I never said Kubuntu wasn't supported, I was just trying to save you the pain of discovering that the CD install takes over 3 hours and the DVD can be completed in 40mins. The DVD is by far the best for your first install (and all subsequent ones IMO) but if you have partition requirements then by all means use the CDs -just be prepared for a very long, boring gazing session!
as for 8.04 the very limited number of deva are struggling to merge 2 source trees so that development is easier. I think their view is that by the time that is complete 8.10 will be around the corner. I don't think they are specifically trying to exclude your laptop

but as I say, Zaerc maybe working on it anyway judging from one of his posts - I'm just relaying what I have read.
I'm not telling your wife just to deal with it! If I told my partner that I'd get a frying pan in the head! I'm asking you to give it a chance. Many people have a hard time using the arrange-by-attribute modes and just go back to the folder structure mode - from your post it sounds like that is actually what you want, so perhaps not a big concern anyway. But generally the advice is still good - this system sometimes requires a bit of a head shift, but if you give it a go you see it is worth it in the end.
On the orbiter/laptop - you are missing my original point. Because the Orbiter is not an MD and so does not require Kubuntu, unless you actually want to be able to play media on your laptop through LMCE, you don't need to install Kubuntu and so no compatibility issue! You can use any Orbiter you like, for a PC the Windows orbiter is far better than the web orbiter, but if you are ideologically opposed to that and want to use Kubuntu and the web orbiter then knock yourself out! You can even install 08.04 if you want as you won't be running an MD anyway.
Either way don't get so touchy on your first posts and rush off in a huff! I was typing at 3am from under the bedsheets, half asleep on this stupid iPhone because it's quieter than the BB so I don't get an elbow in the ribs, thinking I could save you some time and hassle on the learning curve.