Installation guide

Chapter 3.
The KDE Desktop Environment
3.1. Introducing KDE
KDE is a graphical desktop environment that allows you to access your Red Hat Linux system and
applications using your mouse and keyboard.
This chapter covers the fundamental apsects of using the KDE desktop environment including system
navigation, working with files and applications, and customizing the desktop to suit your needs.
If you would like to learn more about KDE, visit the official website at http://www.kde.org.
Tip
If you have both KDE and GNOME installed on your system, you can use applications from the other
environment. For example, you can use the GNOME email and personal information management
suite, Evolution, while you are working in KDE. You can access GNOME applications by clicking the
Start Application button (the ’K’ icon at the bottom of the screen), then choosing Programs from
the menu.
3.2. Setting Up KDE
The first time you log into KDE (refer to Chapter 1 for more information about logging into your Red
Hat Linux machine), a setup wizard will appear that allows you to set some initial preferences prior
to using the desktop. This wizard guides you through setting up your language and locale settings,
choosing how to interact with the KDE interface, configuring your desktop visual effects, and even
customizing the look of your desktop. Figure 3-1 shows the welcome screen of the KDE setup wizard.
You can elect to skip the setup wizard and run with KDE defaults by clicking Skip Wizard.
Figure 3-1. The KDE Setup Wizard