Six more days to ago before the release of Ubuntu 10.04 LTS.  My last article addressed the some of the new features of this new version.  I mentioned the Ubuntu Netbook version but didn't comment on the new Kubuntu Netbook version.  When the Ubuntu Netbook Remix was released a year ago (version 9.04) I thought it would work really well on my Acer Aspire One.  Well it didn't take long for Remix to become to limiting.  It only has one workspace and then I found Linux Mint so I switched to that.  With the release in less than a week, I thought I would take a more in-depth look at the two Netbook versions.

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So, how much as changed in a year?  Well as you can see in the below image, the Ubuntu Netbook version has a pretty cool interface and is quite different than last years.  Changing categories creates some animation as the pages don't just change, the icons fly out and in.  The Ubuntu icon in the upper left hand corner acts as the "Show Desktop" icon and will minimize any applications. Any open application will place a small icon to the right of the Ubuntu icon.  The active application will also have a bar that takes up the open space between the application mini-icons and the Up/Down arrow icon which displays the network connection.  This bar has a X on the right hand side that will close that application.  A double-click on this bar will also switch the application from full screen to window mode.  From what I can determine, this version still only has one workspace however I suppose that isn't all bad.  It is very easy to switch between applications by just clicking on the mini icons Alt-Tab also works.

 


The Kubunt Netbook versions takes a whole different approach as seen in the below screen shot. The bottom part of the screen shows the different categories of applications as the left side of the Ubuntu Netbook version shows.  When an application is launched it opens full screen and the top panel auto-hides.  Taking the cursor to the very top brings it down after a time.  I didn't find it very responsive so I added a keyboard shortcut to make it appear (found by right clicking on the Search and Launch button and selecting Activity Bar Settings).  Clicking on the Search and Launch minimizes any applications and displays the page shown below.  If thre are applications running, the widget that is displaying "No running apps" below will give a count of how many applications are running.  Clicking on this widget will drop down a menu showing the applications and click on the application will bring focus to it.  It isn't very obvious but when an application is running full screen there is a icon on the far right side of the top panel to switch from full screen to window mode as well as the X icon to close the application.  I was able to configure multiple desktops through  System Settings -> Desktop but it doesn't work.  However if you will notice on the below image there is a Page One button.  This is a Plasma Page and by default it is setup as a Newspaper Activity which puts Plasma Widgets in two columns.  There are three other types of activities, Desktop, Folder View, and Search and Launch Containment. 


Well for a long time I ran KDE and liked it. But it seems like I was always tweeking it so I switched.  At first glance I thought wow this Kubuntu Netbook version looks like something I might install and use.  After playing with it a little I am not so sure.  Choosing which desktop to use is so totally personal.  I think if someone is going to like a Netbook desktop it will be because it is very simple to use and maybe because it is lightweight.  I would have to actually install each of them on my Acer to determine which one uses less resources instead of running them inside of VirtualBox.  So looking at them strictly from a ease of use aspect I would have to say my vote would be for the Ubuntu Netbook version.  Now, how hard is it to change wallpaper / color schemes?

 

Tags: 10.04, kubuntu, linux, lts, netbook, ubuntu