large US government agency I work for about them. He said just running Linux made me infinitely more protected than the average Windows user from being infected by a botnet. There was no mention that somehow my computer could be turned into a botnet controller, much less a bot. Since bots are generally created by malware, a 10 year-old Linux install is likely more secure than a new Windows install is. Simply having SSH and dozens of other ports off by default makes us more secure. While it's good practice to upgrade your system kernel to repair security flaws, I seriously doubt you're at much risk if you wait it out for 3 more months. As individuals, we just aren't large enough of an attack vector to be worried about it. Besides, many security flaws go longer than 3 months before being detected, so how is this worse? I don't run 17.04 but I suspect if you were actually concerned about it, you could install a later kernel yourself without much trouble.

To summarize my opinion:

• Upgrade to 17.10 if you're planning on upgrading to 18.04, because you'll have to anyway (you can't jump over 17.10 when upgrading).
• If you're going to do a new 18.04 installation rather than upgrading to it, there's not much, if any, reason to uprgade to 17.10 at all.
• If you want the experience and don't mind the effort to work out the bugs and changes you'll have to go through, do the upgrade.
• If you use your computer every day and are satisfied with how it works, don't upgrade.

[jglen490]

I don't (dare to) disagree with oshunluvr, my point was if you are on an LTS release you will get complete security patching and application updates - not necessarily upgrades - for the life of the LTS to keep your system secure and operational. With what I call the "in betweens", you have a very short support cycle and when that's done, you're done.

On the other hand, if you have a functional need to upgrade some application(s) to some level found only in a higher number release, then moving to that release (LTS or not) is entirely appropriate, just be aware of the much shorter (non-LTS) support cycle and remember to keep moving up before the non-LTS release expires.

Short story long )

[vinnywright]

my point was if you are on an LTS release

he is not ,,,,he said he is on 17.04 ,,,,,one of the "in betweens"

I'm just pointing this out as your post#4 seems to give the impression you think he is ,,,,,sorry if I am misunderstanding

VINNY

[oshunluvr]

I don't (dare to) disagree with oshunluvr...

Oh no, do disagree...

...yes please...

...I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE...

LOL

[sithlord48]

Some people do reinstalls, some just treat kubuntu as if its rolling and only reinstall if nessessary. Ultimately its depends on your needs right? When I run kubuntu on work computers I leave them on the LTS and upgrade or reinstall only to the next LTS.

[jglen490]

Some people do reinstalls, some just treat kubuntu as if its rolling and only reinstall if nessessary. Ultimately its depends on your needs right? When I run kubuntu on work computers I leave them on the LTS and upgrade or reinstall only to the next LTS.

Understand perfectly, and agree completely.

[jglen490]

Oh no, do disagree...

...yes please...

...I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE...

LOL

Aw, man, I didn't know you cared so much

[Tlonik]

thank you very much for your comments!