We have already explained how to install versions 16.04 of Ubuntu, Ubuntu MAT and today we have to do the same on Kubuntu 16.04. We are aware that the installation is virtually the same on all Canonical operating systems, but we are also aware that there are people who do specific searches and otherwise would not find how to install Kubuntu 16.04. But to compensate, we’ll also tell you a few things that can be modified to make Plasma more productive.
Kubuntu uses, for me, one of the most attractive graphical environments of the official flavors of Ubuntu. Icons, effects or even wallpaper give good faith. And best of all, its fluidity has almost nothing to envy to Ubuntu MAT, for example. The bad thing is that, at least on my laptop, plasma it’s very unstable and I see too many bugs, so I don’t think I’ll install it from main system until Kubuntu 16.10 at least.
Table of Contents
Preliminary steps and requirements
- Although there is usually no problem, it is recommended to make a backup of all the important data for what might happen.
- You will need a Pendrive 8G USB (Persistent), 2 GB (Live only) or a DVD to create bootable USB or Live DVD from where we will install the system.
- If you choose the recommended option to create a bootable USB, in our article How to create a bootable USB from Ubuntu from Mac and Windows you have several options that explain how to create it.
- If you haven’t done so before, you’ll need to enter the Bios and change the order of boot units. It is recommended that you first read the USB, then the CD and then the hard drive (Floppy).
- To be safe, connect your computer to cable and not Wi-Fi.
How to install Kubuntu 16.04
- Once started from USB, we will enter the Plasma desktop. In the following screenshot you can see the “Desktop folder” which I have expanded a bit. Just boot from USB, this window is a bit smaller and you don’t see the installer icon at all, but you can click on it from the corner you do see. So let’s click on the installer.
- In the first window that appears, we display the language menu and choose our language.
- We click on “Continue”.
- If we have not connected to the Internet, on the next page will invite us to connect, which we can do with cable or wireless. This window does not appear to me because it was already connected by cable (things that my Wi-Fi card has, which is cut off if I do not make certain changes). We click on “Continue”.
- Below we will see a window in which we can download third-party software, recommended, and Kubuntu updates, also recommended not to have to do it later, as long as we have an Internet connection. We click on “Continue”.
- Below we will see the type of installation we want to do. As I tested on a Virtualbox virtual machine, the installer thought I had the disk empty, so it offered me fewer options. If you already have something on your hard drive, which is most likely, you will also be able to remove everything and install Kubuntu, Dual Boot, or upgrade your system. If you don’t want to complicate things, use the whole disk. If you want to complicate things up a bit, you can choose “More” to create multiple partitions (such as root, / home, and swap partition).
- We accept the installation.
- Then we choose our time zone and click “Continue”.
- In the next window we choose our keyboard layout and click “Continue”.
- The next window that appears will be the same as the next, but with Plasma interface. I thought I made the catch, but it looks like it wasn’t like that or I didn’t save it because of some of the mistakes it gave me. We need to put our username, computer name and password.
- We look forward to copying, downloading, and performing the installation.
- And finally, we can reboot to start normally with the new installation or continue testing the Live Session.
Interesting changes for Kubuntu 16.04
Kubuntu is so customizable that it is very difficult to say what to do with it. I can recommend a few things, such as the following:
- Add a top panel with my favorite apps. I know Kubuntu has its own panel of favorite apps, but I like to have my own custom well. To add we have to right click on the desktop and select Add panel / Empty panel for add a vacuum.
I add Firefox, Amarok, Settings, Discover, Terminal, the custom launcher to kill windows (xkill) and Dolphin (the window manager. In addition, you can add the clock and everything we imagine.
They can also be added custom launchers right-clicking on the bar and choosing Add widgets / Quick Launch.
- Move the buttons to the left. It’s been so long since I’ve seen the buttons to close, minimize, and restore on the left that I can’t live with them on the right. Unlike Ubuntu MAT and other systems that have it as a direct option, in Kubuntu we have to go to “Window Decoration” and move the buttons manually. Like I said, it’s very customizable, so much so that at this point we can move just one of the buttons, all or even remove them.
- Delete applications that I will not use. Although Kubuntu has variant of many of the applications that I like to have other distributions do not have, it also has some that I do not like, like Kmail that Gmail says is not secure. It’s worth getting into Discover and cleaning up.
- Install applications that I will use. Kubuntu has many KDE applications that are very similar to others I use, but some applications install them in any distribution, such as the following:
- Synaptic. No matter how many different software centers launch, I always like to have it on hand. From Synaptic we can install and uninstall packages as in other software centers, but with more options.
- Shutter. The MAT screenshot tool or any other Ubuntu-based version is fine, but Shutter has more options and a very important one for me: it allows you to edit photos by easily adding arrows, boxes, pixels, etc., all from of a lightweight application.
- GIMP. I think there are too many presentations. The most widely used “Photoshop” in Linux.
- Code. Formerly known as XBMC, it allows you to play virtually any type of content, whether local video, streaming, audio … the possibilities are endless, as long as you know what to do with it.
- UNetbootin. To create Live USBs.
- redshift. The aforementioned system that changes the temperature of the screen by eliminating blue tones.
- PlayOnLinux. One more twist in Wine with which Photoshop can be installed, for example.
- OpenShot. A great video editor.
- Kdenlive. Another great video editor.
And that’s all I usually modify about Kubuntu. What do you recommend?
