Ubuntu Netbook Remix - Karmic Koala
I’ve been using Ubuntu Netbook Remix on my Eee-PC 701 since before they released it, so well over a year now. Before that, I had vanilla Ubuntu installed, but always felt there had to be a better way to fit just a little more into the very few pixels that Asus had blessed me with. UNR stepped up to that task and I’ve enjoyed using it since. The ume-launcher app (which replaces the desktop with an application launcher) seemed a little heavy and slow for my poor little Eee, so recently I’d canned it and was solely using gnome-do for launching programs and opening folders.
Ubuntu’s six-month release cycle seems to come round very quickly, and October 29 is release day for the Karmic Koala – a.k.a. Ubuntu 9.10. With Karmic comes a new look for the ume-launcher and more lovely enhancements behind the scene. Let’s look at a few of them in the Alpha 5 release (testing). (You can also see all the images as a slideshow)
Installing Ubuntu Netbook Remix
Installation
Installing is as easy as ever, with Ubuntu’s graphic installation wizard that really anyone could do if they were a little bit brave and trusting. Faster than a Windows 7 upgrade (apparently, my RC has gone almost unused) and pretty too!
New ume look
The functionality of ume seems to be the same, if a little re-ordered. Favourites is your “start screen” with your most used applications available at a click. You can add new ones and remove those you don’t want on the front screen as before.
Favourites tab on Ubuntu Netbook Remix screenshot
However, instead of links to the file system being at the right, using up valuable screen real-estate all the time, “Files & Folders” has now become another option on the menu on the right. This is definitely a bonus for us with the little screens.
Bigger icons and scrolling tabs
You’ll also see that the icons are much bigger, as are the tabs at the side with the section names, and the tabs now scroll. The use of partial transparency and gloss makes this look like a really modern OS, but distinctly Ubuntu with it’s orange-brown wallpaper.
Gnome panel looks much better in Karmic
The gnome panel at the top of the screen and window decorations have been touched with some beauty too – a new mash-up of dust and human, with the Humanity icons thrown in for good effect.
Custom theme improves Karmic
It definitely works – and looks less like linux, in a good way! Notice the subtle grey of the default tray icons like wifi, battery and volume.
Boot time
Booting Karmic Koala
Starting from cold seems a little quicker than 9.04 – although I may have got used to a desktop full of bloat. It’s been “pretty-fied” too, with a nice looking progress spinner. This is supposed to be the fastest booting Ubuntu yet – brilliant if you’re looking to get on fast without suspending and using battery. Although suspend and resume work brilliantly, instant on, a few seconds for wireless reconnection. Speaking of which, maybe it’s an illusion or perhaps a new driver, but wifi seems faster, or more reliable. Time will tell.
Internet and Cloud
Using Empathy on UNR
If there’s one thing netbooks are for it’s the internet. Firefox is here as usual, but for some reason not pidgin. I don’t know why Ubuntu has moved over to Empathy, but I do know it does google talk, but not facebook chat without some help.
UbuntuOne Settings
We also now have UbuntuOne, the new cloud storage app bundled. I’ve been signed up for a while but never quite decided what use it would be for me to have 1Gb of shared files between computers when I have a good synchronising strategy.
Conclusion
There are still some rough edges with the Alpha 5 release – most of which will be ironed out before the 01/Oct/09 Beta release, but if you want a perfectly smooth experience wait until the end of next month to grab the final thing! Ubuntu Netbook Remix will run brilliantly on your Atom based netbook with a 9-10 inch screen, and just as well on even the original Eee-PCs from back in the day. The visual refresh is welcome, as are any gains in speed with the better software that is coming out. You can’t do that with XP!