Is Kubuntu dying??

[Fintan]

According to this Kubuntu is dying:
http://www.itnewstoday.com/?p=1691

Quote1:

Perhaps what I like best about the KDE edition is that it’s the perfect Kubuntu replacement. Kubuntu (which is also a KDE distribution built on top of Ubuntu) gets little to no development love or resources, and has largely hit rock bottom.

Quote2:

It doesn’t take much to be a “Kubuntu killer.”
All you have to do is package the applications so that they run properly without somehow introducing debilitating regressions.

Edit:
I think I'll get a copy and see what the fuss is all about.

I used Mint in the past and found it very stable but a little wierd. Nothing I can define.

[Ole Juul]

Re: Is Kubuntu dying??

I just had a quick look (gotta sleep) but one thing caught my attention - they still do a KDE version! Two weeks ago I went to their download site specifically for that and after looking for a while - left empty handed. They must have just reintroduced it. The reason I wanted to use it is that I couldn't get Kubuntu to work and I have tried Mint in the past and it runs well. In fact when I tried it before it was in a situation where Kubuntu wouldn't run. Anyway, not to fan any flames here. I love my Kubuntu 8.04 installation and plan to keep it for a long time.

[The Liquidator]

Re: Is Kubuntu dying??

This is an interesting topic - it does seem that every reviewer and his dog wants to take a swipe at kubuntu, repeating ad nauseam the mantra that it doesn't get the same love and care as ubuntu does.

Can they all be wrong? I suspect they have a point, but wouldn't claim to really know as I haven't seriously triedany other KDE4 distro.

My take on it is that what happens with Kubuntu 10.10 may well be pivotal. If it's uninspiring but the mint remix turns out to be a lot better then you might find a lot of converts. OTOH we now have (for what would appear to be the first time) kubuntu devs becoming involved in this forum which hopefully will be reflected in what comes out in October.

[Qqmike]

Re: Is Kubuntu dying??

Walking on egg shells here ... The article also states, "... it’s everything Kubuntu used to be." Well, I'm here to tell ya that Kubuntu 8.04 is everything Kubuntu used to be ! On a more serious note, back to the quote, "... package the applications so that they run properly without somehow introducing debilitating regressions." I often do not like change, but I'm quick to adapt and do so well (complaining, but well). For me, the regressions are the killer, the show stopper. If pressed against the wall, it's even OK if NEW packages don't work so well, but I want my older packages (e.g., Konqueror) to work as they did. That's it for me on this topic ... still a happy user of 8.04. (Cryptic Note of the Day: fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me ... )

[dibl]

Re: Is Kubuntu dying??

Huh.

The Bad

• KDE’s wireless connection manager isn’t all that great

Looks like some of the same bitches that we see on this forum apply to Mint KDE. I'm not sold on either proposition -- that (a) Mint KDE is so much better, or (b) Kubuntu is so bad.

On my personal netbook, sidux with KDE (just now upgraded to 4.4.5) and wicd for wireless has been rock solid for almost a year now. Just FYI.

[StarWolf]

Re: Is Kubuntu dying??

Hmm i dont think so . its like anything else . Fear is always used when people don't know the truth. I get asked all the time does anyone really use linux? I then have to educate them that only in the us is windows the more used os. So i think Kubuntu is here for the long haul.

[claydoh]

Re: Is Kubuntu dying??

Has anyone looked at the KDE sources they use? Is it still using Kubuntu's packages?

All I saw of my try with mint was a Kubuntu with songbird/tbird/firefox replacing KDE bits (among others) plus mints tools. Basically a 'bloated" Kubuntu (too strong a word, can't think of a better one)

[Zhao]

Re: Is Kubuntu dying??

I can't compare since I've never used Mint with KDE, but since it is based on Ubuntu and has KDE how different can it be from Kubuntu? Well, it comes with different artwork, KDE SC 4.4.5, mint tools, and some other applications and codecs installed by default. It is a different experience out of the box, but that doesn't make it better or worse than Kubuntu, just different. We can install all those things in Kubuntu, including the mint tools if I'm not mistaken. Linux Mint is Linux Mint, it was created because some people wanted a different Ubuntu experience out of the box and it has been evolving, they even are thinking of becoming based on Debian directly, instead of Ubuntu (read it somewhere). That's all nice and Linux Mint is also a nice distro, but we all know there is no such thing as perfect software. There are many Linux distros, all of them have quality and lot of work and time invested on it. There are many tastes and hardware, so not everyone likes the same distro for many reasons. It is normal that some people start writing about how good a distro is and end up saying all the others suck. We know it better and one great thing about Linux is that it is free to use, so you can try as many distros as you want, use as many as you want and choose wich one(s) fit you better.

In my opinion, Kubuntu is a nice distro, fits my needs and that's why I use it. I have used PCLinuxOS 2009 with KDE 3.5 and that is the only experience I had with KDE 3.5. It was good, very stable and nice. But now I like most this new KDE 4 so I use it. I tried Kubuntu 9.04 and since then I've been using Kubuntu because it works just fine and the way I want in my hardware. Its true KDE 4 had SCs in which plasma desktop crashed sometimes, but it keeps getting better and is almost perfect by now (even knowing there is no perfect software ). Just my opinion, my tastes, my experience, there many others. Like many wise users of this forum already said, we can't make a absolute truth only based in one of our experiences.

[Telengard]

Re: Is Kubuntu dying??

I know very little about Mint. Just some thoughts which occurred to me while reading the article. I welcome all your responses.

Ubuntu (which Mint is built on top of) sometimes runs into problems as they make each release available on the planned day, no matter what.

Man pages and source code packages include a list of known bugs. Does such a list exist for each release of Kubuntu?

Linux Mint 9 was released later than planned in order to solidify the release, and Linux Mint KDE was also a long wait.

Really? What exactly were Mint devs doing that took so long? Were they actually fixing bugs and submitting patches upstream?

Kubuntu (which is also a KDE distribution built on top of Ubuntu) gets little to no development love or resources, and has largely hit rock bottom.

I really hate it when people write things like this about Kubuntu. What does "rock bottom" even mean in this context? If he has specific criticisms in mind then he should state them plainly.

Out of curiosity I reviewed LaCroix's previous article, Is Kubuntu Caught in a Downward Spiral?, wherein calls Kubuntu "Canonical’s Blue Headed Step Child". He dubs Jaunty 9.04 (which I've been using trouble-free for many months now) "Kubuntu's Epic Fail release". He also describes Kubuntu as a "bleeding edge" distro.

I don't think all of his complaints are without merit though. There is a lot of room for improvement in Kubuntu. I just think that when reading these opinion pieces one should keep in mind that not everyone has the same experience.

[JontheEchidna]

Re: Is Kubuntu dying??

I notice that in every single one of these types of articles, although they mention huge "debilitating regressions" compared to every one else, nobody can ever come up with a single one. And of course, none of these issues ever do get reported as bugs....

So, I wouldn't worry too much about this one. Just another person butthurt about the default wallpaper, really.

[GreyGeek]

Re: Is Kubuntu dying??

I downloaded and burned the LinuxMint 9 KDE iso last night and installed it as a VB guest OS this morning.

These are the differences from Kubuntu that I noticed:
Synaptic, FileZilla, WINE, VLC and video support are pre-installed.
DansGuardian is installed but not configured.
It is heavily rebranded and re-imaged.
All in all, LM9KDE has considerably more software installed (BUT, the ISO was 1.2GB !!).

I am also running Kubuntu Maverick as a guest OS. With the same video settings Maverick lets me adjust my video to 1024X768. I can't get LM9KDE off of 800X600 BUT, it didn't default into "Search and Launch" like Maverick did when it first came up as 800X600.

LM9KDE gives me a huge number of sliders and settings in KMixer. Maverick gives me only one.

LM9KDE is running the 32-31 generic kernel.
My LL 10.4 is running the 32-24 generic kernel.
Maverick is running the 35-8 generic kernel.

I suspect that the differences in kernel and the capabilities of the hardware used (to say nothing of the skill of the person doing the installing and runnning) will have the greatest effect on the success or failure of either LM9KDE or LL/Maverick.

LM9KDE appears to be a fine distro.

P.S.: To say that Kubuntu is dying is laughable.

[Guest]

Re: Is Kubuntu dying??

Hi everyone...'newb' to the forums here...
However this is a pretty interesting subject. I've only used KDE on a few different distros:
PCLinuxOS
Kubuntu
and something else I can't remember....anywho, I always come back to Kubuntu. Reason - it works. I can't put it any other way, it just works.
To me it's one of the best distros that shows off the KDE desktop. I like all of it's features, excluding the package manager and OpenOffice. That's easily taken care of with synaptic however.
I'm currently using Kubuntu 10.04 LTS and I'm very happy with it. I have it loaded on an ACER Aspire One netbook 532h model and it runs fine. It even used my MC760 USB 3G modem out of the box...So what can I say? If it works for you - use it.
As far as Kubuntu dying... Not for me. I also like to put my money where my mouth is...just speaking for myself. 'Free' projects need money/support and when I find something I like I support it.
I was one of those guys who change distros like I change my socks, and yes, that's very often :P But my long search is over with.
My goal:
To stay with this distro for the length of it's support - 4 years. That's just my take on it, and everyone has there own opinion as well

[Snowhog]

Re: Is Kubuntu dying??

So what can I say? If it works for you - use it.

Very well said, and true of all things. I started my foray into Linux years back with Debian (on an older Sony VAIO laptop). It was a struggle, and I gave up very shortly there after. Then, in 2007, I tried again, but with Kubuntu. I've been a happy Kubuntu-er ever since. I've used briefly, Ubuntu, but like the looks of Kubuntu so much more.

On my current rig, Kubuntu "just works" and that is all I ask for. As long as upgrades continue to work (for me), I'll continue to use Kubuntu.

[vinnywright]

Re: Is Kubuntu dying??

WELL .... I also have ben playing linux (LOL) for some time now starting with slackware 7-8 or so then a slackhack cald Ultimlinux both KDE .......and stuck with the Ultimalinux becose it just worked out the box with all the medea codecs and stuff I wanted withought a bunch of installing and configing (on a initial slackware install the user cant even acsess a HD befor alowing it thrugh root).
During that time I played with mandreva, red hat, fedora, (humm mabey fedora core 4 was the first.....eneyway) then I ran into Kubuntu around 8-9 and have ben verey happy with it myself .

as far as I can tell witch admitadley isent mutch sence I just play with my box no sereus work I just want a desktop that works ..........Kubuntu is no more or less problamatick than eney one elce.......every distro I'v ever tryed has had SOMETHING to fix configure or add .........not ever the same thing on all but someting.

for me Kubuntu has ben as easey and more or less stedey as ENEY or more so.

at present I'm at Kubuntu10.04-LTS KDE-4.4.5 kernal-2.6.32-23-generic ............and am quite satisfid with it.

but thats me

VINNY

PS: of corse if you dont mind hamering it into submition Slackware IS a rock solid OS.

[Ole Juul]

Re: Is Kubuntu dying??

Just another person butthurt about the default wallpaper, really.