Ubuntu or Xubuntu....anyone!!?

**optinox** · November 6th, 2008, 10:51 AM

hey, does it matter which iso i download, either ubuntu or xubuntu. i know xubuntu is lighter on system resources, but why offer like 3 diffferent variations (ubuntu, kubuntu, xubuntu). The reason i ask this is because on some linux threads, i've read how you can go into terminal and change the desktop manager to XFCE, so would it just be wise to release 1 iso, is there a benefit in releasing 3 or 4 variations?

Also if you have tired Sabayon and Gentoo, could you tell me what they are like, and how they compare to the ubuntu family?

**washe** · November 6th, 2008, 01:07 PM

It's one of their tactics as linux had the rumor mill of being a pain to install, they made live cds, so ubuntu prepacks the most common configuration so as you fit the cd and turn it on it will be working and you can see what you are getting.

Yes with one installation you could to go to bash and install the KDE, Gnome or XFCE... but it will require to download all the required packages for those UI to work, so is easier for you to choose what you need to prevent more download time.

Havent installed Gentoo on years, I could only suceeed once due it was pain to install... but once installed if was pretty damn good, I learned a lot of how linux does things with Gentoo.. something you dont learn with other distros at first glance.

**excuzzzeme** · November 6th, 2008, 01:32 PM

Ubuntu lets you use either XFC or KDE desktop. It's pretty much plug and play. I think you are better off to download the live CD of several different flavors to play around with before making final selection. DSL (Damn Small Linux) is small enough to put on a thumbdrive and yet has many features I like. Most will inter-operate with WINE and you will be able to run many M$ products. WINE=WINdows Emulator.

You also may want to d/l vmplayer and run linux on a windows machine for testing.

**ShuckyD** · November 6th, 2008, 01:50 PM

Kubuntu uses KDE
Ubuntu uses Gnome

Both are pretty nice, but it depends on which you prefer. I have grown to like Gnome over time, but when I was new to linux I preferred KDE because it resembled Windows more, IMO.

**optinox** · November 6th, 2008, 10:59 PM

So basically i downloaded the latest ubuntu 8.10 and installed it, then later on decided i wanted to try xubuntu, so i ran the command in terminal and ubuntu downloaded/installed all the packages to switch ubuntu's gnome to xfce. After reboot, it loaded saying Xubuntu, so is this the same as just downloading the iso version of xubuntu?

If this is the case, then why offer an iso for Xubuntu, Ubuntu, and Kubuntu....why not come out with one iso called Ubuntu, and let the user decide which version they wanna install during set up?

**DemonKnight** · November 8th, 2008, 09:40 PM

So basically i downloaded the latest ubuntu 8.10 and installed it, then later on decided i wanted to try xubuntu, so i ran the command in terminal and ubuntu downloaded/installed all the packages to switch ubuntu's gnome to xfce. After reboot, it loaded saying Xubuntu, so is this the same as just downloading the iso version of xubuntu?

If this is the case, then why offer an iso for Xubuntu, Ubuntu, and Kubuntu....why not come out with one iso called Ubuntu, and let the user decide which version they wanna install during set up?

Because not every one has internet access let alone highspeed during a setup situation. Also Kubuntu and Xubuntu are maintained by 2 independed groups from the main ubuntu. They are branches from the main one. There are starting to be alot of distros based on ubunutu. I'm really starting like puppy linux though. it has proven (for me at least) more compatible than any Ubuntu distro I have tried. and running the entire OS in ram is oh so insane fast...

**Amr** · November 18th, 2008, 03:41 PM

It's just for convenience. You can install any combination of desktop environment at the same time and test them to find out which one you like. I am a big of fan of gnome.

**theGlitch** · December 2nd, 2008, 11:18 AM

I know this thread has been dead for a bit... but I wanted to put in my 2 cents:

It's more than just what you like... it also depends on what you intend to use the machine for. Personally, I dual boot windows and ubuntu because I am a programmer and they both have great tools. If you're running a server you'd want xubuntu because it'll take up less resources from the system. Like Washe said, it's a tactic by ubuntu to get more of a user base (they are after all a business of sorts).