Kubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala is really nice

[Mrkvonic]

Hi all,

After Ubuntu comes Kubuntu. Considering my lukewarm reaction to Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala, this review ought to be even more interesting, don't you think?

Anyhow, here you go, a long, extensive review of Kubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala, the KDE-based edition of the distribution, including live CD session, installation and post-install setup and configurations, covering topics like Wireless, Bluetooth, Webcam, multimedia playback (Flash, MP3, Windows video), performance and stability, suspend & hibernate on laptops, KDE4 looks and feel, package management, Samba sharing, proxy, some small problems, and more.

http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/kubuntu-9-10.html


Cheers,
Mrk

[andb]

interesting review :)

Kubuntu feels ... wrong (in lack of better word), i rather install ubuntu from minimal cd then install kde-minimal package and build my own KDE distro out from that...

However openSUSE just got released so im eager to test that out :)

[Beavenburt]

Told you so!

kubuntu is really very nice. However, i've now tried kubuntu 9.1, the latest sidux, sabayon 5 and currently having a look at opensuse 11.2 and they're all very similar really. What with them all using kernel 2.6.31, ext4 and kde 4.3 they are pretty much on a par performance wise. I'm sure Mandriva is having the same level of success.

[Windchild]

Your Kubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala review is really nice. ;D And I agree. Kubuntu may be a little rough around some of the edges, but KDE looks great and feels great especially for those who have been "touched" by Windows, and somehow Canonical managed to do a better job with Kubuntu this time.

[Sputnik]

@Mrkvonic
Glad to read your old passion for KDE is coming back. How's Kubuntu stability wise? I saw in your review that you had a 'plasma-desktop' crash once, did this occur while running the live-cd or an actual install and did you had the proprietary drivers installed?

[Mrkvonic]

Stable overall. The crash was in live session, if I recall correctly.
As to restricted drivers, none for my old T42 ATI card, which is a shame and something I'm gonna rant about in the future.
Mrk

[Trespasser]

I need to read your review of Ubuntu 9.10 and see what disappointed you about it. Personally, I love it. Kubuntu, on the other hand, just never struck a good chord with me. But, after this review, I might look into it.

[Pedro]

You know that whole cron/script thing just to switch wallpaper? In KDE, it's a menu option.
KDE is miles away from GNOME, there can be no doubt about that. Looks, ease of use, ideas, design..

[Trespasser]

{QUOTE-> You know that whole cron/script thing just to switch wallpaper? In KDE, it's a menu option.
KDE is miles away from GNOME, there can be no doubt about that. Looks, ease of use, ideas, design.. <-QUOTE}

Yes, it would be nice if Gnome had a built-in option to change backgrounds in a scheduled manner, but the script I posted is only 1.5 KBs in size. Not a bad work around with next to zero resource hogging via cron. Wonder how KDE does it? :).

And you're right, KDE is miles away from Gnome...miles behind. ;).

But seriously, Gnomes looks are a bit dated. The default Gnome layout, at least in Ubuntu, hasn't changed a bit since I started using it 5 years ago. Guess that's why I like Netbook Remix's appearance so much. It's different.

If someone would come out with a Desktop version of Moblin (Debian based, of course) with a little more functionality, I'd be seriously tempted to use it.

Later....

[Windchild]

{QUOTE-> Stable overall. The crash was in live session, if I recall correctly. <-QUOTE}

It must have been. I don't think I've ever had a live cd session where it didn't crash! ;D It's weird like that. But on a HDD installation it works much, much better.

In general, I'd say Kubuntu Karmic is more stable than Ubuntu Karmic, but the previous version was a little different. KDE seems to be a little less stable than Gnome in my experience (YMMV and probably does) but a lot more fun to look at.

[andb]

imho KDE has been a bit unstable until the 4.3 release, now i haven't got any crashes. While gnome maybe was more stable before i think they just as equal stable now. Wait and see when gnome3 comes :P