Do You Agree That Kubuntu Should be Renamed - If So, What Name?

Kubuntu may not be an official part of Ubuntu,

Incorrect. See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DerivativeTeam/Derivatives,

To partially quote from that web page - Kubuntu is fully integrated into the Ubuntu project and contributes significantly and directly towards the project.

[NoWorries]

With that thinking in mind why not simply call it BlueLinux. It might just be me, but don't most people know Linux is an operating system (at least those who are familiar with the term). BlueLinOS reminds me too much of PCLinuxOS or Lindows (just my opinion though).

I was thinking of having a word that did not have too many strong consonants such as K and X. For example we have popular products such as Android and ipad which are not harsh sounding words.

[Snowhog]

αΩ Linux - The First and Last Linux you will ever need!

[perspectoff]

Canonical's repositories

Finally, let's not forget Canonical is still paying for the servers with the Kubuntu repositories, even though many mirrors pay their own bandwidth it's still a non-trivial contribution!

Extremely, extremely important.

Speed of access and accessiblity to repository downloads is very important.

... not that I think that Debian or Mint repositories are slow in comparison...

Further, the co-branding is important, too.

Ubuntu Edge had quite a high visibility for a short while. Kubuntu beneifited from that visibility, to a small extent, IMO.

I, for one, am looking forward eventually to a KDE-based tablet (Vivaldi?) and cell phone, but at this time perhaps the public mindset is that only Ubuntu is making strides in that direction. If Kubuntu piggybacks that impression (until something KDE-based on a tablet / mobile phone actually appears to be easily usable and becomes mature), then I believe this is a benefit.

In the US, Red Hat is the dominant business-oriented Linux distro, still. Red Hat / CentOS / Fedora server market share is dropping rapidly to Ubuntu, though, because, I think, business wants the vertical integration that Ubuntu seems to be poised to offer: mobile / laptop / desktop / cloud.

Kubuntu must appear to offer that same vertical integration, IMO, to continue to appeal not only to business, but also to schools (Brazil), government (France and Germany), and scientists. Kubuntu has had to work harder to make sure it is compatible with Ubuntu's many incarnations yet still offer all of KDE's advantage. That has been no small task but that integration has been one its major values, IMO.

Can that be done with Debian? Probably so (and that consideration is being discussed in another thread), but certainly Debian lacks some of the public visibility that Ubuntu enjoys (courtesy of Canonical). Kubuntu may not appear to be an officially supported part of Ubuntu (the impression one may get from reading this thread), but it still enjoys a good deal of the visibility of Ubuntu.

Would Mint be so popular if it also didn't market itself as an Ubuntu derivative, either? Probably not, if you accept my premise.

[Teunis]

Linuks

A problem is the first 'i', compared to other European languages English speakers pronounce it very different , Linnuks would consolidate the differences

Jokes aside, the differences in pronunciation have to be addressed and such a name has to be relatively short, probably only 2 or 3 syllables.
As Ubuntu has shown it does not have to refer to it's heritage, Linus, Unix and KDE.
For an OS build on DOS the name Windows was descriptive, short and simple and many languages translated it.
The next Linux could do with a similar universal, real or artificial, word.

[Snowhog]

Okay, let's plan on planning to have a pre-meeting meeting to develop a set of pre-development development concepts. Let's all meet on Tuesday to set a meeting date.

[benny_fletch]

I used Blue because KDE colour is Blue and Blue Systems are now supporting Kubuntu. I used Lin as an abbreviation for Linux and OS as an abbreviation for Operating System.

With that thinking in mind why not simply call it BlueLinux. It might just be me, but don't most people know Linux is an operating system (at least those who are familiar with the term). BlueLinOS reminds me too much of PCLinuxOS or Lindows (just my opinion though).

I also agree it might be a bit premature to be thinking about a rename (since kubuntu is still very much ubuntu w/ kde). On the other hand, I guess it is never too early to have a plan.

[NoWorries]

Oops almost forgot. IF you must rename it... "K OS" is better so you are not linking it to any distro that people might abandon in the future.

That sounds very cosy or should I say Kosy

I remember that some do not like KDE applications always starting with K. I used Blue because KDE colour is Blue and Blue Systems are now supporting Kubuntu. I used Lin as an abbreviation for Linux and OS as an abbreviation for Operating System.

For Kubuntu to increase in Market acceptance, I believe that it has to have:

• an appealing product name,
• an appealing presentation, ie no longer a vanilla KDE look,
• a comprehensive range of default applications that satisfy the diversity of users needs

Increased Market acceptance is what we all want to achieve.

[Feathers McGraw]

Not all forms have Debian roots.

See the family tree images here:

http://futurist.se/gldt/

Feathers

[Simon]

William Shakespeare wrote, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Meanwhile... my Kubuntu 12.04 LTS is still cooking along and it will be some time before I swap spit with anything else. If or when this effects the 12.04 LTS I might move into a Debian. I am not an expert but it has been my understanding that all forms of Linux has its roots in Debian?

Oops almost forgot. IF you must rename it... "K OS" is better so you are not linking it to any distro that people might abandon in the future.

[Tom_ZeCat]

Very enjoyable video. George has other connotations here down-under. I have only just found a previous discussion on other names for Kubuntu on this forum.

What about the name BlueLinOS ?

I'm for changing Kubuntu's name, but if they did change it, BlueLinOS would be a really good choice. One great thing about Linux is that you have so choices for a distro. I used to use Ubuntu 8.04 on my jukebox PC (not my main PC -- still used Windows for that). However, when I saw the latest Ubuntu, I went eeeewwwww. I really don't like regular Ubuntu's interface with that icon bar to the left. Kubuntu was a great choice for me. I like Kubuntu/KDE way better than Ubuntu and Unity. If I didn't use Ubuntu, I would probably use Mint/KDE.

But BlueLinOS is a name that does fit pretty well.

[NoWorries]

Very enjoyable video. George has other connotations here down-under. I have only just found a previous discussion on other names for Kubuntu on this forum.

What about the name BlueLinOS ?

[SantaFe]

Aw shoot. I was hoping we'd call it George. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JlVqfC8-UI

[Teunis]

Neither do I see a pressing need to rename Kubuntu.
As a Dutchman I might be privileged to be multi-lingual be I really can't see ANY issues with the pronunciation of a simple word like Kubuntu, this contrary to Ubuntu that the average USA dweller can really mess up . (Check out the 'great vowel shift')
Reading this forum I notice investigations into a different base for 'our' distro of choice are well under way, the obvious one would be a Debian, maybe Siduction?
Mint can't be of help, it's based on the same Ubuntu, besides when they broke away from Ubuntu they did consciously NOT go Kubuntu.

Speaking for myself I would have no problem with putting Wayland on top of X, especially using my computer for Multi-Media I see the shortcomings of X.

Finally, let's not forget Canonical is still paying for the servers with the Kubuntu repositories, even though many mirrors pay their own bandwidth it's still a non-trivial contribution!

[claydoh]

This has been discussed in the past, both here and amongst the Kubuntu team itself.

One thing to note is that I do not think that xorg is going away altogether, at least not for a while. Other "flavours" will need some non-mir display server(s) to use, and it is quite likely that simply merging whatever is in Debian at the time Ubuntu merges their packages with theirs. We have quite a while before we have to worry about this, to be honest.