I tested Caixa Mágica in the 32-bit version with KDE. It starts like Ubuntu: the boot screen requires a key press for a menu, where you can check the disk and select a language (F2) and keyboard (F3). Ubuntu’s video identification bug has been removed. The installer is the usual Ubiquity, with support for encrypting /home.

This KDE needs plenty of memory, but it’s not slow like some others. There’s a good supply of software installed, including LibreOffice, Firefox, Kmail, Kopete, Skype, Gimp, Amarok, Dragon, Gnome-mplayer, Wine, and lots of games, together with the media codes and flash plug-in. There were a few warnings when running programs from the CLI, but nothing critical. Gnome-mplayer wouldn’t actually play anything, but Dragon performed perfectly. KDE provides the service management and other tools that Ubuntu lacks. Unusually for these days, dial-up internet is supported. Software Centre is provided, but it’s not very good at searching, so it’s advisable to install Synaptic. Although Ubuntu-based, Caixa Mágica has its own repositories.

If you speak Portuguese, Caixa Mágica is excellent. Even if you don’t, it’s still probably the best Ubuntu derivative for KDE users, with none of the problems I found in the KDE version of Mint.