Kubuntu Gutsy
** Edit: It seems that this article got picked up by some news sources before I’d actually finished writing it. Lessons learned? Never have the draft searchable by google I guess! **
I do enjoy the Kubuntu development cycle. Just as I’m starting to feel that my stable, long-configured system is starting to get a little blase, the new version is just around the corner. I eagerly upgraded to Kubuntu Gutsy when it was released on my faithful Vaio TX. Gutsy has been released for a few weeks now, so consider these not my first impressions but my opinion formed over 2 solid weeks of using Kubuntu as my main operating system at work.
Kubuntu Gutsy is based on KDE 3.5.8, a bugfix release of the stable 3.5 series. It doesn’t boast much in the way of improved features from previous versions, focusing on improving performance, stability and resolving issues. Changes include performance improvements to the core libraries, and a wide range of bug and crash fixes. See the KDE 3.5.8 changelog for details.
Initial Impressions
The Kubuntu installer hasn’t changed much in function - it’s straightforward and fuss-free, apart from my long running hatred for the partitioner. There really isn’t much room for improvement here - within half an hour I had a fully installed Linux system that had correctly detected all of my hardware, and I was able to surf the internet and chat on IRC from the live CD while it installed.
The first change I noted about Kubuntu Gutsy was asthetic. The artwork has had a subtle shift from the previous purples to a cool blue that looks clean and professional. The KDM login screen now sports a user selector that can be configured to show a custom image for each user account - a pleasing effect, and great usability for a family shared computer.
KDM Login Screen - Click for larger image
A couple of minor changes to bring the feature set of Kubuntu more in line with it’s Gnomish cousin is that Kubuntu now has a restricted driver’s manager similar to that included with Ubuntu to allow easy management of restricted drivers, a boon for users of ATI and NVida graphics cards in particular. Another pleasing change is the inclusion of a KDE GDebi client, allowing installing of downloaded Ubuntu package files by clicking on them in the KDE file manager.
File management
Dolphin is now the default file manager for Kubuntu 7.10. It implements a large proportion of Konqueror’s file management functionality in a simpler interface designed for greater usability. Power was not sacrificed for usability though - Dolphin also supports KIO slaves and customisation with Konqueror service menus.
Dolphin’s default look, click to enlarge image
Dolphin’s features include a dual-mode navigation bar that supports both a standard editable title bar and a breadcrumb view. The breadcrumb view is similar to that found in SGI’s IRIX and NeXT Step, allowing one to click on any point in the path to navigate back there. It’s a feature I’ve found myself using surprisingly often.
One of the most compelling side-effects of using Dolphin for many is that finally there is separation between the configuration of the browser and file manager components. While Konqueror makes a powerful and flexible filemanager, bookmarks and other settings being global to both modes has been the annoyance of many users for a very long time. With Dolphin, this is no longer a problem.
Desktop Effects
While desktop effects are not enabled by default in Kubuntu Gutsy, those who choose to manually install the required packages will be pleased with the results. Installing the packages compiz, compiz-kde and emerald will pull in everything required to get Compiz working in Kubuntu - although if you want to configure any of the settings you’ll also need compizconfig-settings-manager. These packages pull in a lot of Gnome libraries, but disk space is rarely a concern on a modern computer and many will already have pulled in those libraries to install Mozilla Firefox.
If you have a supported graphics card, running compiz –replace should with luck give you desktop effects similar to those enabled in Ubuntu by default when a supported graphics card is detected.
Bluetooth
One of the features I’m most pleased to see is a vastly improved bluetooth applet. Connecting to a bluetooth mouse or other input device is now an extremely simple point and click process. A cute feature that I’ve been using a bit is the ability to lock and unlock the screen based on whether a defined bluetooth device is in range. I set it to my phone, and now I know that when I walk away from my desk with my phone in my handbag if I’ve forgotten to lock my screen, KBluetooth will take care of it for me.
Other features I noticed but haven’t spent much time looking at include OpenOffice 2.3, the Enterprise branch of Kontact and integrated Strigi desktop search.
I previously mentioned that I was disappointed to see LEAP support lacking in the KDE version of the Network Manager applet. It seems I just lose at actually reading dialogues - the support is there, it’s hiding under the enterprise WPA option (the version of LEAP in use by my office uses rotating WEP keys so I never thought to look for it under WPA). I tested the support recently and hooray, it does indeed work.
Yet to improve
The only real lack I noticed was that of a good image editor. The GIMP isn’t included, and neither is KDE’s advanced image editing suite, Krita. These are small issues though - the GIMP or other editors are easily installed through the exceptional package management system and it’s the only lack in an otherwise excellent productivity environment.
Verdict
Kubuntu Gutsy is an exceptionally polished KDE based distribution, easily equal with the enterprise-oriented SuSE Linux in the workplace and possibly a simpler and easier experience for the home user. All aspects of laptop usage excel - even suspend to ram is working on my Vaio TX - and the application feature set covers all bases. Congratulations Kubuntu devs - you’ve done it again, and it just gets better.