Ubuntu, Vim, and the solarized color palette

Here’s my recommendation for things to try:

1. ensure syntax on is in your .vimrc file
2. Check what t_Co Vim has picked up from your term emulator (a quick :echo &t_Co). If it’s 8, you’ll want to se t_Co=16. You might also try se t_Co=256 though without let g:solarized_termcolors=16 this will use the 256 fallback mode, which isn’t quite the correct color scheme.