Kubuntu?

Craig321 · 29 Jul 2016 at 20:08

I'd like to have a play with dual booting Linux and maybe using that as my main OS at home & only booting in to Windows for gaming/whatever. Don't know if I'll stick to it, but I've always wanted to see how I get on with it day to day.

I quite like Ubuntu and have worked with it a fair bit at work (servers, etc.), but HATE the standard desktop interface.

What's Kubuntu like? Is it a good alternative? Or are there better options?

Thanks.

Bluecube · 29 Jul 2016 at 20:26

Try it in a VM first rather than dual booting as there's less hassle that way. Kubuntu is simple Ubuntu running the KDE desktop. The underlying system is the same. You should also try out the Cinammon version of Mint and see how you get on. I'd suggest you play about with a few distros and see what takes your fancy hence my recommendation you go down the VM route.

Craig321 · 29 Jul 2016 at 20:28

Hmm, true, I've heard a few people mention Mint so will give it a go and another couple in a VM

pooley · 30 Jul 2016 at 14:42

first time user of linux here, tried a few and liked mint the best. it has a windows style layout..

deadite66 · 30 Jul 2016 at 15:19

I do love KDE but can't use it, slow and buggy.
i think it's too big for the developers to cope with, back on ubuntu mate.

will try it again for 17.04

uvarvu · 30 Jul 2016 at 16:03

I'll just leave this here:

https://neon.kde.org

Craig321 · 30 Jul 2016 at 18:11

Is that just a KDE environment on the latest LTS ubuntu?

Chaos · 30 Jul 2016 at 18:53

There are a few flavours you could try, Ubuntu GNOME , MATE , Xubuntu

http://www.ubuntu.com/about/about-ubuntu/flavours

Craig321 · 30 Jul 2016 at 19:08

Too many choices

I'd definitely like an Ubuntu core as I've been using Ubuntu since it was released, particularly the server environment. I was playing with KDE last night, but it kept crashing... not sure if that was just Hyper-V or what (installing VMWare Workstation now as it's simply better for Linux stuff). Neon sounds good as well, hopefully a more stable version of Xubuntu (basically).

Craig321 · 31 Jul 2016 at 10:31

Quite liking mint at the moment in a VM. I found anything KDE is slow when compared to Windows or Mint. It's a shame as I really like the Neon Distro, but it just felt really slow.

But then that's the problem with trying this stuff in a VM. Neon simply might not like being in a VM, or maybe the VMWare drivers didn't work properly.

Edit: well, that's a shame. Got Mint installed on my 2nd SSD, all running nicely (dual boot), install GTX970 drivers & now I find out that the Soundblaster Z card basically won't work at all, so no audio

uvarvu · 31 Jul 2016 at 20:38

Did you install open vpn tools?

uvarvu · 31 Jul 2016 at 20:40

Craig321 said:
Is that just a KDE environment on the latest LTS ubuntu?

Yep. But the latest version of KDE. Kubuntu can be slow on the uptake when it comes to KDE releases.

Craig321 · 31 Jul 2016 at 20:40

Nope, but I've now got another cable from my speakers subwoofer to my on board sound card which works fine in Mint.