So today Kubuntu 9.10 was released. I wish to the whole team my congratulations for the release 😀
I want to sped two words about a new additin in the Ubuntu fleet: Kubuntu Netbook Remix. This particular version of Kubuntu ships (and uses as the default user interface) an early preview of what will be the Plasma Netbook project.
We (as both upstream KDE people and Kubuntu people) wanted to quickly put something out of the door, to give people an easy way to test it, and make it a bit more known before the final release, and requiring people to run trunk is not really reasonable, while a livecd poses a way lower entry barrier.
While you are testing it, please keep in mind is software in a really early stage of development.Kubuntu Karmic Koala of course uses KDE 4.3, because it’s what is out at the moment :). Since some months ago the Netbook project uses some important new features that will be in the Plasma library for KDE 4.4, so the version shipped in Kubuntu is a snapshot a bit older that what is in svn now (plus some backports of more recent fixes), that’s why it looks pretty different to the last screencasts i did.
So keep in mind that the “real deal” on Kubuntu will come just with 10.04 (or as soon as KDE 4.4 packages will be released), but I’m confident that what is shipped now is something already quite fun to use, and gives an idea how it will be, so try it, have fun 🙂
The netbook remix was reviewed at a big Dutch tech site. Some positive criticism:
“Our experience with the Kubuntu Netbook Edition was pleasant; although the interface was less innovative than Moblin’s, the whole package is more stable and it will give a good vibe to the power user in particular, because he has more possibilites at his disposal.”
http://tweakers.net/reviews/1428/6/ubuntu-910-nader-bekeken-kubuntu-netbook-edition.html
I’m not sure what they mean by “more innovative” as Moblin, UNR, and KNR are all very innovative leaving the rest all subjective. I think Kubuntu Netbook Edition is far more elegant much better than every menu catagory stacked into the entire desktop. Just what I’ve been looking for, thanks guys!