One common complaint about Ubuntu, and many other open-source projects, is that the release notes or feature lists are too hard for non-geeks to understand. A post on Fsckin tried to fix this problem, by “translating” the Ubuntu release notes into English, in other words, removing all the geeky terms to make it easier to understand. That is a good first step, but I don’t think it is quite enough to make the features easy to understand, they also must be made exciting to non-geeks.

Because of that, I decided to take a shot at writing a feature list for Ubuntu 8.04 that only includes the most exciting features. Not all the features are new to 8.04, but I think that is OK, because most users have not used Ubuntu or Linux at all before.

• Install Ubuntu right from within your Windows system. Once installed, you can use both operating systems.
• Ubuntu includes pre-installed free and fully capable alternatives to most of the programs you use.
• Amazing graphical effects make working or playing more fun and productive.
• You don’t have to worry about maintaining anti-virus software, since there are no viruses that Ubuntu is susceptible to.
• Ubuntu 8.04 comes with amazing new artwork.
• Ubuntu allows you to easily install lots of new, free software right from inside the operating system.
• Easily configure multiple monitors so they work just the way you want.
• Easily run other operating systems right from inside Ubuntu.
• Ubuntu is completely free.

This list, however, is still not quite enough. The content of a list like this should be combined in an attractive layout along with pictures to illustrate the features.