I would prefer to load with the kde desktop.

If I use Ubuntu and add the kde desktop have I the kbuntu version?

Is there a 64bit version of Kbuntu and if so is it as far ahead as Ubuntu with the kde desktop installed?

Is one distro going faster than the other or is ubuntu the real distro
and kubunto a way of saying I am using the kde desktop on umbuntu?

You'll have more packages installed than the ones that come with kubuntu. You'll still have the gdm instead of
kdm by default.

I think those distros are almost the same.
The Kubuntu 64-bit version is here:
http://ftp.ntua.gr/pub/linux/ubuntu-.../kubuntu/edgy/
(this is a greek mirror)

I think they are almost the same

These instructions will help you with that:
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/kde

It depends on what package you install. kdebase will give you an absolute barebones (and barely functional) KDE. kde-core will give you the essentials of a working KDE installation. kubuntu-desktop will give you the default Ubuntu KDE packages (Kubuntu) and artwork. kde will give you just about every KDE package available.

Since Kubuntu and Ubuntu are the same distro (with different default programs and artwork), neither is ahead of the other, and 64-bit versions are available for both Kubuntu and Ubuntu.

Probably not by much. I've heard it both ways. Some say Ubuntu is faster. Others say Kubuntu is faster. Truth is, if you experience slowness with either of them, you should be using Xubuntu or something lighter (Ubuntu with IceWM or Fluxbox) instead of Ubuntu or Kubuntu. According to Kubuntu's website:

Thanks I have the Ubuntu switched to kde and am using
the 64 bit version on my laptop.

Wireless was no problem and the extra wireless packages (radar) are great.

Much better than mandriva