Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon )will be available as a free download on 18 October 2007 . Canonical, the commercial support of Linux Ubuntu, releases an updated version of Ubuntu every six months with free upgrades and maintenance for 18 months. Long-term support of three years on desktops and five years on servers, will be available on the next Ubuntu release 8.04 in April 2008.

New features in the Ubuntu 7.10 Desktop Edition include: plug-and-play functionality for configuring printers; desktop search for files, folders or photos; available 3-D graphics and other screen effects; automatic installation of Firefox plug-ins. Gutsy Gibbon also offers improved compatibility with the Windows operating systems.

Desktop Linux operating systems have an undeserved reputation for being primitive and highly technical, but the 3-D feature in version 7.10 gives Ubuntu the opportunity to match the eye candy of commercial desktop operating systems, such as Vista and Apples OS X.

Ubuntu's constant drive to provide a simplified, stable, full feature operating system has catapulted it into a position of increased popularity with Linux users. 96% of all desktop computers using the Ubuntu Linux operating systems are still fully supported by Ubuntu. Simplicity of installation and community support remain a key feature to the popularity of Ubuntu.