Main index

Introducing UNIX and Linux


Installing Linux

Overview
Starting out
Preliminaries
      Collecting information about your system
      Installation options
Single boot
Dual boot
      Booting from CD/floppy
      Booting from your hard disk
      A partitionless install
      A dedicated Linux partition
Emulators
      VMware
      WINE
Installing Linux
      Installer software
      Linux partitioning
            Typical partitions
            User accounts
      LILO
The window manager
KDE
      Desktop help
      Applications
      The KDE Control Center
      File access and the command prompt
Summary

KDE

The K Desktop Environment (KDE) is an easy-to-use contemporary desktop environment for the UNIX operating system. The major advantage of KDE over something like Microsoft Windows is that it is completely free. KDE is also open source; this means that the development of the desktop has not been restricted to one individual or one company. The result is well supported and professional and benefits from a wide range of applications, upgrades of which can be downloaded directly from the Internet.

When you run KDE on your computer you are presented with a default desktop configuration that contains the following:

  • A panel at the bottom of the screen that is used to start applications and switch between desktops. This default panel is customisable.
  • The taskbar at the bottom of the screen that is used to manage currently running applications.
  • The desktop of files and folders. This desktop represents only a quarter of the total desktop work area. You can move between the desktop areas by selecting the numbered buttons found in the KDE panel.

Copyright © 2002 Mike Joy, Stephen Jarvis and Michael Luck