Xubuntu For Linux

Welcome to the Quantal Quetzal edition of Xubuntu, an open source distribution of Linux based on the world's most popular free operating system, Ubuntu, and built around the lightweight and fast Xfce desktop environment. It is suitable for low-end systems and machines with old hardware components.

The time has come for Xubuntu to drop the Alternate CDs, as it is now available for download only as two Live CD ISO images that are built for the 32-bit and 64-bit architectures. Canonical released Xubuntu 12.10 on October 18, 2012 along with other Ubuntu flavors. It was supported with security patches and software updates until May 16, 2014.

The boot loader is unchanged, allowing the user to try the distribution without installing it, perform a RAM diagnostic test, boot an existing operating system from the first disk drive, check the disc for defects (only if using a CD media), and directly install the OS without testing it (not recommended).

Things have changed a little bit in Xubuntu 12.10, again! The same desktop layout is offered, but the upper panel is now completely dark, instead of the dark-grey tint offered in previous releases, and the menus are now white.

Also, the software collection has been altered, as the GIMP image editor was removed from this release, as well as the Gnumeric spreadsheet editor and Synaptic Packages Manager, which was replaced with the Ubuntu Software Center app.

Among other pre-installed apps, we can mention Leafpad text editor, Catfish file search utility, Orage Calendar and Globaltime, Xfce Terminal terminal emulator, Xfburn CD/DVD burning software, Simple Scan image scanner, gThumb and Ristretto image viewer, Mozilla Firefox web browser, Pisgin IM client, Parole media player, gmusicbrowser audio player, and Mozillla Thunderbird email and news client.

In conclusion, we have to admit that we were somehow disappointed by the Xubuntu 12.10 (Quantal Quetzal) release, simply because of the weird desktop theme chosen. We do hope that future versions of Xubuntu won't be the same!