Xubuntu 13.04 review - Et tu, Brute?

Discussion in 'all things UNIX' started by Mrkvonic, May 6, 2013.

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  1. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

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    I've written a long, thorough review of Xubuntu 13.04 Raring Ringtail 64-bit edition, focusing on live session, complex installation in a seven-boot system with internal and external disks, and post-install use and tweaks, including look & feel of the Xfce desktop environment, Wireless, Samba sharing, Nvidia drivers installation and subsequent kernel crashes and reinstall, applications, multimedia playback - Flash and MP3, package management, updates, Steam client, stability, speed, responsiveness, resources usage, susend & resume, customization, some tiny quirks, and more. You ought to like this article.

    http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/xubuntu-ringtail-high-end.html


    Cheers,
    Mrk
     
  2. moontan

    moontan Registered Member

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    tnx!

    one of your best review and not only because i like XFCE. :thumb:
     
  3. Ocky

    Ocky Registered Member

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    Mrk, if I remember correctly you did not experience the nvidia driver problem with Kubuntu 12.10. It will be interesting to see what gives with 13.04 and your hardware.
    The nvidia driver, (I selected the 3.10) installed perfectly in Kubuntu 13.04 and also previously in 12.10.
    Also, thank you for the Xubuntu review. I run 12.04 and must agree that these Xubuntu Xfce distros are the speed kings.
     
  4. AlexC

    AlexC Registered Member

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    Thanks for the review :thumb:

    I´m curious to see how Xubuntu 13.04 compares with the forthcoming Linux Mint 15 xfce... maybe it will be another 10/10 :)
     
  5. bwat47

    bwat47 Registered Member

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    The kernel panic you got has nothing to do with the nvidia drivers, I experience the same one on an intel only system. From what I can see the bug affects pretty much everyone. With 13.04's kernel there's a random chance that during boot you either get that kernel oops, or when you boot it will boot fine but you will get no sound (pulseaudio dummy output) and upon reboot attempt it will just hang, and other times it boots fine. The kernel panic appearing after you installed the driver and going away after a reinstall was most likely coincidental do to the randomness of the bug.

    It is this bug, there are links to a patched kernel in the comments (installing the mainline kernel also fixes it): https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/ source/linux/ bug/1169984

    Its pretty ridiculous that ubuntu released with this kernel. the kernel actually worked fine until a kernel update only days before raring's release, and they released it anyway even with such a severe bug :/. And since they didn't push a fix before release we have to wait for it to go through the long 'SRU' process before the fix gets released to the repos.
     
  6. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

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    Either way, I hate sloppy work.
    Mrk
     
  7. AlexC

    AlexC Registered Member

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    Mrkvonic,
    maybe it will be interesting a review of Lubuntu 13.04?
    I can´t find any review of an LXDE distro made by you, and it may be of interest to some...
     
  8. AlexC

    AlexC Registered Member

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    Compiz is working fine in Xubuntu 13.04 :thumb:
    nice tutorial here
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2013
  9. moontan

    moontan Registered Member

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    i tried Lubuntu 13.04

    it's even lighter and faster than XFCE, if that's possible.
    i was using only about 230 megs of RAM compared to about 500 for XFCE.
    and the CPU was idling at 0% with LXDE.

    unfortunately, Skype refused to work in Lubuntu and that's a no-go for me.
     
  10. AlexC

    AlexC Registered Member

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    Yes, i also found Lubuntu to be even lighter, although Xubuntu is more polished.
    While Xubuntu works great with Compiz and Cairo Dock, Lubuntu not really...
     
  11. moontan

    moontan Registered Member

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    edit:

    but Skype does not work with Xubuntu 13.04 either.

    apparently, Skype does not work with ANY of the 13.04 'buntus... :ouch:

    right you are m8!
    XFCE is the sweet spot for me. :)

    also, in Lubuntu, you can not uninstall ANY of the pre-installed applications without uninstalling the LXDE desktop. lol :D
     
  12. AlexC

    AlexC Registered Member

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    moontan,
    are you sure? i have the idea that i removed chromium and installed chrome without having that problem :doubt:
    Maybe i'll give it another try later.
     
  13. moontan

    moontan Registered Member

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    i tried uninstalling about 6-7 included application, Chrome being one of them.
    i stopped after that. ;)

    in all case Synaptic reported that the Lubuntu desktop needed to be removed as well.
     
  14. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

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    Skype works fine, a tutorial coming soon.
    Mrk
     
  15. moontan

    moontan Registered Member

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    tnx mrk.
    i been stuck with Windows since the 13.04 updates. ;)
     
  16. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    Yeah.. there is something to be said for stability sometimes... :)
     
  17. moontan

    moontan Registered Member

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    well,

    Skype has released a new version days ago which works on Xubuntu 13.04, and probably the other 13.04 'buntus.
    which makes it possible for me to use the 'buntus again.
    i got to have Skype. it's my phone.

    anyway, just loving this Xubuntu.

    it behaves properly, unlike Mint 15 Cinnamon which is just a bugfest on my machine.

    i will certainly try Mint 15 XFCE when it comes out in about a month, but it better be damn good to replace Xubuntu 13.04...
     
  18. wilbertnl

    wilbertnl Registered Member

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    Is Google Voice not an option?
     
  19. moontan

    moontan Registered Member

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    i can't get a phone number (One Number) in Canada using Google.

    i can get one for Skype though a 3rd party companie though.
     
  20. shuverisan

    shuverisan Registered Member

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    If you want to get creative you can Mintify Xubuntu pretty easily and that certainly beats replacing what you've already installed, IMO.

    You add the packages.linuxmint repo, you pull the apt pin priorities straight out of a previous Mint (/etc/apt/preferences) and add the theming but not get stuck with Mint's Updater.

    Much win will you have.
     
  21. moontan

    moontan Registered Member

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    tnx Penguin but i'm satisfied with the default theming in Xubuntu.
    the Greybird theme and Elementary XFCE icons do the job pretty good.

    the only thing i changed is get some other mouse cursors because the ones included are pretty plain.
    ----
    i have not installed the NVIDIA drivers as the Nouveau drivers seem to do a decent job.
    i keep Windows for gaming so no sense really for me to install NVIDIA drivers on Linux.
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2013
  22. Konata Izumi

    Konata Izumi Registered Member

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    I need help. :D


    I have currently 2 partitions.

    1st Partition has Windows 7
    2nd Partition contains my backup files.

    I want to install Xubuntu. Remove 1st Partition that has Windows 7 and use that space for Xubuntu without touching/deleting my 2nd partition (backup files)

    Is that possible with the Xubuntu installer?
     
  23. wilbertnl

    wilbertnl Registered Member

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    Most systems with backup partition do support creating recovery DVD's. There should be software installed to accomplish that, see the documentaton.
     
  24. Konata Izumi

    Konata Izumi Registered Member

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    I don't have resource (discs/media storage) to backup my data now.

    I need a way to install Xubuntu and remove my Windows 7 partition without losing my backup partition.
     
  25. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    You should be able to do that from the Xubuntu installer. You can start the installer from a live cd and go thru the first few steps without actually committing to anything and see if the options you need are there... I'm not familiar with Xubuntu, but when it gets to the partitioning step, there should be some advanced options to allow you to do what you want. Just don't tell it to use the "entire disk" to install Xubuntu, or you'll lose everything on the disk.
     
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