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Kubuntu vs Linux Mint: What are the differences?
Introduction
Kubuntu and Linux Mint are two popular Linux distributions that aim to provide user-friendly and customizable desktop environments. While both are based on Ubuntu, they have their own unique features and differences. In this article, we will explore the key differences between Kubuntu and Linux Mint.
Desktop Environment: Kubuntu uses the KDE Plasma desktop environment, which offers a modern and feature-rich interface. It provides a visually appealing experience with customizable widgets, effects, and a smooth user interface. On the other hand, Linux Mint uses the Cinnamon desktop environment, which focuses on simplicity and ease of use. It provides a traditional and familiar desktop layout with a taskbar and a system tray.
Software Management: Kubuntu uses the KDE Sofware Center for managing software packages. It offers a wide range of applications and allows users to install, update, and remove software easily. Linux Mint, on the other hand, uses the Software Manager, which is based on the Ubuntu Software Center. It provides a simple and intuitive interface for managing software packages and offers a curated selection of applications.
Default Applications: Kubuntu comes with a set of default applications that are optimized for the KDE Plasma desktop environment. It includes applications like Dolphin file manager, Konsole terminal emulator, and KMail email client. Linux Mint, on the other hand, comes with a set of default applications that are more lightweight and focused on simplicity. It includes applications like Nemo file manager, Xed text editor, and Thunderbird email client.
System Requirements: Kubuntu, being based on KDE Plasma, generally has higher system requirements compared to Linux Mint. It requires a faster processor, more RAM, and a more powerful graphics card to run smoothly. On the other hand, Linux Mint is designed to be lightweight and can run well on older hardware with less powerful specifications.
Community and Support: Kubuntu is an official Ubuntu flavor and has a larger community and support base compared to Linux Mint. It benefits from regular updates, security patches, and a well-established community that provides technical support and documentation. Linux Mint, although it has a dedicated community, is not an official Ubuntu flavor and may have a smaller support base.
In summary, Kubuntu and Linux Mint differ in terms of desktop environment, software management, default applications, system requirements, and community support. Kubuntu offers a modern and visually appealing desktop environment with a wide range of applications, while Linux Mint focuses on simplicity and ease of use. Kubuntu has higher system requirements and benefits from a larger community and official support as an Ubuntu flavor.
I liked manjaro a lot, the huge support it has and the variety of tools it provides is just awesome. But due to its parent platform being Arch Linux it has bleeding-edge technology and that meaning, we get updated 'daily', and if we keep updating the system daily, due to the bugs in the recent updates the system sometimes used to crash, this made the OS really unstable. However, one can avoid such crashes using periodical and careful system/package updates. I now use LinuxMint which is based on Ubuntu, and this OS is completely stable with reliable(mostly tested) updates. And, since this OS is backed up by UBUNTU the concerns/questions one can encounter while using the OS can be easily rectified using the UBUNTU community, which is pretty good. Though this is backed up on UBUNTU it most certainly does NOT include the proprietary stuff of UBUNTU, which is on the bright side of the OS. That's it! Happy Computing.
Pros of Kubuntu
- Highly customizable5
- Large community5
- Very Stable4
- Good for beginners4
- Lightweight4
Pros of Linux Mint
- Simple, Fast, Comfort and Easy to Use15
- Stable14
- Elegant12
- Good for beginners11
- Free to use10
- Out of the box3
- Reliable3
- Good software support1
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Cons of Kubuntu
- Unstable2
Cons of Linux Mint
- Easy to mess up with a few settings (like the panel)3
- Security breaches2
- Idiots can break it because it is open source1
