A couple weeks ago, we took a look at Lubuntu, a lightweight Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. Since then, the operating system has undergone major changes that merit a revisit of its features. Here’s a second look at the Ubuntu variant that just might replace Xubuntu.
When I wrote about Lubuntu previously, I was impressed by its performance and ability to run on minimal system resources. That’s already a major point in its favor against Xubuntu, which can appear underwhelming to users looking for a lightweight desktop.
My one major criticism of Lubuntu when I first tried it out was its aesthetics. Maybe I’m just a shallow guy, but looks do matter, especially in operating systems, and the iteration of Lubuntu that I tested initially was filled with overly geeky artwork.
Lubuntu’s New Look
But that’s all changed in the most recent build of the Lubuntu Lucid live CD, alpha 3, which was released on February 25 and is available here. The new Lubuntu looks like this (apologies for the dual mouse cursors; the black one is Lubuntu’s):
Here’s another screenshot offering a more thorough look at the new art:
In my opinion, this color scheme and artwork are much prettier than what I saw two weeks ago. They’re something I could use everyday without feeling like a totally unfashionable geek.
Additional themes are accessible from Lubuntu’s appearance preferences utility:
Finally, here’s a quick look at the login screen, which is also pretty pleasing to the eye–especially given that the developers are working with minimal system resources:
Note the several different options for desktop sessions. When I tried, only “Lubuntu” and “Lubuntu Netbook” (and “Default,” which is Lubuntu) worked, but the suggestion that the Lubuntu developers aim to release implementations of Gnome and KDE on Openbox is exciting.
Other Changes
Beyond the visual, Lubuntu’s developers have updated the operating system in other significant ways. For one, as perceptive readers will have noticed in the first screenshot above, Lubuntu now sports NetworkManager instead of wicd.
As much as I love wicd, I have to agree with the developers that NM is better. NM offers exceedingly easy configuration of VPN connections and the like, which wicd does not.
Also noticeable is the replacement of Firefox with Chrome as the default Web browser (Firefox is no longer installed at all):
Finally, the Lubuntu developers have created a special interface for netbooks. I haven’t had much time to explore it yet, but hope to do so soon. Briefly, though, here’s what it looks like:
There are still two long months between now and the final release of Ubuntu 10.04, which means there’s plenty of time for future changes to Lubuntu. But so far I really like what I see, and am starting to regret not having a computer old enough to justify switching to this still-unofficial Ubuntu variant.
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While I like the new look, the first thing I will be doing is ripping out chrome and installing firefox from the daily ppa. I think this decision has some political under tones too it, seeing as they are helping google on their chrome os and I will not support it. The idea of having an operating system that is unable to save documents on your own computer is absurd and frankly I don’t like chrome the browser.
Other than the Gnome-ish windows and KDE-ish bottom panel making it look like an unholy union of the big two Linux desktops I’m not really seeing anything worth getting excited about here.
The blue is nicer than Ubuntu brown. I can’t remember what the original Lubuntu theme looked like. But as nice as the blue is, it’s just an average run of the mill GTK desktop theme. Which sort of makes me understand why Ubuntu is brown and orange and Mint is so minty green.
The screenshots above could be any GTK based desktop.
I do not understand why they have changed the browser. Firefox uses much less memory which is very important for a light desktop.
It’s not only Lubuntu that’s gt a new Look but Ubuntu also got a New look-
http://wiki.ubuntu.com/Brand
I ‘ll definitely try it on my netbook.
I’ve got nothing against blue. Friendly skies and friendly seas are blue. But does EVERYTHING have to be blue?! I call this color “corporate-boring-North America.”
I know, it can be changed, but still … enough already. I’m sick of the snide comments about Ubuntu because it’s NOT blue.
Couldn’t we have just one OS that’s NOT themed blue or gray? I thought Ubuntu’s use of brown-orange-yellow looked fabulous.
ssj6akshat: Thanks for the link to Ubuntu’s new look. I’m really sorry they’re killing the current look, but at least the new one isn’t blue … yet.
Purple. So is Canonical thinking of making a bid for Yahoo!? Better make it fast. Way it’s going, there soon won’t be much to bid for.
Interesting column, as always, Christopher. Thanks.
My favorite color has always been blue. IM SICK people blue bashing. From the looks of it Lubuntu is using gnome-colors for icons, that means there are many color choices but the same theme. That is the direction we should be heading in.
I think the color scheme helps to establish a distribution’s brand. Most people don’t change the look and feel of their apps and OS. I hope that more work (any willing volunteers?) goes into the integration of the apps so they have the same look and feel and color schemes. I have always wondered how make it so that disparate widget toolkits can share your favorite themes.
The thing I am worried about if the dilution of the Ubuntu brand. Ubuntu is quite a powerful meta-distribution and the rate at which derivative works are spawning demonstrates this. I know that this topic has been discussed previously on other articles, but I am not sure that the naming convention of derivative works reinforces the Ubuntu brand or takes away from it. There is also no consistency in naming, for instance how editions are different from remixes, and so on.
I have so much rattling around in my head about ubuntu but overall I like that you can install Ubuntu from CD and then install the package distribution from Kubuntu for example. Is this possible in other distros? So far as I know not unless you are a sucker for cruel and unusual punishment to self.
Holy hell, it’s an LXDE that doesn’t look awful – I’m rather impressed. The GTK+/OpenBox themes are pretty bog-standard, but that panel is a major improvement over the default “Ultra-Glossy Just for the Sake of Gloss” panel motif. I didn’t spend much time with the DE, but in my experience, getting that thing to look good was kind of an uphill battle.
Kudos, Lubuntu design guys.
Also, Mr. Tozzi, I think the extra entries for GNOME and KDE with Openbox are a side effect of LXDE’s configuration (requires GTK and KDE components along with Openbox). I wouldn’t be getting too excited about those session options, as they have appeared on every Ubuntu system I installed LXDE on.
Wow, that link to the new Ubuntu branding is great! At first I thought “what, no not purple, anything but purple!” It looks fantastic though, I’ll be happy to have that gorgeous theme popping up around the office this summer.
You had a typo, it’s not Chrome, it’s Chromium, its open source counterpart. Lubuntu wouldn’t ship with a closed source browser.
how do u change the desktop picture? seems mine will not work. it has the app to change it but it does not work.
@ Adam. They haven’t installed Google Chrome, they installed Chromiun. I know, I know, Google benefits from it, but to be honest since I switched to Chromium with my netbook I have been quite happy. When I was trouble shooting a flash plugin last week, I tried FireFox momentarily…I felt like I was going to fall asleep waiting for it to start up. Chromium is by far much faster than Firefox by default, which makes sence for a lightweight desktop like LXDE. I’m glad they switched, Firefox is starting to show it’s age.
I’m just wondering how long it will take before Canonical wakes up and replaces Xubuntu with Lubuntu.
[...] — not by a long shot. But that seems to be changing. At least, that was the way it was last month. And slightly awkward windows is a rather low price to pay for a much faster [...]