ubuntu tutorials 29 January 2009 06:01

The main difference between Ubuntu and Kubuntu is the graphical environment (Ubuntu uses Gnome as default, while Kubuntu uses KDE). Having two operating systems installed will ruin the fun because you will need to restart and so on, but the good part about those graphical environments is that you can have both of them installed and choose which one to use, while running only one operating system.

If you are using Ubuntu and wonder how to KDE looks like you can easily install it (using the tutorial at the bottom of the page).

NOTE: This method will install some open-source software which automatically comes with KDE/Gnome, this means you might end having two applications for the same task. (Example: 2 browsers, 2 instant messenger applications). But no problem! You can always use your Gnome applications in KDE and vice-versa and you can always remove applications from your system if you don't like them.

Screenshots:

With all those being said, let's begin our installation:
Enter the Terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and type the following command:

sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

After running the command, you will be asked for a password (the sudo password, enter it!) and after this, a yes or no question, type Y and press enter to continue.
Ubuntu will download your files, it will take a couple of minutes:



After installation finishes, log out of your Ubuntu session. On the login screen you will see the options button, press it and chose Select session:



Select KDE and press Change session:



Ubuntu will now use the KDE graphical interface:


After everything is loaded you will be done:


To uninstall kubuntu-desktop package go to Synaptic Package Manager and remove the package called kubuntu-desktop.