Hi i have just recently started using ubuntu 9.04 and all i really do with my pc is just browse the net.I believe that a new release is due to come out on the 29th 0f october?and im just wondering is it easy enough to upgrade via the update manager?also should i wait a few months before upgrading so that any problems may get ironed out?

I would wait at least a week or so after the 29th - just in case (but it's unlikely there will be anything seriously wrong).
On Update-Manager, first make sure that you have loaded and installed any outstanding updates for 9.04.

On bottom LHS of the update-manager screen, click on settings,
Click the updates tab and make sure that you have "Normal Releases" selected for Release Upgrade.

Thanks for that axisofevil,i keep my ubuntu updated and have that checked for normal release upgrades,might just keep using 9.04 though as im still getting used to it and from what i hear there wont be much difference with karmic koala,might just hang off till the L.T.S.

Will my pc specs still be alright for the upgrades though?im using a pentium 4,with 40gb hdd and 512mb ram?

I've got a little-used version of 8.04 running on a 600MHz, 384MB, 36GB hard drive PC.
It's rather slow.

So I would think that it is likely that you won't suffer.

I shall be trying a trial upgrade on an old 512MB PC, unknown speed etc first.
So I'll let you know if it works.

I am also planning on defecting from CentOS, but am holding back for 9.10

I have found Ubuntu automatic upgrades to be fairly painless in the past (although I now use Linux Mint), so you will probably be fine. Like Mr Evil says, your hardware should be fine as well. Linux is generally less demanding of hardware than current Windows versions.

@axisofevil,thanks that will be great,im sure i read somewhere that minimum requirements would be 512mb ram,etc for the next upgrade,kinda worried now as one of the reasons ive chosen to go with linux is that it can run on a low spec pc.

Karmic Koala 9.10 System requirements..  http://www.techarena.in/g...untu-910-karmic-koala.htm

Minimum System Requirements :

Processor : 1Ghz Frequency

Memory : 512MB

Free Disk Space : 8GB

CD-Writer

Thanks for the advice everyone its much appreciated

Ever tried the CTRL & ALT & F1 (or F2 to F6) key combinations, Steve? It'll take you to a virtual console where you can log in and do everything you know how to on the command line (CTRL & ALT & F7 to get back to where you started). If you ever wanted to install Linux purely as a server you can do it without the resource overhead a Graphical User Interface would incur.

For most of us using Linux on the desktop we like a nice point-and-click graphical interface; on top of the basic Linux installation that means (in the case of Ubuntu) adding the X Window System (to provide the basic windowing capability), the Metacity window manager (to provide window 'decorations' such as the minimize, resize & close window buttons, and the GNOME desktop environment (to provide panels, pagers, file manager etc).

The more layers you add the greater the resources used. I don't think that Ubuntu 9.10 will be much / any  slower on your system than 9.04 but if it turns out that it is there are alternative desktop environments which are less resource hungry than GNOME (LXDE and Xfce for examples). 

The other option would be just to add some more RAM, of course. RAM is quite cheap these days, depending what type you need.

Probably worth checking if your swap usage isn't too excessive.
See System -> Administration -> System Monitor

Extra swap space can easily be added, if required.

My 1Ghz Via "Pro" board has a ceiling of 512Mb. Add more and it complains. even though it has 3 slots it is limited in what it can take. Currently have Gnome on & 9.04 on it but it is a bit sluggish with the limited on board video as well. I used to use it as a Firewall/mail server, but now use it as a g.p. test box.

I think im going to go for upgrading my ram,ive had a look around and my pc can take no more than twoGB of ram,ive priced 1GB at £19.00 with free delivery from a company ,i have two slots so providing i can take out the 512MB(dont know have not looked yet)i will eventually get my pc up too 2GB ram,problem solved.

Thanks again everone for your help,much appreciated

If it has an AGP port or even a spare PCI slot, would adding a cheap low-end graphics card release your video memory???
You could ask someone who knows about these things.

It is a low power machine (30W) and I don't want to add a video card and double the power it takes 

I had some spare time this morning so I am now running Karmic Koala (Beta). All seams to be working fine. Can't wait for Pesky Penguin.

Chilly - please can you let us know  about the differences and changes?
Am just going to wait until mine upgrades via the normal route but would be nice to have a bit of an idea i.e. what to expect.