With this week's release of Ubuntu 9.10, a.k.a. Karmic Koala, the reviews are pouring in -- and it sounds like there's a lot to like.

"Without a doubt, one of my favorite features is the Ubuntu Software Center," notes PC Mag's Jim Lynch. "I like the layout, navigation and selection of software in the Software Center. It's a great addition to Ubuntu and a good reason to upgrade. Another thing I liked was the login manager, which strikes me as more attractive and functional than the one I remember using before."

"For those not that tied into the Windows world, Ubuntu is worth a look for people looking for an alternative," writes The Guardian's Kevin Anderson. "My final take away from using Mac OS X, Windows 7 and Ubuntu 9.10 is that consumers have never had more choices for capable, powerful and easy to use operating systems. Linux users will be quick to point out that Ubuntu is only one Linux distribution."

More here from Linux Critic ... more here from iSnick ... and more here from SoftSailor.