We aren’t releasing Kubuntu Netbook Remix for Maverick (10.10).
We will definitely have Kubuntu optimized for netbooks.
What we have done is added Plasma Netbook to the standard Kubuntu desktop ISO and added some detection magic to select Desktop or Netbook based on screen size for first run. Once it’s running, you can change to your preferred Plasma workspace through systemsettings.
Why did we do this:
1. Efficiency – Every ISO needs testing and that needs testers and there are only so many of us to go around. Every ISO takes up space, has seeds to be maintained, etc. It takes work. One less is that much less work.
2. ShipIt – Starting with 10.10, the Kubuntu CD you can get through ShipIt will also supports Netbooks
3. Avoiding brand dilution – Now we’re back to “Kubuntu”, not which Kubuntu do you want (except for Kubuntu Mobile, but more about that later).
We tested this out for Maverick Alpha 2 and it seemed to work reasonably well, so we are pressing forward. There are a few wrinkles yet to iron out, but we’ve got a lot of development time left for solving those.
> Once it’s running, you can change to your preferred Plasma workspace through systemsettings
NO PLEASE!
Not another “hidden” setting.
Put into kdm which desktop to use: normal or netbook plasma and in the installer which one shoul be the default.
When I install kubuntu on a netbook, I want a normal desktop, not something else.
This won’t affect upgrades and it’s a one time change if you don’t want the default. It’s not “hidden” it’s in systemsettings.
I agree with raffaele, that putting it in kdm would be better.
Right now I have Ubuntu Desktop version as well as Unity installed. I can choose which one i want at gdm, I wish Kubuntu can also do something like this.
From a KDE perspective (and one defining characteristic of Kubuntu, is trying to stick close to upstream), Plasma Netbook is the “normal” desktop for Netbooks. I think having it as the default is reasonable.
> This won’t affect upgrades
Ok, but not talking about upgrades
> and it’s a one time change if you don’t want the default
No, really. If I install kubuntu, I want to install kubuntu, not another shell… No matter the screen size.
> It’s not “hidden” it’s in systemsettings.
Just to clarify: “hidden” here is for something which is not show by default but you must know where to go. Would it be better to let the user choose the shell the first time he log in?
I agree with raffaele, in my opinion, it would be better, the user has the choise which desktop shell he would use from the time of the installation. Otherwise, Kubuntu Netbook Remix is realy dead!
We are looking into options about this. There are netbooks with large enough screens that it’s difficult to determine if they are really netbooks or actually laptops. It’s not certain how this will work out yet.
I expect it won’t be an option in KDM at login time as that’s inconsistent with the upstream approach on this.
Sry, but why is it difficult to determine?
All devices with a screen smaller or exactly 10.1″ are netbooks, larger devices are sub-notes or notebooks… Where’s the problem?
The problem is that the information we have available in the system is pixel counts and dots per inch. We can infer screen size from this, but historically DPI has not always been reliable.
Can an option to the installer to set which is the default for new users be added? I assume there are skeleton files somewhere which determine what’s written in a user’s ~/.kde on first login. The installer would then just customize them.
We’d like it to be automatic and not have to ask another question. I’m not sure we can avoid it.