12.04 was a beautiful dream, 14.04 a nightmare.

[aria]

Right richb.

I wish, now, to end this thread on a better note. Tried 14.10 with Plasma 4, and all issues I encountered with 14.04LTS apparently have been worked out. I welcome back Jockey, and welcome Balloo's disable option for desktop search. Shame it isn't an LTS... Or is it? Just have seen 14.04 upgraded to 14.04.1 which looks the same with 14.10. Will give it a try, hoping that some issues I still have in live-USB will be solved after the installation: the Search and Launch desktop, and some applications I depend on, and which are no more in the repositories. As I have the .deb files, will try to install them locally: Jupiter, k9copy, dvd95. Hope all these will work.

As for Plasma 5, did try it live-USB on my main laptop (i3-2350m), and refused to run. Instead did run on a netbook (celeron n2840) I have in trial. Plasma 5 looks nice, but IMO it moves too close to Gnome Shell: where is the Search and Launch activity I use 99% of the time, and where are some widgets I depend on, like Hardware Temperature? Yet, have to mention that I did encounter NO functional issues with it, which is incredible for a beta.

Looking forward,

Update: Installed 14.04.1 for testing to a spare HD, and except for two small issues (no place for them here, posted a separate thread), I'm very happy with it. Runs even colder than 12.04, and this on youtube 720p full-screen (47~48°C, while 12.04 was reaching 51~52°C, in same conditions, including same indoor temperature). Also, could install Jupiter and k9copy from locally saved .deb files (the earlier Jupiter 0.1.9-2, because the last issue 0.1.11-2 only installed, but didn't run). DVD95 installed from repository, and Search & Launch desktop is well and sound (wasn't in live-USB). Only wished Muon Package Manager to be installed by default, but did install it from repository. And also didn't really understand the choice for Dragonplayer and Amarok (installed instead VLC, Kaffeine, and Clementine). But this is only a question of flavor+taste, so doesn't really count. In conclusion, 14.04.1 is the real LTS (except for the two small issues mentioned before, but these are only two, and with minimum impact - still, hope they will be soon solved with your help).
Bests,

[richb]

That's why, IMO, this forum is the best on the web.

I would add the Linux forum I administer to that list of two. LOL!

[GreyGeek]

Anybody can have a problem with any distro, or a release of a distro. It can stem from hardware problems (incompatible or failed), user problems or, it seems, the phase of the moon sometimes. With just about any of the top twenty or thirty distros listed on DistroWatch's ranking list (which is essentially meaningless) just about anyone can have excellent results, or they can have a complete disaster. The general rule is that MOST will find just about any of them to be excellent desktop OSs. And, a small percentage will not be able to achieve good results with any of them.

As far as Kubuntu is concerned, my experience is that a vast majority of Kubuntu users, to put a guesstimate to it - 98 out of 100) are pleased with it. Most Kubuntu users (and other distros as far as that goes) have so few problems or concerns that they never feel a need to use a forum like this. They just use their distro to do what they want to do.

The users on this forum are of two groups: those that enjoy Kubuntu and want to contribute back in some way to it (like me) or have had (or are having) problems and want a solution. Most in the second category find their solution and move on to other things. A small number from that second group stay on to help or just commune with friends, or both. That's why, IMO, this forum is the best on the web.

[aria]

@aria Can I ask why you switched from Fedora to Kubuntu?

In 2011~2012 Kororaa (this was what I actually used for a while, because of Jokey Fedora didn't have), by that time I had two main issues with Fedora/Kororaa:
1) fixed, and very little space allocated to users home directories (ex: couldn't make 2 DVD ISOs, because running out of space, even if hard disk was almost empty),
2) sharing over the home network wasn't yet implemented (issues viewing downloaded movies on the TV via WiFi).
The sharing issue has been already fixed, as for the home allocated space, don't know yet. But, with my experience with (aborted) upgrade to Kubuntu 14.04, I wouldn't move for my main laptop to a running Linux distribution like Fedora/Korora (now the name ends with only an a). So, will stay with 12.04 as long is possible (at least up to 16.04). But, for sure, as I intend to get a netbook, for portability, instead of a tablet (I'm horrified to touch the screen - and no, I don't have a cellphone, hate them), I am decided to retry Korora on it. Besides, Korora still keeps Jokey and (very important) Jupiter too!

PS: Forgot the second part of the question: ...why you switched (...) to Kubuntu? Mainly because 10.04 was rock solid (still have it on a very old laptop, even if using it now only seldom), because 12.04 was (and still is) a beautiful dream made reality, and because of something special to Ubuntu: the PPA. Can't have the same words for 14.04. Will wait for 16.04 for my main computer (on witch I need a LTS).

[richb]

Baloo does need some work. It does use a lot of CPU resources when indexing, and slows my laptop when first turned on. Having said that I can still use the laptop with only slight delays. After about 5 minutes however, I am back to 1% to 2 % CPU usage on my Acer with an Intel I5 processor. So I have no real issue with it.

As far as an earlier comment that KDE is a resource hog, I do not find that to be the case on a capable machine.

@aria Can I ask why you switched from Fedora to Kubuntu?

[aria]

Actually there might be a way to disable Baloo (have no more 14.04 installed, but if Baloo can be find where Nepomuk is, it can also be disabled):
System Settings -> Startup and Shutdown -> Service Manager (Startup Services).
I disabled this way Bluetooth, should work for Baloo too. But, doing so, all search option are lost, while with Nepomuck it is possible to disable only the indexing by content (which is the hamster taking resources and heating the machine).

As for NM, never had such issues with Fedora, using kernel generic driver, this is why I blamed the NM. Nevermind, Broadcom is such a rare hardware...

[claydoh]

The soap goes both ways, by the way

I fail to see any personal attacks. It is something we don't care for here. Give even somewhat harsh comments without expecting a response, and in this case, much milder in comparison to the OP, might be a bit unrealistic.

It is also forgotten that nepomuk and akonadi were the bane in kde back in the 12.04
era
(Why does kde seem to do this just before our LTS releases lol!)


In the end, I think one area we here at KFN are lacking is better direction of issues, problems, bugs, etc to the bugzillas.

bugs.kde.org for Kde things
bugs.launchpad.net for driver,kernel, and other ubuntu specific things.

The kubuntu-devel mailing list ( perhaps even #kubuntu-devel channel on freenode irc) is where you can inform the Kubuntu team on your thoughts.


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[kubicle]

Baloo is actually quite configurable (and you can disable it). The main problem with baloo in 4.13.0 is that the config dialog is minimalistic to a fault. In 4.13.1 (not in main repos yet, but available from kubuntu updates ppa), the config dialog includes an explicit enable/disable checkbox.

There is also an alternate system settings config module (developed by Lindsay Mathieson) that exposes more of the configuration options than the stock module, you can see screenshots on https://www.kubuntuforums.net/showth...71-Baloo-links. You can get the module from Rogs ppa.

Network connection issues are not likely caused by plasma-nm, it's just a front-end widget that doesn't do any of the "heavy lifting" for network connectivity. If you have problems with your connection, the "blame" lies with the kernel, the driver or the networkmanager backend. Some Broadcom chips seem to have problems with recent kernels (or the other way around).

[Simon]

I didn't hear anyone say that you are not entitled to an opinion. Snowhog said your criticism was harsh. That was also his opinion. Oshunluvr's opinion was about the selection of hardware. My opinion was that you voiced a rant that didn't take into account, there is a solution for every problem. Sometimes that solution is reverting. I try to step back and see positives and negatives about everything. That doesn't always work... but I do try.

I am happy that you are happy.

[aria]

Thanks springshades to remind users that this is the Soapbox section. For those who don't like the soap, don't visit this section.

I also remind visitors to read the subject line, and my starting post too: 12.04 was and continues to be a dream, a beautiful one! I'm in love with it.

Back to you springshades: I felt just like you, because of Kubuntu (which in my opinion was the best KDE) I came to install and be happy with 12.04. Gnome shell and it's derivatives (except for Pinguy) become frustrating.

@oshunluvr: The bad decision you mentioned was the best for 12.04. And should I remind you that baloo didn't came with the bios of my hp, but with the 14.04 OS?

There's a huge difference between Nepomuk and Baloo: In Nepomuk you can enable or disable the search indexing by content (default is disabled), while in Baloo you can only add one or more directories to a don't search for indexing by content list. But you cannot disable it. Why does this bother me? Read my starting post about gscan2pdf. I added to the don't search list not only my Home directory, but also the Media one, and still couldn't contain this beast. It is permanently enabled and with all restrictions I imposed on it, still continued to make bad surprises. Not giving the option to disable a non-essential application does not belong to the Linux culture, makes me feel more like I did years ago, when I was using Windows.

BTW, KDE-Wallet, like Nepomuk, can be easyily disabled (System Settings -> Account Details) - it's one of the firsts things I do with a new OS. Have no truble with apps giving me a choice, a true one, not like Baloo.

I stand behind all my affirmations, and (for few of you, only) have, please, the decency to avoid personal attacks. Thanks.

[springshades]

I don't get the complaints. If there shouldn't be any rants in the forum then there shouldn't be a "soapbox" section of the forum. This isn't the place to ask for support, and the user wasn't asking for it. The OP isn't necessarily poorly researched either considering that the main fix for baloo issues was already tried (adding home folder to exclusions), and the wifi issues were already researched to insure that the card itself wasn't the issue (it works in other distros).

Personally, I don't have many issues with KDE. It's a resource hog, but I knew that going in. IMO, KDM was a better fit than LDM (it's a bit difficult to customize still), but that's nothing new either. KDE has a lot of good software options, and the interface is smooth and intuitive. It's one of the final bastions of the true desktop work environment, and the changes that the KDE has made to the archetype have been enhancements with very few regressions (except for resource use, obviously). Unlike Gnome or Unity where new features tend to coincide with the deletion of old features.

[oshunluvr]

Harsh but (unfortunately) true on my HP-g6 I3-2350M@2.3GH 64-bit, 8GB-RAM, broadcom WiFi.
Including baloo with 14.04 was a very bad decision (although highly disputed, as I can read in this forum), and new NM a scrap (as I can read in this forum too).

Equally, one could logically conclude that buying an "HP-g6 I3-2350M@2.3GH 64-bit, 8GB-RAM, broadcom WiFi" was a very bad decision, at least if you planning on using Kubuntu on it. Or maybe not; if one took the time and effort to actually try and find solutions to the reported issues.

As Simon notes, this is a user forum geared toward community based cooperation. Well researched posts that include necessary information along with thought out requests for assistance are almost always greeted with offers of help.

[GreyGeek]

I installed 12.04 when it was Alpha, in January of 2012. I was planing to stay with it until 17.04. Precise ran great until an update of the kernel (3.2.x) rendered the Atheros AR9462 wireless chip very unstable and unreliable last November, forcing me to plug in an ethernet cable from my wireless router. I tried KWeezy 1.5 for a couple months and it worked great using the 3.9.x kernel. When 14.04 went Alpha in January I tried it out using a LiveUSB and found that my AR9462 worked even better than it did in 12.04 before the kernel update. So, I re-installed Kubuntu and have been very pleased with Trusty.

I do have some problems with FireFox 29, which seems to take an inordinately long time to display some pages and often requires me to reload a YouTube page to get the video to play. While FireFox's busy wheel is spinning I can pop up a Konsole and ping the website that FireFox is trying to display and get an immediate echo. Meanwhile FF continues spinning its wheels and the wireless network traffic display is showing zero bytes (except when I ping). It appears that FF is having trouble communicating with the IP stack.

[claydoh]

Everyone has their own experience. My 12.04 experience was the opposite. My broadcom was so terrible I went on eBay to find an oem Intel Wi-Fi card for the laptop. NM did not like connecting to vpn. Nepomuk sucked the life out of my laptop until it was done with it's thing.

On the exact same hardware, minus that crap Broadcom WiFi, nm, Baloo, etc run like a champ on this 6 year old hardware.

I will continue to say that, imnsho, LTS status is less a thing in kubuntu than people make it out to be, or that it should be. Yes, it is "supported" longer, but as we don't really control the desktop software, it becomes difficult, I think, unless one keeps the LTS updated to the latest KDE down the road, via the ppas.

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