KDE

If you are using Ubuntu, you are probably aware of Kubuntu.  Kubuntu is basically Ubuntu but with a different window manager.  Ubuntu uses what they call Gnome and Kubuntu uses KDE.

“What you use” is something that causes much debate in linux circles.  Some will only use Gnome, some will only use KDE.

To the uninitiated, Gnome has its menu items across the top (Applications, Places, System etc), rather like the menu’s in MS Word, whereas KDE uses something that resembles the Start menu in Windows.  Applications written for KDE usually have a “K” shoehorned somewhere into their name too.  Gnome is apparently lighter on resources and some would say a little more basic.  I’m not about to say either way, but did you know you could have both?

A simple command line will install the Kubuntu desktop for you and you can choose between Gnome or KDE on the login screen by pressing F10 or clicking on “Sessions”.

In the terminal type:

sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

or, if you are feeling brave and want to try KDE4 (which is still in development and is buggy as hell)

sudo apt-get install kubuntu-kde4-desktop

Its a hefty download, but it’s worth it to have a look and it’ll give you the required libraries to get all of the other KDE applications running in Gnome, such as Amarok.