ทำ housekeeping หลังเล่น rotate hardware มี 2 laptops classify production/semi-production แต่ getting long in the tooth gray in beard decide "downgrade" usage แต่ take advantage software changes
First: IdeaPad Y50-70 relegates primary to secondary add Kubuntu OS arsenal 2014-vintage 4K-screen laptop now runs Windows 8.1 และ Plasma-flavored Focal dual-boot useful exercise hybrid card Nvidia all that Second: 2013-era Asus Vivobook secondary purposes now tertiary complete makeover but let's not get ahead read on
What you gonna do when they Tux for you?
Vivobook served well never too fast powerful but did job long happy lifetime upgraded Linux side Trusty to Bionic to Focal extra modernity support but not perfect exercise quite a few problems strongly believe OS should NOT get slower over time noticeable degradation performance thus thought let's rinse see what happens
Wonder what choose new OS decided full Linux: delete partition table rid Windows 8.1 Kubuntu 20.04 setup full disk encryption (FDE) but what choose? MX Linux wonders on super-old netbook but felt like something Plasma
Kubuntu 20.04 option but never found Plasma 5.18 quite as good should be recent Plasma versions like 5.20 far better mature that decided it chose KDE neon User Edition Plasma 5.22.2 at writing haven't officially tested this specific release yet little preview too
Setting up
Bye Windows 8.1 bye Kubuntu 20.04 hello KDE neon distro uses Calamares installer always found bit odd but does job configure locale different from timezone offers system encryption put password clicked Next created user account waited installation complete ~30 minutes system ready quick bout light panic first boot step input password unlock hard disk no "interaction" press Enter nothing seemingly happens few moments then system boots all well Plasma 5.22 desktop waiting play tweak fun
Some nice, cool things
Plasma 5.22 really good job far more seamless previous releases open Settings shows common settings including mouse single/double-click configuration always contention point Plasma method resolves elegantly
No KDEWallet nonsense no Wireless connect/disconnect issues Samba flies first time EVER Plasma offers Gnome-like good Samba experience needed authenticate after that things worked no silly caching remote files (like 5.18 horrible) no need separate credentials VLC play media no need change prefetch values throughput good Noice
Customization
Sort things visual side found one problem: no Breeze Dark windows decorations dislike low-contrast setup even if Breeze Dark or Twilight for Desktop hard differentiate fg bg windows had to change font color pure black
Hardware compatibility, performance
More good stuff 100% hardware font including laptop touch screen - era Windows 8.1 madness everything touch better yet neon FASTER than Kubuntu 20.04 several reasons reformat disk fresh unfragmented important mechanical disks system resides closer outer plate faster seek access cruft previous installations gone lastly Plasma 5.22 actually more efficient than LTS release all may contribute significant revival speed responsiveness
Install KSysGuard because new System Monitor not good enough CPU chirps expected eight-year-old laptop designed mid-range frugal ~5% idle 600 MB RAM usage Suspend & resume works fine fast battery lasts 4-4.5 hours very cool
สรุป
Exercise ends really pleased outcome configured FDE setup on ancient laptop no need TPM anything got latest Plasma superior visual results consistency across board (beyond Linux too) speed decent normal usage (no gaming) perfectly reasonable piece of kit
Happy decided scrap existing dual-boot new single-boot neon fresh breath of air machine if hardware lasts good few more years without falling behind accomplish reasonable stuff without issues or wait half eternity good day bye bye now
Cheers.
