Linux Graphical User Interfaces


Visual tour of the the KDE Desktop

For more information about KDE read my KDE tutorial.

Login and change of desktop

All machines in the MIS Lab allow you to login in Linux. Enter your username and the system will ask for your password. After you are logged in type startx and you will be placed in a graphical desktop.

  1. If the desktop you are is Gnome (the default) you will see in the bottom of the screen the Gnome toolbar.
  2. Click (do not double-click) on the Monitor symbol besides the Netscape symbol and a terminal window will open.
  3. Select the terminal window, by clicking on the top of the terminal window. In the terminal window type switchdesk.
  4. A graphical tool to select desktops will open and you should choose KDE and click on OK. A message will tell that it is done but you need to exit X-Windows and come back to see it.
  5. Click on the foot symbol in the Gnome toolbar (the leftmost) and select Log out (the last item).
  6. You will be placed again in text mode. Type startx to go back to graphical mode in KDE.