CS 279 - Week 12 Lab - 11-7-12

(OK, this was put together after-class based on my notes...)

Checking out a Linux distribution and desktop -- openSUSE and KDE

*   from: http://www.opensuse.org/en/
    *   "openSUSE is a free and Linux-based operating system for [a] PC, 
        Laptop or Server."

*   from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenSUSE
    *   "openSUSE (/ˌoʊpənˈsuːzə/) is a general purpose operating system built 
    on top of the Linux kernel, 

    *   developed by the community-supported openSUSE Project 
	 
    *   and sponsored by SUSE and a number of other companies."

*   from: www.kde.org
    *   "KDE is a powerful graphical desktop environment for Unix 
        workstations"

*   from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KDE
    *   KDE [the community] "...is known for its Plasma Desktop, 
	a desktop environment provided as the default working environment 
	on many Linux distributions, such as Kubuntu, Pardus, and openSUSE."

*   The computers in BSS 313 are dual-boot, Windows and openSUSE 11.4 x86_64
    *   kde4 -- KDE 4.6.00 (4.6.9) "release 6" is the desktop for
        openSUSE on these computers
    
*   to get to openSUSE on these computers:
    *   reboot
    *   arrow to the desired option
    *   type return
    *   select openSUSE when can

    *   when get the openSUSE login screen, type your HSU username
        and password as usual

    *   you get KDE's plasma desktop shell by default?

*   a few random notes:
    *   on the bottom left of the screen, you'll see a button with
        a green gecko-ish creature on it -- that's the start menu button?
        (kickoff launcher button?)

        (or you can right-click that button and select 'switch to classic
        menu style' if you prefer)

    *   panel toolbox - bottom row, right hand side -- hover over that end,
        so that the stylized palette icon becomes yellow, and click on it
        to open that

*   BSS 313's computers' openSUSE includes libre office (a free office suite)

*   there is a Terminal application under the kickoff launcher button

*   push red leave button under green gecko button to shut down

*   then, proceeded to lab exercise:
    *   took until 4:20 investigating in pairs, finding something interesting
        in KDE atop openSUSE.
    *   from 4:20-4:50 each pair demonstrated something interesting on that
        topic to the class