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Ubuntu 13.10, codenamed Saucy Salamander, was a broad, experimental release—not a current desktop recommendation. Released October 17, 2013, it brought Ubuntu to desktop, server, cloud, phone, and 64-bit ARM Core products, but its nine-month support window ended July 17, 2014. Today it belongs in historical study or carefully isolated legacy testing, not ordinary internet-connected use.
The good: Ubuntu was reaching beyond the desktop
The release’s strongest story was its range. Canonical announced Ubuntu 13.10 for Desktop, Server, Cloud, Phone, and Core. The announcement highlighted the first Ubuntu phone release and Ubuntu Core for 64-bit ARM alongside the familiar PC and server editions. This documented ambition shows the project’s direction in 2013; it does not, by itself, establish how successful the phone effort became.
Canonical also cited improved AppArmor confinement, a security-related change intended to strengthen application confinement. The announcement reports the feature, but provides no comparative security measurements, so it should not be treated as proof that 13.10 was safer than another release.
Updated foundations, without a performance verdict
The release notes describe a Linux 3.11-based kernel, specifically Ubuntu kernel 3.11.0-12.19 based on upstream Linux 3.11.3. They also document Upstart changes, including a filesystem event bridge. These details tell you what shipped; they are not evidence of faster performance or greater reliability. No benchmark or user-satisfaction figure is established here.
#1 Best Overall
A distinct GNOME option
Ubuntu GNOME 13.10 included most of GNOME 3.8 and a GNOME Classic session. Its flavour-specific notes set a minimum of 1 GB of RAM and recommended more. That requirement applies to Ubuntu GNOME 13.10, not automatically to every Ubuntu flavour.
The bad: installation had documented edge cases
The release notes recorded a specific installer problem: on disks with many partitions, deleting and recreating partitions during manual partitioning could cause the installer to hang. This is a known case to account for, not evidence that installations generally failed.
Working with an existing encrypted volume
For users needing to install alongside existing encrypted LUKS volumes, the documented workaround was to boot a live session, unlock and then close the volumes, and run the installer. That extra sequence matters for legacy recovery or compatibility work; it does not make the release suitable for a new everyday installation.
Trying Ubuntu without repartitioning Windows
Wubi, the Windows installer option, was not included in 13.10. The release notes’ alternative was to start a live system from DVD or USB, which lets someone try the environment without first repartitioning Windows. Live media is useful for controlled evaluation, but it does not provide current security support.
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Xubuntu reports were flavour-specific
Xubuntu 13.10’s notes listed problems involving the sound indicator, a music-browser plugin, Update Manager’s restart button, the user-administration application, and a slow-to-appear lock screen after resuming from suspend. These were reports for Xubuntu; they should not be generalized into confirmed defects in every Ubuntu 13.10 edition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The ugly: support ended in 2014
Ubuntu 13.10 was a regular, non-LTS release with a stated nine-month support period. Ubuntu’s release listing records its end-of-life date as July 17, 2014. In a June 20, 2014 notice, release manager Adam Conrad warned: “At that time, Ubuntu Security Notices will no longer include information or updated packages for Ubuntu 13.10.” The notice identified upgrading to Ubuntu 14.04 LTS as the supported route at the time.
Rank #4
That deadline is the decisive issue for anyone considering the system now: Ubuntu 13.10 no longer receives security notices or updated packages. Do not use it for routine web browsing, email, or other internet-connected work. If you need it for preservation, historical research, or a legacy application, keep it isolated from untrusted networks and data, and use a controlled environment appropriate to the task. Do not assume that archived images, old repositories, upgrade routes, or particular hardware will still work without checking them independently.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Who should use Ubuntu 13.10 today?
- Historical study: It is a useful snapshot of Ubuntu’s 2013 desktop, server, cloud, phone, and ARM ambitions.
- Legacy compatibility: Consider it only when a specific old application or environment requires it, and keep the system appropriately isolated.
- Ordinary computing: Choose a currently supported operating system instead. Ubuntu 13.10’s historical features do not offset its expired security support.
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