If you've been looking for a lean, sleek, well supported operating system for your netbook then look no further. Due out next month, Karmic Koala Netbook Remix has a cleaner interface, complete hardware support and numerous other improvements. Let's take a look.
The Bad
While the new interface is clean and takes up less screen real estate, it’s not all peaches and cream.
The layout of applications with big shiny buttons looks good, but it makes it very hard to find programs when it’s full. Take the System package group for example, it’s full of useful tools but it’s hard to scan both left to right and down in order to locate the utility needed.
The Games category also has a screen full of applications to choose from, but they aren’t even in alphabetical order (see below). The icons are large and the interface works very well, but finding what a users wants is not as easy as it should be. I’m sure that after a short period of time, finding what you need will become become second nature but in the mean time it can be a little frustrating.
As such, it would be great if there was a fast, lightweight search facility implemented. Hey, we can dream can’t we?
The Ugly
The use of Maximus is a great hack. It enables the applications to make better use of the small number of pixels available by overlaying the title bar and system tray. Unfortunately it’s just that, a hack.
Opening a program causes it to flicker half a dozen times while it adjusts itself on the screen, finally settling itself into its new snug full screen position. It’s not too bad and of course people will put up with it, but it simply looks unprofessional and detracts from the awesomeness of the rest of the system.
The other issue with Maximus is that it doesn’t work on all applications, especially KDE based programs. Given that on a Linux box users have tens of thousands of applications to install and use, that’s probably fair enough. It does, however, mean that the desktop will lack some polish when users start exploring.
Undoubtedly this will improve overtime and getting more applications supported by the system is probably a higher priority, but if it’s to be the long term approach for netbook remix it just might need a little re-work in this area.
Although admittedly still a development release, there were some issues with applications occasionally not actually taking their rightful place, as seen below.
As it stands currently, these small issues with Maximus just helps to make the desktop feel amateurish and unstable.
Looking ahead
Koala is certainly on the right track. The interface is much improved, but it’s far from perfectly clean. Sure, users can put up with the flickering and applications which don’t maximize full screen, but it’s just not nice. Unfortunately that means we will probably need one more release cycle before it becomes top notch.
Things are moving in the right direction however and with dedicated resources, perhaps next year’s 10.04 release could be the killer Linux desktop of all time. Lots of improvements like ext4, kernel-based mode setting and the new X.Org will all be more stable and well tested. Any issues with the cloud could also be sorted by then. The upcoming 9.10 release will certainly be a milestone along the journey, but it’s not there yet.
Perhaps Canonical should do an “Apple” – that is, make 10.04 a bug fix only version like the recent release of OS X, Snow Leopard. Sure, include the latest upstream GNOME and KDE desktops, but they should really focus on their core technologies and clean them up. If they can do that, Ubuntu might just be ready for wide stream consumer adoption.
Canonical is also working with the Moblin project to improve the performance and enhance the user experience of netbook remix, but it’s certainly no Moblin, yet. If it is warranted down the track, perhaps we might see a completely separate version of Ubuntu, entirely optimized for the Atom architecture, which might even be based directly off Moblin and its custom desktop.
In the mean time, despite the few minor issues raised above, the netbook remix is perhaps the most complete experience available and certainly a great achievement.
What Does the Future Hold?
Linux started strongly in the netbook market, only to be steam rolled by Microsoft. Still, what this has achieved is to show consumers that there are other choices out there. It’s not too late for Linux to make a come back, but it needs something clever and simple that just works (and works really, really well).
With a bit more work done on the interface to make it smoother, netbook remix is a operating system which could reclaim that lost market share. Canonical is certainly onto a winner here and hopefully more computer manufacturers will notice that as well and engage with the company to put Linux back in a store near you.
While we wait for the market to sort itself out, Ubuntu just keeps getting better and better. Don’t forget that anyone who already owns a netbook (including those purchased with Windows) can download and install Ubuntu free of charge. With the various improvements coming in Karmic, it will be the best and most complete option for Intel based netbooks anywhere.
Christopher Smart has been using Linux since 1999. In 2005 he created Kororaa Linux, which delivered the world's first Live CD showcasing 3D
desktop effects. He also founded the
MakeTheMove website, which introduces users to free software and encourages them to switch. In his spare time he enjoys writing articles on free software.
Comments on "The New Ubuntu Netbook Remix is Totally Karmic: An Early Look"
I use this now on my Netbook (eee 900), and while it looks great and works well, it\’s way, way, WAY too slow. I would not recommend it for anyone other than the already converted Linux-geeks. Doing anything in Firefox or OpenOffice is a real chore, and even opening up menus takes a long time.
Ubuntu Netbook Remix is certainly not ready for primetime until it\’s been optimized for the awesome, but underpowered Netbooks.
I don\’t understand this move towards large button-style icons. Moblin, UBR, the original eee/Xandros look-feel.. *shudder* I\’m no longer 8 and don\’t really need that. Further, when one of the first things people asked when the original 701eee came out was, \”HOW DO I GET TO A REGULAR DESKTOP?\”, why spend so much energy recreating that?
The eeebuntu guys have it right: They\’ve fine-tuned the kernel for the eee and offer it in a couple of flavors, including a VERY light \”Base\” option that allows the user to add-on only those apps they want.
Seriously, who wants a Fisher-Price OS??
I don\’t understand why people say UNR is slow. I have a eeepc 701 4G – the almost original netbook and speed is excellent with current Jaunty version. Open Office opens as fast as any computer I use. Perhaps it performs better with the Celeron processor than with the Atom ones.
I run Kubuntu 9.04 (KDE 4.2) on my AspireOne (SSD, 1.6G Atom, 1.5GiB mem) with the tmpfs tweaks (and a few others) posted on the Ubuntu AspireOne wiki page. The interface runs very snappily (with effects turned off) and provides nice consistent full screen capabilities. Google Chrome pre-release seems to be much faster the Firefox 3.5 on this set up. Not sure why KDE seems to be ignored when it comes to NetBooks. (I find KDE to be more polished and consistent than either Gnome or Xfce.)
Hi guys. Angrylizards comments are interesting. I for one, have not tried out Linux on a netbook.
I recommend the website http://www.ubuntumini.com, for running ubuntu(regular) on dell mini 9\’s. I am actually thinking of getting a dell mini 9 and running either ubuntu netbook remix or (most probably since I think it\’s sexy) Xubuntu.
One thing, I think if an interface is customised enough, ity can wrk for anyone(even if it is a hack). I don\’t think that even Linux fans(which I am, i dual boot on every machine), have to admit that as long as it works that is ALL that matters. That\’s my opinion anyway.
I have a friend who has a original eeepc with Xandros, and 1 with winxp. She started with the Linux one, and was evenm asking me to load linux on her other one, because she was used to the linux way now.
So, maybe not for everyone(But honestly which OS rules the earth? None. There is not one OS that EVERYONE uses. There is still Os/2. there is now linux. My point is, for an increasing amount of people, Linux is fine.
There is skyOS(which one guy, a good friend and hacker at TAFE was raving about) . So as long as there is a healthy Eco-system, a place for evryone, I think that that is OK.
I have been running Xubuntu 9.04 on Virtualbox with 80MB Vid RAM and 480MB RAM. It runs beautifully. I am wondering if any readers have tried Linux on the Dell Mini 9. I am REALLY keen to run ANY Linux on one.
I will try UNR as well. So, I am intrigued by Linux on the netbook.
I think it is the way of the future. I wish the Linux Community all the best for the cool slimmed down device future.
Well, I run Ubuntu NBR 9.04 on my System76 Starling, and performance is better than I expected. I commonly run 7 or 8 apps (FireFox, Pigdin, OpenOffice.org, file browsers, etc.), with 10 or so tabs in FireFox (gmail, portals, facebook, slashdot, trade rags), without a noticeable slowdown. Performance in most areas is better than Vista on a \”normal\” laptop, thought granted I abuse normal laptops with heavier application loads.
My wife runs Eeebuntu NBR on her eeePC, and has never complained of performance issues.
Perhaps Angrylizards has different expectations than we do, or has very early or low-end hardware, or some type of configuration issue. I want things to Just Work, and they do. I don\’t want to wait on the netbook, and I don\’t. I have *never* waited for a menu to open. Life is good. And Karmic looks like a nice step forward for a platform I appreciate.