Lubuntu is one of the Ubuntu variants based on the Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment (LXDE) as the default graphical user interface. The goal of creating this OS was to provide a very lightweight distribution that has all the benefits of the Ubuntu service (storage, support, etc.).
Lubuntu system requirements are focused on "ordinary" personal computers and laptops of users working on low specifications and low-power hardware. Users of such devices may not know how to use the command line tools, and in most cases they simply do not have enough resources to use all the OS services. In other words, this shell was designed to ensure the smooth operation of obsolete devices, as well as facilitate many tasks for inexperienced users.
Since the OS has LXDE components, the Lubuntu system requirements can easily use well-known applications such as Firefox, Openbox, Pidgin, and so on.
System features
- Powered by the lightweight LXDE desktop environment.
- Has built-in PCmanFM - a lightweight and fast file manager that works with Gio / GVFS.
- Installed by default, Openbox is a fast and extensible LXDE window manager.
- Uses Firefox - the famous lightweight web browser.
- And, of course, it is based on Ubuntu (the latest version is on 14.04 LTS).
What kind of operating system is this?
Lubuntu is a fast and easy operating system. The kernel of the OS is based on Linux and Ubuntu. Lubuntu uses a minimal LXDE desktop and also offers a wide selection of lightweight applications. Its developers rely on speed and energy efficiency. Because of this, Lubuntu has very low hardware requirements . The operating system was founded by Mario Beling, and is currently actively supported by a group of specialists.
Lubuntu: which system requirements are minimal?
Lubuntu is a good operating system for many older computers, but not for everyone. Some devices have too little power or memory. The general rule is that a computer should not be older than 2005.
A Pentium II or Celeron system with 128 MB of RAM is the minimum acceptable parameter that can allow you to install a slow but still usable Lubuntu system based on a standard desktop. However, to load PowerPC, the computer must run at 867 MHz and have 640 MB RAM.
As already mentioned about the latest releases of Lubuntu, the system requirements of version 14.04 will be slightly higher than the minimum, as the shell develops with each new distribution.
A 32-bit ISO file of version 14.04 requires that the computer processor have an Extensions or PAE physical address. The latter is provided by Intel Pentium Pro and a later generation of processors. At the same time, on Intel devices based on Mac computers, Lubuntu should work on all models.
The latest version of Lubuntu 15.10, called Wily Werewolf, was released last October. Compared to previous releases, it has significant differences.
Lubuntu: system requirements for version 15.10
What innovations does version 15.10 contain?
- Added bug fixes, as well as transition settings to LXQt.
- LXDE components have been substantially updated.
- The graphic design of the shell is significantly improved - there are new colorful themes and icons.
- Fcitx was added as a replacement for iBus, which caused regular difficulties in the system. Thanks to this innovation, some Asian languages (Korean and Japanese) are now available.
- Added additional sessions that are available in the default setting.
Speaking about the system requirements of Lubuntu, the first thing to mention is random access memory (RAM). To run advanced Internet services such as Google+, Google Docs, Facebook and YouTube, your computer will need about 1 GB of it.
For highly specialized programs such as LibreOffice and image viewing applications, your device will need about 512 MB of RAM.
Lubuntu's minimum system requirements for processor specifications are Pentium (M or 4) or AMD K8. Older components are too slow, and the AMD K7 always has problems with flash video.
As for graphics cards, Intel, Nvidia and AMD / ATI / Radeon work with Lubuntu by default, or the system can be configured so that there are no problems.
In addition, in version 15.10 of Lubuntu, system requirements include a DVD / USB reader. This is necessary to install the OS. You will also need the ability to work with the command line if your computer has non-standard settings or has a low amount of RAM. If necessary, the OS image can be rebooted to a CD.