adding kubuntu desktop on top of ubuntu /? ?? or total reinstall

[anne5505]

hi there, ive got a nice completely new thinkpad that is running ubuntu. i much prefer mint xfce but it just wouldnt run on it. ubuntu seems very solid and clean, but i really miss how customizable xfce was.

the friend who helped me install it says i can just add a kubuntu desktop on top of the ubuntu that is already there, and he gave me a few simple commands to do it which i could probably do. (god willing) he said i didnt have to completley reinstall everything and it would be more like mint. i dont totally understand exactly how desktops interchange like that.


can anyone help me understand if this just adding a desktop will actually make enough difference, or should i just completely start over. its working flawlessly as it is, i just miss being able to play around with stuff more.


so will it work to just add a kubuntu desktop on top of the ubuntu i already have, or should i start over fresh? im about to leave the country and wont know anyone who works on linux for a long time, so trying to get it all solid before i go. thanks so much for any advice

[claydoh]

While this is perfectly OK to try, adding a full Kubuntu on top of Ubuntu (or vice versa) is well known to cause minor to less minor niggles, small bugs, and oddities for many. But it should not break anything.

Which specific commands were suggested? One *can* install a bit less of Kubuntu instead of the full-bore kubuntu-desktop meta-package to avoid most, if not all of these.
But note that adding Xfce, or even Cinnamon (Mint's desktop) is iirc much less prone to problems, and are also options to consider. these can be installed alongside Ubuntu's Gnome similarly to adding Kubuntu's KDE.

In my experience, it is better to get the full Kubuntu (Xubuntu, Ubuntu-cinnamon) experience by starting fresh.

I definitely would not suggest doing something so drastic just before traveling. Don't ask me why

Installing kde-plasma-desktop as opposed to kubuntu-desktop will be a much safer choice if you *must* have something to play with.

Another option could be to install Kubuntu to a USB stick instead of the internal drive, just for something to play with, Or using Virtualbox. Or dual-booting Ubuntu-Kubuntu


And also note that there are plenty of us users online, so you don't necessarily need a RL friend to help.