Kubuntu Linux 9.10
Where To Get Help
You can always post a note in the Desktop Linux Reviews Forum and we’ll do our best to offer feedback or at least point you in the right direction. You might also want to check out the Kubuntu Wiki, the Kubuntu FAQ, and the Kubuntu Support Page (forums, IRC, mailing list, commercial support).
Final Thoughts & Who Should Use It
I’m please to (mostly) give this release of Kubuntu a thumbs up. Yes, there were some things I didn’t like but overall I think this is a step up from the last release and it’s quite usable. I’d like to see a better software management tool but it is functional as it is (though it leaves much to be desired in some ways) and I don’t think it’s a show-stopper.
Kubuntu can be used by beginners and more experienced users alike. However, beginners might want to opt for the KDE version of Linux Mint after it is updated to incorporate the latest version of Ubuntu (9.10). It’s not that Kubuntu isn’t worth using, it’s just that Linux Mint is a bit more elegant and includes additional software that makes using it easier and more comfortable right from the start.
Still, I think that Kubuntu is worth a download and well worth considering if you’re a KDE fan.
Summary Table:
| Product: | Kubuntu Linux 9.10 |
| Web Site: | http://www.kubuntu.org/ |
| Price: | Free |
| Pros: | KDE 4.3, social media desktop widgets, Firefox installer, OpenOffice.org integration. |
| Cons: | Poor software management tool. Does not include Flash by default for playing YouTube videos, etc. Adblock is on by default and may potentially impact multimedia experience on the Web. |
| Suitable For: | Beginner, intermediate or advanced Linux user. |
| Summary: | Kubuntu Linux 9.10 updates the KDE desktop to version 4.3 and provides some additional goodies for KDE users. Well worth upgrading to if you are currently running an earlier version of Kubuntu. |
| Rating: | 3.5/5 |
(11 votes, average: 3.82 out of 5)
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Based on what you say here, Jim, if I were going to the KDE 4.3 series as my preferred desktop, (I continue to prefer Gnome or Xfce) the distro would not be Kubuntu. sidux 2009-2 will not give you your desktop social widgets, but it will give you an otherwise quite nice and responsive rendition of KDE. And if I were going to bet, I would put my money on the next Mepis, which will run 4.3.3 according to Mepis fans. Mepis has a good reputation for being well crafted, so the annoyances that show in Kubuntu very possibly will not appear there.
For non-Debian folks the next Suse (11.2 as I recall) is barely a week or so away. KDE people might want to see how it works.
Ubuntu is Gnome-centric and in my opinion best used that way.
I could not even reload the resoulces list and package kit was empty all the time because a cache bug. If this is not a show-stopper i don’t know what it is.
Kubuntu 9.10 went through a pretty good testing cycle, based on tests of a couple of Alpha releases (I think I started this release with Alpha 3 in a Virtualbox). I also had an installed version of Kubuntu 9.04, so when this reached Beta (or Release Candidate, I can’t remember which for certain), I ran an upgrade on 9.04, which allowed me to move to the software just prior to release, then after release, I ran another upgrade to get to the final.
Observations: NTP (time server) support works now; I had reported a defect in the 9.04 time frame that did not get adequately fixed; they fixed it now. Upgrades from 9.04 seem to work well. This is not the first time that I have upgraded from one release to another. Canonical and the various Ubuntu family of products generally do upgrades well. Mandriva is one of the other distributions that also does upgrades well, and they also have a release coming out (Jim, that would be a good one to review too, 2010.0).
You need not suffer with the “sliding menus” if you do not like the Kicker menu style. With KDE 4.3 you can revert to the classic KDE menus. In addition, tens of thousands of defects have been fixed, and KDE 4 can once again be considered stable.
I had no issues with this release. I’d put it up against Mandriva 2010.0. My inclination would be to give preference to Mandriva; I think it makes a better development platform, but they are similar in ease of use. For more software available right at installation time, get Mandriva. For those who upgrade and add software using package updates, it makes little difference; both have HUGE repositories of applications available. Mandriva, to me, has much nicer art work; Jim usually prefers good art, so I’d give the edge to Mandriva there.
Ubuntu sometimes has quality control issues on their rapid release versions with a lot of new features and better stability in their long term support releases (LTS). Mandriva suffers from quality control reputation issues. If cutting edge matters more than the possibility of finding defects, then both Kubuntu and Mandriva are worth a look. IF you want something more stable, wait for the next Mint or MEPIS release instead.
Nice review. Kpackage kit worked with no show stoppers even tho I don’t really like it. Overall Kubuntu showed no show stopper problems at all. Some minor problems were easy to take care of. As far as Kde distros goes I’ve tried several in the past month including sidux, Mandriva, OpenSuse (RC), and Kubuntu seems to work as well or better than most. If a person has to use Kde then its a good distro. Just remember that KDE4 still has a way to go before it can be considered prime time.
Thanks for the comments, guys.
BTW, we had a slight database burp due to a dumbass that accidentally removed the database then had to restore it from a backup. So a few posts are missing from this review. My apologies for the error.
I swear I only had 3 blueberry ales.
Please feel free to repost your comments and sorry about the database screw up.
As long as they finally fix the wireless issues that have been plaguing Ubuntu since 8.10 then I will be happy, and it will be a windows 7 killer.
Nice review you wrote!
Two remarks:
*Adblocking by default is certainly not a KDE thing, since the KDE adblocker is an optional Konqi plugn, available from extragear. Although I can understand the choice made by Kubuntu.
*KDE is in now way related to firefox, so that installer also has nothing to do with KDE. Konqi isn’t a good browser for modern javascript-heavy sites, so Firefox is a better choice there. However, Firefox depends on lots of GTK things, so putting it on the CD will remove room for other apps, so the Kubuntu Devs decided to write an installer.
Oh BTW: I also would recommend a Mandriva Review, excellent distro, I’m using it for a year know, because *buntu tends to screw up KDE translations.
@ MacLone:
I agree with MacLone. Kpackagekit does not work. I tried to use Synaptic in Kubuntu but I had a lot of problems. Packagekit works fine in Opensuse 11.2 KDE: Kubuntu needs a lot of work to reach Opensuse, Sabayon, Pardus, SimplyMepis, eccetera.