Applixware Review
To begin to use the software for Linux© it is helpful to understand the way the whole system comes together. Briefly, the Linux© OS is at the heart of what makes the computer tick. This software finds all the hardware and tells the Central Processing Unit instructions. These instructions take care of organizing all the files the computer needs to start, run, and control devices. It operates with applications and is a command line interface. Once installed, it is possible to add programs which makes the OS more accessible to the average user. One of the programs which runs "on top of" Linux© is called KDE©. KDE© stands for the K Desktop Environment. One might draw the analogy to DOS being like Linux©, in that they are command line disk operating systems, and MS Windows© the desktop that you interact with to launch your programs. Similarly usingthe command line methods of working is much more difficult than user friendly graphical user interfaces. Once you fire up your linux box you open the GUI on the KDE desk top by typing the command "startx". This brings up a huge window with 4 desktops, and an array of icons, located at the bottom of the screen. The icons take you to the scientific calculator, files, control center, utilities, find utility, find help - online and in help files, mail client, CD player, note writer, and terminal emulator. When you look under the control center icon, you find many utilities, as well as all the KDE programs. The "KDE Control Center" brings up a tree and branch directory tree, which open up more folders: applications, desktop, information, input devices, network, sound and windows.
When you want to use a word processor, write a spreadsheet, or do data, or graphics, the KDE Office suite provides the tools. The next installment of this column will delve into each of the products: "Words" to do writing, "Graphics and Presentations" for the artists, "Data" for databases, "Spreadsheets", and "Mail". "Words" can save work as HTML, and I will test that function as well. Using a Linux based system needs command lines, but much work can be done at a substantially lower monetary cost. However, users must be prepared to spend some time learning a different way of interacting with their computers.
The Linux© operating system has suffered from the lack of options, which is changing. The Website for KDE at http://www.kde.org explains "user interfaces" in which
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