This review is actually about Ubuntu 10.10, codenamed Maverick Meerkat.
I have been using this version on my netbook for the past 1 year. I am not exactly a software geek, but I am mightily impressed by the performance of this distro. It comes with all the basic software needed to use a laptop(thats common for most major Linux distros), but what really makes it stand apart is the Network options available. Most Linux distros do not recognise the ubiquitous USB modems that are available from various internet service providers in India.
It takes considerable tweaking and installing some additional software before wireless modems can be used on Linux. Not with Ubuntu 10.10, it has default settings for most Indian ISPs, including Reliance Netconnect, Tata Photon, MTS MBlaze, as well as EDGE/GPRS networks like Idea, Airtel, Vodafone, Aircel, etc. I have used Reliance, Idea, Voda and Aircel smoothly. Thats a big plus. With Wine installed some Windows applications can be run seamlessly. I have tested Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Word.