Xubuntu for older systems
I can’t recall trying Ubuntu (maybe a livecd), but I’ve heard quite a bit about various variations on it lately. I’ve seen articles on business desktop use, certification by IBM (?) for running one of their applications and other various positive articles. I’m going to have to give it a try soon. Anyway, with all that this article caught my attention.
OSDir has a screenshot review of kubuntu 5.10.
From their wiki (and the osdir article)
The aim of the Xubuntu community project is to provide a nice Ubuntu desktop experience (even on older hardware) by using Xfce4 as the desktop environment and GTK+ 2 applications wherever possible. Xfce4 has been supported in Ubuntu’s universe by the MOTUXfce team since Hoary and Breezy. For Dapper we want to go one step further and make Xubuntu a sibling of Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Edubuntu by having install and live CD images generated for it. We haven’t decided on a release date, but it should be as close as possible to Dapper’s and should use the latest stable Xfce 4.X code (hopefully 4.4 will be release by then)
My initial impression of ubuntu from their site is that it’s an interesting idea to theme different releases towards different needs. In fact, I think it’s a great idea. There are, for instance, many variations of Knoppix livecd’s (or Mandriva livecd’s) for various purposes, dvr/mythtvbox/security analyzer/games/etc. The nice thing about ubuntu is branding it all under a “big umbrella” so that they’re easier to keep track of and find. (Kubuntu, edubuntu and xbuntu are the variatons seen on site.)
I did read something earlier to the effect that they assigned a random root password and then treated the first user as having administrative capabilities. I’d like to look a bit further into that and see if they’re using “wheel” or sudo or something similar. I’m not sure if I like that approach. I’d have to look firsthand.
It’s also nice that they’ll ship you a free cd if you can’t download. (No taxes/no strings…) I hope that service doesn’t get abused, but realistically it’s great for spreading it around.
Also, there’s a review up of xubuntu at distroreviews.com (in addition to the above screenshots.) Sounds like another positive review.