Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 2nd Aug 2012 01:48 UTC, submitted by poundsmack
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RE[2]: What is the best KDE distro nowadays?
by foobaz on Thu 2nd Aug 2012 08:26
in reply to "RE: What is the best KDE distro nowadays?"




Member since:
2007-02-17
Where are the KDE strengths best exposed?
A company called Blue Systems has begun to sponsor KDE distribution based on Ubuntu (and hence Debian) repositories, which provide a very comprehensive range of packages. The latest set of these "sibling" distros are based on Kubuntu 12.04 LTS.
http://www.kubuntu.org/news/12.04-release
Blue System's own distribution is called Netrunner.
http://www.netrunner-os.com/dryland-second-edition-released/
Blue Systems also sponsor Linux Mint KDE.
http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2081
These three distributions all work pretty well, they are based on the same codebase and they use essentially the same repositories, with minor variations. They do each provide different features, themes and look and feel.
Netrunner, for example, doesn't use the kickoff menu by default:
http://www.netrunner-os.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Games.jpg
Netrunner also has fairly seamless visual integration of GTK applications:
http://www.netrunner-os.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Gimp.jpg
Mint has different artwork:
http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_maya_kde_whatsnew.php#artwork
"KDE is a vibrant, innovative, advanced, modern looking and full-featured desktop environment."
Maybe so, but the Linux Mint project is first and foremost a GNOME project (even though GNOME is starting to fracture nowadays), and it doesn't do KDE all that well. For myself, I run Kubuntu 12.04 LTS, but Netrunner is very interesting IMO, and I may switch to it.
http://www.netrunner-os.com/about/
Netrunner is a GNU/Linux Distribution sponsored by Blue-Systems.com
Netrunner is built on Kubuntu with default integration of Gnome and Wine. Our focus is on new users as well as “power-users”, making KDE an ideal choice.
It allows Netrunner to feel comfortable for a new user, while still offering powerful customization options (with inclusion of additional add-ons) to any user wanting to explore the possibilities of FLOSS.
We go by the principles
- Power-up, not dumb-down
- Include add-ons, codecs, customizations
- Avoid lock-ins, favor free(libre) alternatives if possible
Sounds a pretty good deal for individual users.
Edited 2012-08-02 07:13 UTC