Trying to learn Natty standard set-up...

[wanderingarcticfox]

I have been trying to set-up my 'Natty' installation. This is the only version of Kubuntu that I have ever seen and it is rather daunting. I have been using Ubuntu for quite some time and the look, as you know, is a lot different. I like the option to customize a desktop and that possibly some second or third party software may or may not run better on 'K'. I have tried "searching" in the various areas in this forums but I have not been able to turn up much on the topic of basic set-ups like e-mail [Konkquor?], and Dolphin and how to find the the shut-down/restart button. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

[irish man]

Re: Trying to learn Natty standard set-up...

Have you tried http://www.kde.org
look to top right of page for support lots of articles to get you started

[oshunluvr]

Re: Trying to learn Natty standard set-up...

One of the biggest surface differences between KDE and Gnome is configure-ability.

Generally: Gnome developers decide for the user what is the best way to get something done and set it that way. KDE developers see how many different ways something can be done and let the user decide which is best.

The end result is Gnome is often viewed as easier for beginners, but as users advance in knowledge and start to desire something more than what has been offered - Gnome then looks restrictive. KDE, on the other hand, can be daunting for beginners if for no other reason the plethora of choice, but as one advances it becomes more enjoyable because one has the ability to easily put one's fingerprint on their own desktop.

To my mind: If you have a set purpose for a computer and have no desire for it to grow - almost any desktop is suitable. If you're interested in really fine-tuning a system to your own personal taste and function, then KDE is the only choice. I have or am responsible for more than 20 computers running linux. I have installed or maintain Kubuntu (KDE), Ubuntu (Gnome), Ubuntu-server (no desktop), Mint KDE (KDE), Bodhi (Enlightenment), Red Hat (Gnome). Each choice is made depending on the user and purpose of the computer.

Op/Ed piece is over, on to your questions :

The default email program for KDE is Kmail. Konqueror is a browser/file manager of old but no longer the current choice. ReKong is the default browser and Dolphin is the default file manager. Shut Down/ Reset Buttons are in the default menu (kmenu) under "Leave" with a red power button icon.

These, as in all things KDE, are only the defaults and you have many other choices in every category including the choices you had in Gnome - it's simply a matter of installing the Gnome libraries along with the desired program (happens automagically).

I prefer Thunderbird for email and Chrome for browser - they integrate easily. Dolphin is highly configurable - look under Settings > Configure Dolphin. I always add an "Up" directory command and arrow to my toolbar along with a "Delete" (rather than just Move to Trash) and "Show Hidden Files" buttons. Instead of Kmenu, I use Lancelot Menu (just because of the look and animation) and I usually put the Shutdown widget into the desktop panel for most installs.

[dibl]

Re: Trying to learn Natty standard set-up...

Yes -- what oshunluvr said.

To make it even plainer, in the upper right corner of your default screen you will see something that looks like a cashew -- that is the KDE "Toolbox". Your KDE desktop/screen has 2 states of being -- "Widgets Locked" and "Widgets Unlocked", which can be accessed and changed by right-clicking the toolbox. For your daily usage, you want widgets locked. For reconfiguring things, you unlock widgets, make your adjustments, then lock widgets when you are done.

Similar to oshunluvr, I put my commonly used packages on the panel for easy launching. To do that, first unlock widgets, then open the Kmenu, go to the package you want, like chromium-browser, right-click the package icon, and choose "Add to panel". I put my browser, dolphin, gimp, LibreOffice spreadsheet, kate, konsole, calculator, VMware Player, and Skype on my panel.

[wanderingarcticfox]

Re: Trying to learn Natty standard set-up...

Thanks a whole bunch for the replies; now I'm off to learn by doing 8)

Been 'playing' around in Natty today. I'm starting to get the hang of it but am still having trouble with the 'Widgets". At one time I had three tool bars up top and two on the bottom. I figured that out and did some deleting/removing but I went to add widgets and made sure they where unlocked but the icons show up above the bottom tool-bar and I wanted the widgets in/on the tool-bar. I could use some help here if someone needs more info then please just say so. Thx. 8)