Kubuntu may not be the best implementation of KDE but definitely one of the most followed. For me, Kubuntu has been always a judicious mix of KDE and Gnome applications along with a boring default interface. Of course, with a change of wallpaper, KDE widgets and bringing in some KDE themes made it really shiny and attractive. Even Kubuntu 12.10 had a real boring and plain-vanilla default interface.
Kubuntu 13.04 alpha 2 release note came in Distrowatch on 15th Feb 2013. I knew apart from KDE 4.10 and the latest Linux kernel there won't be many changes from what I reviewed in Kubuntu 12.10. Come on, in 6 months what earth shattering changes can you expect!
However, the bright interface of Kubuntu and amazing smoothness in use actually surprised me. Initially I was thinking of just live boot and testing Kubuntu, but instead opted to install it on my Asus K54C laptop with 2.2 Ghz Core i3 processor and 2 GB RAM.
Kubuntu 13.04 alpha 2 has KDE 4.10.00, Linux kernel 3.8.0 and Dolphin 2.2 is the default file manager.
Aesthetics
KDE plasma interface itself looks really good. Just a bright shiny wallpaper will do to create a real attractive desktop. However, it was missing in earlier releases of Kubuntu. I see Kubuntu 13.04 is catching up on it. And my request to the developers is to please provide some pre-installed good KDE themes along with 7-8 attractive Kubuntu specific wallpapers. It will do a lot of good to this wonderful KDE based Ubuntu distro.
Applications
It is pretty much the same as Kubuntu 12.10. I hope the final release will have LibreOffice 4 instead of 3.6 in the alpha 2 release. Also, I wish Firefox would be pre-installed, instead of the link to install it from Ubuntu repo. Installation option with multimedia codecs and 3rd party software option installed the multimedia codecs and Adobe flashplugin, just like in the previous releases of Kubuntu.
As mentioned in the bugs section, I wasn't able to download any application from the repository. But, Firefox installer worked smoothly and I could install Firefox.
Performance
Actually I was impressed with Kubuntu 13.04 alpha 2 performance. It is smoother to use than Kubuntu 12.10 possibly because of the updated KDE DE. With system monitor running and effects minimized, Kubuntu 13.04 alpha 2 consumed about 260 MB RAM and 1-10% CPU to load the DE. Quite impressive from KDE distro point of view. Hopefully the final release at least will retain similar performance.
Bugs
I could find a few bugs in my 3 days of use
1. Post installation updates showed errors even after the updates were actually installed. I tried it 4-5 times and every time I got error messages. I checked later, I could see that the applications were updated.
2. I faced issues in downloading applications from Muon Software Center. I tried downloading VLC and Midori - applications were downloaded but not installed due to some errors.
2. Boot splash still shows Kubuntu 12.10
Overall
I must say that I am highly impressed with what I saw in the alpha 2 release. I am sure the bugs that I faced, would be resolved by beta 1 release. I am waiting eagerly for Kubuntu 13.04 final release to come out in April 2013. My expectations are high of Kubuntu this time and hopefully this will be the KDE release of 2013!
 |
| From Kubuntu 13.04 Alpha 2 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
However, the bright interface of Kubuntu and amazing smoothness in use actually surprised me. Initially I was thinking of just live boot and testing Kubuntu, but instead opted to install it on my Asus K54C laptop with 2.2 Ghz Core i3 processor and 2 GB RAM.
Kubuntu 13.04 alpha 2 has KDE 4.10.00, Linux kernel 3.8.0 and Dolphin 2.2 is the default file manager.
Aesthetics
KDE plasma interface itself looks really good. Just a bright shiny wallpaper will do to create a real attractive desktop. However, it was missing in earlier releases of Kubuntu. I see Kubuntu 13.04 is catching up on it. And my request to the developers is to please provide some pre-installed good KDE themes along with 7-8 attractive Kubuntu specific wallpapers. It will do a lot of good to this wonderful KDE based Ubuntu distro.
Applications
It is pretty much the same as Kubuntu 12.10. I hope the final release will have LibreOffice 4 instead of 3.6 in the alpha 2 release. Also, I wish Firefox would be pre-installed, instead of the link to install it from Ubuntu repo. Installation option with multimedia codecs and 3rd party software option installed the multimedia codecs and Adobe flashplugin, just like in the previous releases of Kubuntu.
As mentioned in the bugs section, I wasn't able to download any application from the repository. But, Firefox installer worked smoothly and I could install Firefox.
Performance
Actually I was impressed with Kubuntu 13.04 alpha 2 performance. It is smoother to use than Kubuntu 12.10 possibly because of the updated KDE DE. With system monitor running and effects minimized, Kubuntu 13.04 alpha 2 consumed about 260 MB RAM and 1-10% CPU to load the DE. Quite impressive from KDE distro point of view. Hopefully the final release at least will retain similar performance.
Bugs
I could find a few bugs in my 3 days of use
1. Post installation updates showed errors even after the updates were actually installed. I tried it 4-5 times and every time I got error messages. I checked later, I could see that the applications were updated.
 |
| From Kubuntu 13.04 Alpha 2 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
 |
| From Kubuntu 13.04 Alpha 2 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
 |
| From Kubuntu 13.04 Alpha 2 http://mylinuxexplore.blogspot.in |
Overall
I must say that I am highly impressed with what I saw in the alpha 2 release. I am sure the bugs that I faced, would be resolved by beta 1 release. I am waiting eagerly for Kubuntu 13.04 final release to come out in April 2013. My expectations are high of Kubuntu this time and hopefully this will be the KDE release of 2013!
I have been an Ubuntu user for close to 4 years now.AnAnd I can't remember the last time the distros shipped a gnome application
ReplyDeleteKubuntu always shipped LibreOffice, isn't it? I don't recall if it ever came with Calligra office. Kubuntu has always been a mix of KDE and Gnome apps.
DeleteLibreOffice is a standalone multi-platform application, it is NOT a gnome application. I think the greatest part of GNU/Linux distro of any DE flavour will provide LibreOffice as the main office suite, as it is currently the best choice in the open-source world.
DeleteI agree, Libreoffice is multi platform. But given there is a KDE office available which pure KDE distros provide, hence my comment. And Calligra is quite good.
DeleteAnyway, one thing I like about Kubuntu is that it doesn't go for dumping all available KDE bloatwares but tries to give a judicial mix.
DeleteNice review except for this part "Kubuntu has been always a judicious mix of KDE and Gnome application" which is sure to piss off any ardent and long time Kubuntu user. I have been using Kubuntu as my main distro for over 4 years now and not once have there shipped a gnome application by default. Not once (proof me wrong) has Kubuntu shipped with a gtk application talkless of gnome (and no gtk != gnome) You mentioned Open/Libreoffice like seriously? Libreoffice is NOT a gtk/gnome application in fact open/libreoffice is DE agnostic it uses an home grown toolkit but allows for integration with other desktop environment. Kubuntu uses this package libreoffice-kde which draws libreoffice widgets with KDE/Qt and a KDEish File Picker when running under KDE.
DeleteKubuntu ships Libreoffice in place of Calligra because the latter is still not ready for primetime but getting there. Again you were very wrong concerning the gnome application statement just thought to point that out.
I accept it! I was wrong on the LibreOffice statement. Thanks, Arindam
DeleteWow, how do you write Linux review everyday? Your 900.000 hits was awesome! Keep your good work and never ending Linux writing!
ReplyDeleteThanks :). After a days hard work at office, spending an hour or two with Linux actually helps me to relax. May sound funny but here I am :).
Deletenice share...
ReplyDelete