Switch to Kubuntu

[xlc123]

I made the permanent switch to Linux just after christmas 2013 and Ive never looked back.
I started with Ubuntu 13.10 whilst waiting for 14.04

When 14.04 came out I installed the Ubuntu version, then discovered Kubuntu was the desktop for me, and I installed it ontop of the original Ubuntu destop.
So my question is,
Now Im happy with Kubuntu, would it be better to do a fresh install of Kubuntu rather than the current Ubuntu with Kubuntu on top? (if you see what I mean!)
Before I get too many apps etc installed on my current system.

Thanks

[Feathers McGraw]

Somewhere, there's a list of all the apps in Ubuntu-desktop so that you can uninstall them all in one go. I've just had a look and I can't find it (only out of date lists) but that doesn't mean it isn't there somewhere!

If you could uninstall the Ubuntu-desktop and all the packages that came with it you'd basically be left with Kubuntu.

Without the list, though, removing all those old apps could take ages. If you think it be nice to have a clean slate then a reinstall may be easiest!

Congratulations on going 100% Linux BTW

[xlc123]

Would save some hassle if I could remove the Ubuntu stuff.
But if not, if I download the kubuntu from here and install, I assume its 100% kubuntu without any ubuntu stuff?

[Feathers McGraw]

I assume its 100% kubuntu without any ubuntu stuff?

Depends what you mean, really! Ubuntu and Kubuntu are the same under the hood, they just have a different desktop environment and default apps.

If you download a Kubuntu .iso and do a fresh installation you won't have the Unity desktop any more, and like I said you'll have different apps (Kate instead of Gedit etc.)

If you really miss any of the old apps then you can always reinstall them, but sometimes this pulls a load of dependencies which some people don't like because it takes up some disk space. I don't really see it as a problem though, hard drive space is cheap and apps aren't massive... use whatever suits you best, unless you have a really small hard drive!

As for that list of unity stuff I mentioned earlier (so you can remove it instead of doing a fresh installation of Kubuntu), I just ran this command on my system:

sudo apt-get install -s ubuntu-desktop

The -s option runs a simulation only (i.e. I didn't really install all that stuff).

Here's what it told me it would install:

The following extra packages will be installed:
  account-plugin-aim account-plugin-facebook account-plugin-flickr
  account-plugin-google account-plugin-jabber account-plugin-salut
  account-plugin-twitter account-plugin-windows-live account-plugin-yahoo
  activity-log-manager activity-log-manager-control-center adium-theme-ubuntu
  aisleriot apg appmenu-qt5 apport-gtk aptdaemon-data apturl avahi-utils
  bamfdaemon baobab branding-ubuntu checkbox-gui checkbox-ng
  checkbox-ng-service compiz compiz-core compiz-gnome compiz-plugins-default
  cups-pk-helper dconf-cli deja-dup deja-dup-backend-gvfs dmz-cursor-theme
  doc-base duplicity empathy empathy-common eog espeak-data evince
  evince-common evolution-data-server evolution-data-server-online-accounts
  example-content file-roller folks-common friends friends-dispatcher
  friends-facebook friends-twitter gcc gcc-4.8 gedit gedit-common geoclue
  geoclue-ubuntu-geoip gir1.2-accounts-1.0 gir1.2-appindicator3-0.1
  gir1.2-atk-1.0 gir1.2-atspi-2.0 gir1.2-dbusmenu-glib-0.4 gir1.2-dee-1.0
  gir1.2-ebook-1.2 gir1.2-ebookcontacts-1.2 gir1.2-edataserver-1.2
  gir1.2-freedesktop gir1.2-gdata-0.0 gir1.2-gdkpixbuf-2.0 gir1.2-gmenu-3.0
  gir1.2-gnomebluetooth-1.0 gir1.2-gnomekeyring-1.0 gir1.2-goa-1.0
  gir1.2-gst-plugins-base-1.0 gir1.2-gstreamer-1.0 gir1.2-gtk-3.0
  gir1.2-gtksource-3.0 gir1.2-gudev-1.0 gir1.2-ibus-1.0
  gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-3.0 gir1.2-messagingmenu-1.0
  gir1.2-networkmanager-1.0 gir1.2-notify-0.7 gir1.2-pango-1.0 gir1.2-peas-1.0
  gir1.2-rb-3.0 gir1.2-secret-1 gir1.2-signon-1.0 gir1.2-totem-1.0
  gir1.2-totem-plparser-1.0 gir1.2-unity-5.0 gir1.2-vte-2.90 gir1.2-webkit-3.0
  gir1.2-wnck-3.0 gkbd-capplet gnome-accessibility-themes gnome-bluetooth
  gnome-calculator gnome-contacts gnome-control-center-shared-data
  gnome-disk-utility gnome-font-viewer gnome-icon-theme-symbolic
  gnome-mahjongg gnome-menus gnome-mines gnome-orca gnome-power-manager
  gnome-screensaver gnome-screenshot gnome-session-bin gnome-session-canberra
  gnome-session-common gnome-settings-daemon-schemas gnome-sudoku
  gnome-system-log gnome-system-monitor gnome-terminal gnome-terminal-data
  gnome-user-share gnomine gsettings-ubuntu-schemas
  gstreamer0.10-plugins-base-apps gstreamer0.10-tools gstreamer1.0-alsa
  gstreamer1.0-nice gstreamer1.0-plugins-base-apps gstreamer1.0-tools
  gtk2-engines-murrine gtk3-engines-unico gucharmap guile-2.0-libs gvfs-bin
  gvfs-fuse hud ibus ibus-gtk3 ibus-pinyin ibus-table indicator-appmenu
  indicator-bluetooth indicator-datetime indicator-keyboard indicator-messages
  indicator-power indicator-printers indicator-session indicator-sound
  intel-gpu-tools landscape-client-ui-install language-selector-gnome
  libaccount-plugin-1.0-0 libaccount-plugin-generic-oauth
  libaccount-plugin-google libaccounts-qt5-1 libasan0 libatk-adaptor
  libatomic1 libbamf3-2 libc-dev-bin libc6-dev libcanberra-gtk-module
  libcanberra-gtk0 libcolumbus1 libcolumbus1-common libcompizconfig0
  libdbusmenu-qt5 libdecoration0 libdmapsharing-3.0-2 libdotconf0
  libecal-1.2-16 libedata-cal-1.2-23 libespeak1 libevdocument3-4 libevview3-3
  libfarstream-0.2-2 libfolks-eds25 libfolks-telepathy25 libfolks25 libframe6
  libfriends0 libgail-common libgail18 libgc1c2 libgcc-4.8-dev libgdata-common
  libgdata13 libgee-0.8-2 libgee2 libgeis1 libgexiv2-2 libglewmx1.10
  libgnome-bluetooth11 libgnome-control-center1 libgnome-menu-3-0
  libgnomekbd-common libgnomekbd8 libgoa-1.0-0b libgoa-1.0-common libgrail6
  libgrip0 libgsettings-qt1 libgtkmm-3.0-1 libgucharmap-2-90-7 libgweather-3-6
  libgweather-common libgxps2 libhud2 libido3-0.1-0 libitm1 liblouis-data
  liblouis2 libmessaging-menu0 libmetacity-private0a libminiupnpc8 libnatpmp1
  libnm-gtk-common libnm-gtk0 libnotify-bin libnux-4.0-0 libnux-4.0-common
  liboauth0 libopencc1 liboxideqt-qmlplugin liboxideqtcore0 libpeas-1.0-0
  libpeas-common libpocketsphinx1 libpoppler-glib8 libportaudio2 libprotobuf8
  libproxy1-plugin-gsettings libproxy1-plugin-networkmanager libpyzy-1.0-0
  libqt5core5a libqt5dbus5 libqt5feedback5 libqt5gui5 libqt5multimedia5
  libqt5network5 libqt5opengl5 libqt5organizer5 libqt5positioning5
  libqt5printsupport5 libqt5qml-graphicaleffects libqt5qml5 libqt5quick5
  libqt5sensors5 libqt5sql5 libqt5sql5-sqlite libqt5svg5 libqt5test5
  libqt5webkit5 libqt5webkit5-qmlwebkitplugin libqt5widgets5 libqt5xml5
  libquadmath0 libreoffice-gnome libreoffice-gtk libreoffice-ogltrans
  libreoffice-presentation-minimizer libreoffice-style-human librest-0.7-0
  librhythmbox-core8 librsync1 libsignon-extension1 libsignon-glib1
  libsignon-plugins-common1 libsignon-qt5-1 libsonic0 libsphinxbase1
  libsystemd-journal0 libt1-5 libtelepathy-farstream3 libthumbnailer0
  libtimezonemap1 libtotem0 libtsan0 libufe-xidgetter0 libunity-action-qt1
  libunity-control-center1 libunity-core-6.0-9 libunity-gtk2-parser0
  libunity-gtk3-parser0 libunity-misc4 libunity-webapps0 libunityvoice1
  libupstart1 liburl-dispatcher1 libuuid-perl libvte-2.90-9 libvte-2.90-common
  libwacom-common libwacom2 libwmf0.2-7-gtk libwnck-3-0 libwnck-3-common
  libwnck-common libwnck22 libxcb-icccm4 libxcb-render-util0 libxcb-xkb1
  libxres1 libyaml-tiny-perl light-themes linux-libc-dev manpages-dev
  mcp-account-manager-uoa metacity-common mousetweaks nautilus-sendto-empathy
  nautilus-share network-manager-gnome network-manager-pptp-gnome notify-osd
  notify-osd-icons nux-tools onboard onboard-data oneconf oneconf-common
  overlay-scrollbar overlay-scrollbar-gtk2 overlay-scrollbar-gtk3
  oxideqt-codecs pkg-config plainbox-provider-checkbox
  plainbox-provider-resource-generic plainbox-secure-policy
  plymouth-theme-ubuntu-logo python-aptdaemon python-aptdaemon.gtk3widgets
  python-commandnotfound python-debtagshw python-defer python-gconf
  python-gdbm python-gi-cairo python-gnomekeyring python-ibus python-lockfile
  python-notify python-oneconf python-piston-mini-client python-smbc
  python3-aptdaemon.gtk3widgets python3-brlapi python3-cairo
  python3-checkbox-ng python3-checkbox-support python3-crypto
  python3-feedparser python3-gi-cairo python3-httplib2 python3-louis
  python3-lxml python3-mako python3-markupsafe python3-oauthlib
  python3-oneconf python3-piston-mini-client python3-plainbox python3-pyatspi
  python3-pyparsing python3-requests python3-speechd python3-urllib3
  python3-xdg qt-at-spi qtdeclarative5-accounts-plugin
  qtdeclarative5-dialogs-plugin qtdeclarative5-localstorage-plugin
  qtdeclarative5-privatewidgets-plugin qtdeclarative5-qtfeedback-plugin
  qtdeclarative5-qtquick2-plugin
  qtdeclarative5-ubuntu-ui-extras-browser-plugin
  qtdeclarative5-ubuntu-ui-extras-browser-plugin-assets
  qtdeclarative5-ubuntu-ui-toolkit-plugin qtdeclarative5-unity-action-plugin
  qtdeclarative5-window-plugin remmina remmina-common remmina-plugin-rdp
  remmina-plugin-vnc rhythmbox rhythmbox-data rhythmbox-mozilla
  rhythmbox-plugin-cdrecorder rhythmbox-plugin-magnatune
  rhythmbox-plugin-zeitgeist rhythmbox-plugins seahorse sessioninstaller
  shotwell shotwell-common signon-keyring-extension signon-plugin-oauth2
  signon-plugin-password signon-ui signond simple-scan sni-qt software-center
  software-center-aptdaemon-plugins software-properties-gtk speech-dispatcher
  speech-dispatcher-audio-plugins sphinx-voxforge-hmm-en sphinx-voxforge-lm-en
  ssh-askpass-gnome system-config-printer-common system-config-printer-gnome
  telepathy-idle telepathy-indicator thunderbird-gnome-support totem
  totem-common totem-mozilla totem-plugins transmission-common
  transmission-gtk ubuntu-artwork ubuntu-docs ubuntu-mono
  ubuntu-release-upgrader-gtk ubuntu-session ubuntu-settings ubuntu-sounds
  ubuntu-sso-client-qt ubuntu-system-service ubuntu-ui-toolkit-theme
  ubuntu-wallpapers ubuntu-wallpapers-trusty ubuntuone-client-data unity
  unity-asset-pool unity-control-center unity-control-center-signon
  unity-greeter unity-gtk-module-common unity-gtk2-module unity-gtk3-module
  unity-lens-applications unity-lens-files unity-lens-friends unity-lens-music
  unity-lens-photos unity-lens-video unity-scope-audacious
  unity-scope-calculator unity-scope-chromiumbookmarks unity-scope-clementine
  unity-scope-colourlovers unity-scope-devhelp unity-scope-firefoxbookmarks
  unity-scope-gdrive unity-scope-gmusicbrowser unity-scope-gourmet
  unity-scope-guayadeque unity-scope-home unity-scope-manpages
  unity-scope-musicstores unity-scope-musique unity-scope-openclipart
  unity-scope-texdoc unity-scope-tomboy unity-scope-video-remote
  unity-scope-virtualbox unity-scope-yelp unity-scope-zotero
  unity-scopes-master-default unity-scopes-runner unity-services
  unity-settings-daemon unity-voice-service unity-webapps-common
  unity-webapps-qml unity-webapps-service update-manager update-notifier
  usb-creator-gtk vino webaccounts-extension-common webapp-container
  webbrowser-app xdg-user-dirs-gtk xdiagnose xterm xul-ext-unity
  xul-ext-webaccounts xul-ext-websites-integration zenity zenity-common

So, we can assume that all of the above is Unity stuff that isn't required for Kubuntu (or it would have been installed already on my system).

So, you could log in to a Kubuntu session and do:

sudo apt-get remove --purge *list above*

...and that should give you the same as you would get by doing a fresh Kubuntu installation, without having the fuss of actually reinstalling.

Hope that helps!

[sithlord48]

after you remove the list then install the package kubuntu-desktop (just incase) . it will restore all the default stuff for kubuntu.

[frankus333]

G'day folks

I am a recent convert to *buntu, from WinXP, and also prefer KDE. I have been playing with multiple install combinations on multiple machines to also ascertain whether a clean Kubuntu install is preferable to kubuntu-desktop over Ubuntu. I don't have concerns about disk space, and wondered if the Ubuntu base may be providing something extra, without obvious clutter.

One important difference I have noticed is that Kubuntu doesn't install driver software for the scanner in my HP Photosmart c7280 MFP, whereas Ubuntu does. The print function works with the "c7200 series" driver provided, but not the scanner. The Muon Discoverer does not seem to have the HPLIP package in it, but after downloading the Ubuntu Software Centre, I was able to install the HPLIP Toolkit, and set up the MFP properly, so the scanner now works on the Kubuntu only installations.

I haven't finally decided, but am leaning towards the Ubuntu with kubuntu-desktop as my preference, for what it's worth in this discussion.

Cheers

[xlc123]

mmm, thats interesting frankus333, I think I may leave it as is for now, everything seems to be working fine.

[NoWorries]

When I install Kubuntu, I have a list of extra packages to install. For my HP printer, I install "hplip-gui" and "xsane". The latter gives the scanning capability.

[frankus333]

When I install Kubuntu, I have a list of extra packages to install. For my HP printer, I install "hplip-gui" and "xsane". The latter gives the scanning capability.

Thanks NoWorries. I guess if you know what you want you can customise selectively. I am still building up such knowledge. I installed other scanner apps including xsane, but the problem only got fixed using HPLIP Tool Kit.

In my so far limited experience I have valued the availability of extra packages to try out without having to explore to find them. In my initial explorations with Ubuntu 13.10, I installed XFCE and LXDE desktops as well as KDE. The only partial downside seemd to be the crowded menus. (My three machines are old, so experimenting to find best video result was a priority initially.)

Other things noticed were that gparted seemed to be able to perform a partition adjustment I was experimenting with, whereas KDE Partition Manager would not, and the LXDE file manager performed a file search by dates better than the others.

I imagine in the future I will reach the stage of being able to set up a new installation with everything I have come to know and love, as you seem to have done.

Cheers

[sithlord48]

Muon Discover while now the default is not the best package manager for finding some non application stuff. You may want to use the Muon Package Manager for that it is not as flash but is much more detailed and easier to use.

[frankus333]

Muon Discover while now the default is not the best package manager for finding some non application stuff. You may want to use the Muon Package Manager for that it is not as flash but is much more detailed and easier to use.

Thanks sithlord48

I also noticed there is a "Muon Software Centre", which does not list HPLIP either. I found Muon Package Manager in this software centre and installed it. It provided a comprehensive list of packages under the heading of HPLIP, a couple of which have not been installed on my system yet, perhaps because they are in the Trusty Proposed phase.

Cheers