What is Kubuntu?
Description on the original's CD cover:
What is Kubuntu?
Kubuntu is a complete replacement for Windows. It includes thousands of free and open-source applications, and it works with common home and office programs.
Kubuntu is immune to Windows viruses, so you can browse the Internet safely with Firefox, create documents and spreadsheets, play games, music and videos, and much more. It includes a music store and a file-sharing service, and lets you communicate with your friends on Facebook and Twitter, straight from your desktop.
This CD will install Kubuntu in a number of widely-spoken languages, with many more available on demand. And because it's a long-term support (LTS) release, you can be confident that it comes complete with three years of support, and free security and maintenance updates.
Kubuntu is developed by a global community of users and is commercially supported by Canonical. Go to www.kubuntu.org and www.canonical.com to find out more.
Explore and install
You can try out Kubuntu before you install it. Simply insert this CD and restart your computer. You can even run Kubuntu alongside Windows or replace your current operating system entirely. Simply back up your files and follow the installation instructions.
System requirements
This edition will run on most PCs, including those with Intel or AMD processors. To use Kubuntu, you should have a PC with at least 256 MB of RAM. And to install it, you should have at least 4 GB of disk space.
Kubuntu and its regular updates will always be free of charge. |
So, are these claims correct?
More or less.
*Kubuntu uses a different programming format to Windows so malware that is designed for Windows (namely the vast majority of them) don't work on Kubuntu. For more info on this matter, you can read the Wikipedia articles on Security comparison between Windows and Linux and Linux Malware. Unfortunately, this also means that all Windows programs won't work on Kubuntu. However, some programs have seperate versions that work in Linux (Kubuntu). Most other programs have free replacements for their Windows counterparts (eg: OpenOffice.org is a free and linux-compatible replacement for Microsoft Office). As for the rest, they may work if you use Wine.
*LTS stands for "Long Term Support" and it means that this version of Kubuntu will be supported by Canonical for three years until April 2013. Versions without LTS are only supported for one and a half years.
*The exact minimum and recommended requirements are as follows:
| | Minimum | Recommended |
| CPU | 300 MHz | 700 MHz |
| RAM | 64MB | 384MB |
| Hard Drive Space | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Video Card resolution support | 640x480 | 1024x768 |
Additionally, an add-on graphics card may be required if you want enhanced desktop visual effects. Also, it is recommended that you have a medium or high speed internet connection (ie: no dial-up) to have reasonable reliability in downloading programs and updates.
So how is Kubuntu better than Windows exactly?
There are numerous differences between Windows and Linux (Kubuntu). This wikipedia article compares some of them. The main advantages that apply to the average consumer are:
*Security
As already mentioned, Windows viruses don't work in Kubuntu. Another fact is that there are less viruses designed for Kubuntu than there are for Windows. The estimated number of viruses available for Windows has been estimated at over 2 million while the number for Linux has been estimated at just over 800. Finally, some argue that Kubuntu has just been designed to be more secure than Windows.
*Cost
Kubuntu is a free operating system. Windows isn't.
*Free Upgrades
Acquiring a new version of Windows requires that you spend some cash. New versions of Kubuntu are free. As an example, if you are using Windows XP and you want to upgrade to Windows Vista or 7, you would have to spend a few hundred rands or even one or two thousand rands to acquire the new version. If you are using this version of Kubuntu and Canonical releases a new version in the future, updating only requires that you either download the new version or acquire an updated installation disc.
*Similar feel to Windows
Kubuntu looks and feels similar to Windows. An experienced Windows user will have little trouble learning and adapting to the basics of Kubuntu. This is particularly true for someone comming from Vista or Windows 7.
Why wouldn't I want Kubuntu. Disadvantages (if any)?
Kubuntu does indeed have disadvantages compared to Windows. The main disadvantages are:
*Software compatibility
Because Microsoft has a significantly larger share of the Operating System market than Linux, most programmers will write their programs for Windows rather than Kubuntu. As stated earlier though, many of the Windows-only programs have free linux replacements and those that don't might work if used with Wine. Additionally, if Linux gets a larger portion of the Operating System market share (ie: more people use Linux, which is slowly happening), it will lead to more programmers writing software for Kubuntu.
*Ease of use
Unfortunately, despite the advances Linux has made over the years, it is still a more difficult operating system to use than Windows. However, some/most of these difficulties can be attributed to never having used Kubuntu before.
