Chapter A. Tutti-Fruti Ubuntu

Chapter A. Tutti-Fruti Ubuntu

In This Chapter

• Kubuntu: The GNOMEless Ubuntu

• Helping young learners with Edubuntu

• The lightweight Xubuntu

You say Ubuntu, I say Kubuntu. You say Edubuntu, I say Xubuntu. Why don't we just . . . Anyway, there's more to Ubuntu than just Ubuntu. As the song says, there are actually four variations of Ubuntu.

This appendix introduces them all. Ubuntu makes it easy to download each version and burn a CD-ROM. You can make and boot any or all discs. It's fun to experiment and explore the diverse Ubuntu world and make the decision as to which one best suits your needs.

Trying a Different Look: Kubuntu

Kubuntu is Ubuntu that uses the K Desktop Environment (KDE) graphical desktop in place of GNOME. KDE and GNOME are similar in many ways. However, KDE is considered to use more advanced technology than GNOME.

The ordinary computer user won't find that much difference between KDE and GNOME. Some people like KDE, others like GNOME, and yet others — like myself — don't care.

Kubuntu provides the same range of applications, such as Openoffice.org, that Ubuntu does. New Kubuntu releases follow the same six-month schedule, too. Please browse www.kubuntu.org for more information about this product.

The following instructions assume you're working from an Ubuntu computer with a writable CD-ROM or DVD drive.

You need to download a Kubuntu CD-ROM image from an Ubuntu mirror to a computer from which you can burn the image to a writable CD. Follow these steps:

1. Click your Firefox browser icon on the GNOME panel.

2. Type www.kubuntu.org/download.php in the Location text box and press the Enter key.

3. Click the Download link for the latest version.

4. Click the link to your continent.

   The menu of download sites expands to different countries.

5. Click your country.

   The menu expands to show universities and various organizations.

6. Click any of the various university or organization links (that house Kubuntu mirrors).

   The list further expands to one or more actual download sites.

7. Click a download site.

   The Opening Kubuntu-6.10 dialog opens.

8. Click the Save File button.

   The Downloads dialog opens, showing a progress meter.

9. Click the Cleanup button and close the dialog when the download finishes.

After you download the Kubuntu disc image, you'll want to burn a CD-ROM. Follow these steps:

1. Insert a writable CD-ROM in your computer's CD burner drive.

2. From the GNOME menu bar, choose SystemAdministrationTerminal.

3. Type the following command to burn the CD-ROM:

   
   

   sudo cdrecorder -v Desktop/kubuntu*iso

   
   
   

When the burn finishes, you can either reboot directly from the new disc or eject the disc and use it to boot another machine. Your computer boots from the Kubuntu CD-ROM, just like an Ubuntu disc. After the computer boots, you see the screen in Figure A-1 .

Figure A-1: The Kubuntu screen.

If you're comfortable using Ubuntu, you should feel at home using the KDE interface in Kubuntu.