It has incredible versatility, almost to a fault. A fault in the sense
that some one who has only had access to Windows 7 might need six months
to get it under control. It requires an infinite amount of configuring
because it has so many options.
Suggestions for someone who wants to use it and isn't familiar with
Linux or KDE.
1) Run the try me option from the CD, to make sure that it does things
like find your wireless internet. If you just install it cold, it might
not, but if you run the try me option and it finds your WI FI, then it
remembers it if you install by clicking on the install icon on the desktop.
2) Be sure that you are perfectly backed up, that your Windows CD's are
good in case you decide that you don't like it, and that your KDE
install CD doesn't have any errors.
3) Disable all of the bells and whistles by going to desktop effects and
unclicking the box. Later you can enable them and try them on ONE at a
time (if you try to many at once, you might pick an inconsistent set of
options.)
4) If you aren't already familiar with the multiple desktop feature,
reduce it to one. The Icon on the task bar will disappear. You can get
to know that one later.
5) Plug in a USB mouse temporarily. KDE can be set to automatically
disable the touchpad if a mouse gets plugged into it, and having the
edge of your hand touch the key pad area inadvertently can have the
cursor jumping all over the place. Configure the mouse actions the way
that you want them, then configure the touchpad later. Most laptops
only have two keypad buttons. KDE can be configured so that the center
button is a fully functioning button (Windows Can't)
I understand that depressing both buttons can be made or is
automatically set to simulate depressing the center key, but that might
be clumsy to do. The default settings enable you to do everything with
a two button mouse.
6) Take a moment to pick icons and screen colors that you like if the
default colors make your computer seem like an alien experience.
7) Printers are either one extreme or the other. Plug your printer in
before you install. Also plug your laptop in and have it online during
the install. An HP printer when plugged in after an install will
immediately tell you that it is installing the driver which will take a
few seconds. Other printers don't have Linux drivers at all. It's so
much easier than Windows where you have to put a CD in and then stop it
from installing a lot of bloatware.
8) KDE tried to set it's install so that it would close down the
desktop effects if it didn't think that your video card could handle
it. (If your distro assumes that your video card had more capability
than it has, a blank screen could result.) KDE will disable the desktop
effects for you and if they won't reactivate when you check the box, KDE
believes that your video card isn't up to the job.
9) The install will ask you if you want the restricted extras. You
do. Everything is perfectly legal except that you can't modify a
restricted extra.
But it makes Windows 7 look like Gnome 0.5, if their ever was one. It
makes Windows 7 look very feature less.
_______________________________________________
Mid-Hudson Valley Linux Users Group http://mhvlug.org
http://mhvlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mhvlug
Upcoming Meetings (6pm - 8pm) MHVLS Auditorium
Dec 7 - An Intro to Chef
Jan 4 - Recovering the Brownfield: Revitalizing Open Source Projects
Feb 1 - Home Networking Made Simple with Amahi Home Server
