K-Klass
Saturday, March 14, 2009 12:53
This week I gave Parallels 4 a treat with an evaluative few days of the Kubuntu 9.04 Alpha 5 release (Jaunty Jackalope) running the wonderful KDE4.2 desktop environment.
(Briefly) for those of you new to Linux there are three main desktop environments, KDE, GNOME and XFCE, all have some degree of application crossover but also run their own bespoke flavours in certain areas, KDE for example runs Kontact for mail/calendar/notes etc whilst GNOME offers up the superb Evolution comms suite, then there’s the Konqueror browser as oppose to Epiphany (you get the picture), a more in depth explanation of all things Linux is available HERE as a brief four page/ten minute read explaining what Linux is, how to get it, and most importantly – why you’d be better off using it on your desktop.
Anyway, although I did run a KDE desktop for a few months on Suse 7 back in 2000 (until I got sick of the GIMP) I’ve always been a GNOME guy, I just preferred the look and feel you know, KDE was nice and rounded but seemed a bit superficial to me, not sure why, perhaps it’s down to me being a systems guy and I’ve ‘GNOME’d’ ever since (predominantly on Ubuntu), however, sparked by recent interest from Phil toward the world of the penguin for his own desktop (and eeepc) I ended up looking about just to see what was in use *these days* and was woken up by a Googled screen shot of KDE4.2 – “Ooh hello, that looks shiny, I think I’d better have a look”, a quick torrent later and the ISO was mounted.
I won’t go into the rigmarole of installation, only suffice to say that running virtual machines for evaluating software can sometimes soak up the hours and I won’t blame Kubuntu for me having to spend a day through Virtual Box (fine for Ubuntu 8.04 & 8.10), VMWare Fusion, Parallels 3 and finally Parallels 4 until I managed to get a decent VM desktop (I’ll post my evaluation of virtual emulators on OSX in another entry), once up and running though it was most definitely worth all the dicking about to get there (and I’m sure it would install off the bat on a *normal* computer).
Yes indeed, KDE has come on a bit since 2000 and even at this stage I have no hesitation in switching my desktop allegiance from the foot (it’s a free country), 4.2 is a glossy desktop dream of widgetised wonderfullness from the moment it boots.
First there’s the visual hit, it looks superb with a sort of OSX-ey, Vista-esque glossy style and trademark uber cool contemporary wallpaper to great you, selecting a darker window theme in the appearance settings further popped the eye candy even more, lush. Mousing around brings out all the other groovy features and first stop were the desktop widgets (accessed top right) where I was amazed to discover not only the expected and usual clock/calendar/etc options but also Twitter, a mini widgetised browser and a sexy little desktop email notifier for incoming messages, simply superb (and ironically relevant to my post about Adobe Air based desktop apps from last week), it seems KDE are nicely ahead of the game with their desktop mashups of configurable lightweight instantaneousness (I love a nice widget, don’t you?).
What else then, well it comes with Open Office (of course) built in and ready to roll (Version 3) plus a nicely concise suite of selective media apps for your music, iPod, DVD burning and Video watching entertainment (Amarok, K3b, Kmix & Dragon Player) and there’s the usual selection of daft little Linux games to while away the hours. Surprisingly Firefox wasn’t installed and neither was Gimp however being Debian based a quick ‘sudo apt-get install‘ for both respective packages followed by a couple of equally easy next steps to install Skype finished the job off ( > package manager > third party software, add “deb http://download.skype.com/linux/repos/debian/ stable non-free” then ‘sudo apt-get install skype‘), rock ‘n’ roll…..fully functional.
I already really rate this latest Kubuntu/KDE ‘kombo’ (sorry) and although I’ve previously ranted on about Linux for the desktop and how Ubuntu can do everything you need cheaper and more reliably (which it certainly could, can and does) this is the first time I’ve seen a Linux desktop which I truly believe to be not only a visually viable and intuitive equal to the competition (even MINT isn’t this sexy) but also superior in it’s flexibility of presentation, it’s literally a joy to use, it really is and were I not a Mac head there’s no doubt I’d be running it, it makes XP look like Windows 3.11 (which it sort of is anyway I suppose – LOL).
The first stable (non development) release of Kubuntu 9.04 is out on April 23rd, put a date in your calendar.
*Did You Know* – India has gone so far as to make it mandatory for all state high schools to run Linux on their computers
Phil says:
March 15th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Marvellous! And there you were a few days ago telling me “KDE is for girls”…
Looks like a very nice distro (ooh, get me using the Linux lingo) and I’m intrigued by the widgets. Is there a gMail one?
I’ve gone with the “standard” install of Eeebuntu 2.0 (as opposed to the NBR version) as it seems a bit more complete and flexible – it even has a nice OSX-style dock at the bottom. It too has some widget functionality, but I’m yet to play with that.
Of all the versions I’ve played with over the last few days, Eeebuntu is definitely the one to go for should you have an EeePC (or any other netbook for that matter). Everything works OOTB – no fannying with drivers. And I’ve followed your advice for getting Skype, which was the only app Eeebuntu was lacking in my opinion. Nice and easy to get it too.
I’m not (yet) going to give XP the boot (no pun intended) from my primary SSD just yet as I fear I’m too tied to the windows world for that major step, but Eeebuntu is now installed to the SD card rather than running live off a USB stick. Working well too – surprisingly nippy.
Anyhow, I shall be chronicling my Linux trials and tribulations in the coming days over at http://www.lowfidelity.co.uk but until then, thanks for all your help fella!
richbos says:
March 15th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
It’s an evolving process, we have to fly the flag and keep going. Fight the Microsoft giant and save the world some cash (I think it needs it at the moment), stability, fun and geekery whilst saving money – what could be better..!
Ubuntu 9.04 "Jaunty Jackalope" (Alpha Release 6) quick review and testing with WINE | too much green says:
March 25th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
[...] yes, Kubuntu 9.04 with it’s KDE4.2 eye candy was (is) indeed striking, lovely, slick, swish and shiny, of that there’s no doubt, however I [...]
change28 says:
April 25th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
I have been using Kubuntu 8.04 for well over a year and was happy with it. Then, foolishly, I allow the software to update itself to the new Kubuntu release.
There is a good reason why Linux will not be mainstream. Even if we do not consider the many flavors of Linux available, the migration from one version to the next can be a jarring experience for any user.
In Kubuntu 9.04, I cannot maximize applications that I have minimized. I know there are in there somewhere but I will be damned if I could find out how to maximize the applications.
Besides, Kubuntu 9.04 is slow and clumsy.
Something is wrong when cryptic messages are provided in response to errors. I thought Linux is for human beings, not only for nerdy computer freaks. I would consider myself as an experienced PC user(albeit Windows). For me to have to struggle to understand the Kubuntu interface, from 8.04 to 9.04, speaks volumes about how poor implementation of new features has been carried out. I was happy with K 8.04 but K 9.04 just shattered my wish of sensible Linux progress.
There need to be a more systematic approach to the development of Linux before it can be adopted by ordinary people. And not such a huge jump in the user interface from one version to the next.
The user should not have to struggle to understand the interface. The pinnacle of engineering design is achieved when interfaces are intuitive and simple. Which is definitely what Linux, in any flavor, is not.
richbos says:
April 25th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Hey dude, thanks for posting. It’s a real shame you’ve had such bother with your Kubuntu upgrade, I’m gutted for you man, if I lived nearby I’d come round and help you sort it out, seriously, but please don’t get disheartened, I know you’ll be unhappy and think the new version is a lemon but I also know for a fact there’s many a Microsoft upgrade which doesn’t go to plan either. I won’t even start on the nightmare of Vista which is probably the most disastrous new version of any operating system ever, and people paid for that..!
Kubuntu do offer a *mid-ground* in the shape of a Kubuntu 9.04 KDE3 ‘REMIX’, which offers and easier transition for users who may find the jump from KDE3 TO KDE4 a touch daunting? Maybe give that a spin? The link is HERE, if you do so I’d be intrigued to know how you got on (although you’re probably browsing the Apple site as we speak, I’d fully understand if that’s the case)
However, let’s not get all gloomy and negative eh, I’d be interested to hear any opinions from the flip side? Anyone happy out there or have we all crashed and burned?
Just for info my main push is for plain Ubuntu on the desktop as used in an Enterprise I.T environment, when handled by I.T Professionals in a controlled environment it slips in a touch easier and the resulting savings in TCO can be simply amazing, if you haven’t seen my post already about the French National Police check it out, they’ve saved €50 Million in only a few years by adopting a policy for open source software on the desktop (Ubuntu & Open Office), it’s quite something, especially as they’ve only migrated about 20,000 if their 90,000 PC’s.
Great review of the superb Linux Mint 7 'Gloria' RC1 release and it's perfect seamless suitability for the home based web & media desktop. | too much green says:
May 30th, 2009 at 7:37 am
[...] have done and version 7 is certainly something special. For home users who don’t fancy the glitzy swish rounded pop of Kubuntu 9.04’s KDE 4 or the perceived drop to business ready Ubuntu itself Mint is so much more than just a [...]
Too Much Green » 7 Up says:
September 7th, 2009 at 7:59 am
[...] have done and version 7 is certainly something special. For home users who don’t fancy the glitzy swish rounded pop of Kubuntu 9.04’s KDE 4 or the perceived drop to business ready Ubuntu itself Mint is so much more than just a [...]