[NBLUG/talk] Kubuntu v. Ubuntu

[Dave Sisley]

The basic difference is the choice of window manager, which is really 
just the underlying program responsible for drawing menus and window 
borders.  They can affect your Linux experience, but they are secondary 
to the applications themselves.

Kubuntu uses KDE, while Ubuntu uses Gnome as the default window 
manager.  There's a 3rd *buntu version, called Xubuntu, which uses XFCE 
as a window manager.  That one is designed to use fewer resources, so is 
a good choice for older hardware.  You can pick one and install another 
later (actually there are a good half-dozen or more window managers you 
can install).  Which one to use is a coke/pepsi, emacs/vi kind of question.

In my opinion, you should just pick one or the other, and then once you 
are familiar with it, maybe install the other and see if  you like it 
better.  Chances are you will stick with whatever you used first.  I use 
Gnome for that reason (ahhh. That's what RedHat 7.2 came with!).  I 
can't recommend one over the other, because I really think they are 
equivalent. While there are applications that are described as being 
'KDE apps' or 'Gnome apps', you can still install and run KDE apps under 
Gnome and vice verse.

The applications you mention will be available, no matter which version 
of *buntu you choose.  Good luck - I hope you (& your family) enjoy Linux!

-dave.

mendozae at sonoma.edu wrote:
> I'm trying to put together a laptop online to my specs. But when it comes
> to choosing the OS, I'm asked if I want Kubuntu or Ubuntu or something
> else.
>
> What is the essential difference between K & U? I'm trying to figure out
> what works best for me and my family because the three of us will be using
> it. I'm a political science student at SSU but we will all be using the
> same machine at one time or another; the machine will rarely rest. I will
> be taking notes in class. We need blue tooth wireless card for the
> Internet (or compatible) and will be using either OpenOffice, NeoOffice,
> or StarOffice.
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Edward
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> talk mailing list
> talk at nblug.org
> http://nblug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/talk
>
>
>   


-- 
Dave Sisley
dsisley at sonic.net
roth-sisley.net