Kubuntu

A slightly tweaked KDE Plasma desktop on Kubuntu. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNETFor years, I've not given KDE Plasma its due. That is partially because my default desktops have generally been GNOME or GNOME-adjacent. Another reason is that I'm not a fan of the "standard" desktop. When I see a desktop that includes a traditional panel, desktop menu, clickable icons, and a system tray, my general reaction is that it reminds me too much of the Windows interface. Given I left Windows back in 1997 in favor of a more…

Jack Wallen/ZDNETKubuntu FocusZDNET RECOMMENDS Kubuntu Focus Ir14 This clean, black chassis device feels and behaves like a premium laptop, where everything not only "just works", it works really well. According to my contact at Kubuntu Focus, the laptop "...is stock Kubuntu 22.04 LTS with Focus hardware integration, optimizations, and tools delivered on top. We felt building a separate distribution and ecosystem is the last thing anyone needed, and instead focused on working and supporting Kubuntu, Ubuntu, and KDE…