Kubuntu Vs. KDE Neon

[jglen490]

What it comes down to is a definition of "major release". Once you've installed a release, as an example 18.04 LTS, you will receive updates to the software packages that have been installed under 18.04 LTS. Those updates will be bug fixes and security updates, but they will all be within the support path defined for 18.04 LTS. The same thing for 18.10 and 19.04. But you are not going to get major functionality changes of the installed software base. You will get support for the installed software base for different lengths of time. For the LTS release (i.e., 18.04), the release cycle is a new LTS every 2 years, with at least 3 years of full support. For non-LTS (i.e., 18.10, 19.04) the release cycle is a new release every 6 months, and full support for 9 months.

At some point, whether you follow the LTS or non-LTS cycles, you will need to do a complete clean install - based on the fundamental changes of the underlying software "plumbing" (i.e., Plasma).

From personal experience, I appreciate the stability of the LTS release cycle, and when a new LTS comes out, I do a backup of important files/data and a clean install of the release. It's just simpler to do a clean install and not have to worry about fixing stuff.

I avoid Neon. I don't hate it, I just have no desire to be a little more bleeding edge, and to experience the occasional instability/regressions that creep in from time to time. Those things usual clear up pretty quickly - but I don't need the change that badly.

[claydoh]

It is a bit more complex than that, as it also depends on how often you wish to upgrade, and what 'track' you prefer for Kubuntu

Neon dos not require a clean install. When they moved from one Ubuntu LTS release to the next, you upgraded just like on any other Ubuntu variant. This is how it went when they moved form a 16.04 base to the current 18.04 base, and is how it will happen when they move to a 20.04 base. The exact same thing that happens with an LTS to LTS upgrade in any Ubuntu flavour, though Neon will probably wait for a bit after the next LTS before enabling this upgrade, as they did moving to 18.04.

Many people *prefer* to do a clean install over upgrading, that is one's choice, and many people seem to promote this. Release upgrades may fail, there is always that possibility no matter the distro. I myself am a long term successful upgrader, both on neon and Kubuntu. Some have had bad experiences with major upgrades, so they do a clean install. I have not, so I always upgrade, and have for years.

In Kubuntu, you can either upgrade every 6 months, or stay with LTS and choose to upgrade every two years. The first stays more current, the last does not, but will ostensibly be more stable, and have better third party support - steam, PPAs, etc.


As to which one is best for you is...up to you. Neon has fewer major system upgrades, just like Kubuntu LTS, but you keep the most current Plasma. The 6 month release schedule gives you more current goodies, specifically the non-KDE stuff, but for those leery of upgrading, means more reinstalls, or more of a potential for upgrade problems.

[claydoh]

To muddy the waters even more, Ubuntu has the LTS HWE stack, which brings newer kernels and xorg from current, non-LTS releases to the current LTS. This is, turned on in Neon, and is also enabled in any *new* Kubuntu install after 18.04.1 is released.

As I have been using Kubuntu since it's birth in 2005, as well as Neon's in 2016, I can say that functionally, there is no difference between either one for most intents and purposes. But they are not quite equal. Interchangeable, perhaps?

Kubuntu:
Has some Ubuntu-specific utilities, such as the Driver Manager and the Software Sources tool that are missing in Neon.
6-month release cycle brings somewhat newer non-KDE software, as well as new kernels and drivers
has LTS version that currently has the LTS version of Plasma, which some may like to use over a constantly changing desktop
Has both a normal desktop - Kontact, Akonadi, Libreoffice, Cantata and MPD) as well as a Minimal option


Neon:
lacks the Ubuntu utilities - these can be installed, but the Driver Manager has at points in the past not worked on Neon
LTS release cycle for the core OS with continual upgrades to Plasma, Qt, et al. With the HWE, the kernel and xorg upgrades come a bit later than in non-LTS systems
Non-KDE software will more quickly become older, with no upgrades without user adding PPAs or manual installs for things they use heavily
Only has the 'minimal' install


For me, Neon is perfect as what I want is the latest official Plasma stuff as that is where the bug fixes come from that Kubuntu or other non-rolling distros are stuck with, sometimes for a while. It has only the base desktop where I add what I want with nothing to remove or disable.

For new users, Kubuntu is the better choice, just based on having a more fully featured set of included software and the Driver Manager. It is my recommendation for most people.


As for getting support, neither one has an edge over the other. Neon is 18.04, any system level (non-KDE) issue will be the same as Kubuntu and Ubuntu. Hardware support, booting, software installation problems will all have the same resolutions that work in Ubuntu, and performed in the same ways about 99% of the time.





Hopefully this is less muddy for you, lol

[claydoh]

[QUOTE=LeftistDirtBag;427848. i guess the only real question left is how is the two versions of kubuntu with kde-full? thanks guys for the info.[/QUOTE]

In 18.04 LTS, you will get Plasma 5.12.xx, nothing newer
19.04 has 5.14 at the moment
Neon is at 5.15.5, soon to get 5.16

Nothing wrong with 5.12.x at all

As to KDE full, that for me is overkill, as i'll never use most of the ~350 packages it installs over a normal Kubuntu install
On a fresh Neon install, it adds 527, and takes 1,849 MB (!??!!!) of disk space
I think that on these lesser-used programs and libraries installed, there probably are not many differences between the 5.12 and current plasma releases, as these don't change too much between updates, often, so things there should function the same.


KDE full on Neon:
Kubuntu will, have the Akonadi and KDEPIM (about 70 packages, and 264Mb of space used) , and the games (70 packages, 280 Mb space used) already;

The following NEW packages will be installed:
  accountwizard advancecomp akonadi-backend-mysql akonadi-contacts-data akonadi-mime-data
  akonadi-server akonadiconsole akregator analitza-common artikulate blinken bomber bovo cantor
  cantor-backend-qalculate cervisia clazy cppcheck cvs cvsservice diffstat dolphin-plugins
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[jglen490]

My assessment of clean vs. upgarde was based on experience with the 12.04 to 16.04 and the 16.04 to 18.04, and as I recall in both cases there was specific warning in the release notes that a direct update was contraindicated. Granted, the actual experience for a some users was "no problem", but for most was "disaster".

So from that point on, I'm assuming that any LTS to LTS will be sufficiently risky that a clean install will result in the least cleanup. Not based on poor software, but based on too many differences - sort of a "a bridge too far".

[SpecialEd]

I>>>>>
In Kubuntu, you can either upgrade every 6 months, or stay with LTS and choose to upgrade every two years. >>>>>

You don't have to upgrade an LTS version every two years and many don't, as it will still be supported for at least another three years.

[jglen490]

That's why I said "choose". Compare and contrast, short term support or long term support.

[SpecialEd]

That's why I said "choose". Compare and contrast, short term support or long term support.

If you take a closer look you will see I was quoting Claydoh, no snarkiness intended.

[woodsmoke]

Hi LeftistDirtBag
I don't think that we have exchanged phosphors before, please let me welcome you to the friendliest forum on the net!
As to a difference, I run the Neon Testing Stable on my Kparadigmshift media center rig and find it to be very stable I tend to go for a LOT of media apps and am trying them out all the time to "test" them and maybe report stuff but that's just me.
I also run Neon Stable for my work machine but I ALSO run a Kubuntu usually a release behind.
I find that...FOR ME... since I use a lot of "actvities" that the setup for the activities in Neon, is, as of NOW ... uses fewer clicks and going back and forth.
I use a Gyration "airmouse" to control the rig is ...dunno...there is maybe a click there or here in terms of the setup of the activities.
THERE WAS a bug of some kind with the left click of activities but it has disappeared.
I DO NOT KEEP ANY DATA ON A MACHINE...none, nada, zip, it is all stored on USB drives for temporary, music, documents etc. and then moved to long term storage on an external hard drive.

So, because of that if something crashes I just reinstall or install the newest or whatever.

I'll reiterate what others have said, there really is not THAT much difference in terms of "just doing stuff" but sometimes there is a big enhancement in things like Koffice or Libre, and once in a while there is a noticeable enhancement in a media player etc.

Basically, i would say that "maybe" run both for a while... split a drive and fiddle with them.

If you get into the Neon TESTING UNSTABLE the updates are almost daily and there are a lot of them, some people do not like fiddling with that, because, again, a lot of them are totally UNnoticeable in terms of day to day work.

again, hi, and hope to visit again.

woodsmoke

I

[WWDERW]

For new users, Kubuntu is the better choice, just based on having a more fully featured set of included software and the Driver Manager. It is my recommendation for most people.

To be honest, Kubuntu's driver manager never worked for me. Always had to do a PPA as it is for that. It would never show any device that would have a need for a proprietary driver (which for a 3 monitor setup, I have to have, no way around that).

[verndog]

I would love to like kde-neon, but I have several issues:
1) Firefox does not allow me to use the mic. It see's it ok, but nothing comes out.
2) For some reason kde-neon installer blocks deepinOS. Says kernel not signed...not true.
All the above work flawlessly using Kubuntu.

[claydoh]

i seriously doubt that about deepin, but yes they have their issues. like yesterday's kde apps update.1 pushed very late in the day. 2 did not do the promised resurrection of root in dolphin. 3 did not push the plasma 5.16 update with the apps update.

1. KDE Applications is separate from Plasma, each one is updated on its own schedule. Plasma 5.16 is scheduled to be released on the 11th iirc


2. Link to info specifying when that Dolphin feature is to be added?

3. See #1


Sent from my LG-H931 using Tapatalk

[verndog]

What you think I'm lying? neon will NOT boot deepinOS period. Stating signature error. Ubuntu, Kubuntu, peppermint, debian, mxlinux all boot deepinOS WITHOUT issue.

[TWPonKubuntu]

verndog, we're generally friends here, so no disparagement was intended. I know other forums where it is part of their modus operandi but we get along here without it.

I'll second the request for a link to any information about the "fix" for root access on Dolphin. I'm holding my breath, and my work flow is still messed up because of the lack of that "fix". Anything you can provide about this is Much appreciated.

This is what I follow on this "fix" over at phabricator:
Polkit support in KIO

https://phabricator.kde.org/T6561

No progress has being reported (sadly) in the last two months but I may be looking in the wrong place.

[vinnywright]

my neon-tesing-edition from the testing branches got the plasma 5.16 updates yesterday , still no polkit support for root actions in dolphin yet .

Operating System: KDE neon Testing Edition
KDE Plasma Version: 5.16.0
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.59.0
Qt Version: 5.12.3
Kernel Version: 5.0.0-16-generic
OS Type: 64-bit
Processors: 8 × Intel® Core™ i7-4910MQ CPU @ 2.90GHz
Memory: 15.6 GiB of RAM

VINNY