A useable example desktop

This is an example for setting up a useable desktop. We have reproduced it step-by-step and checked that it allows you to:

... and much more, see the table of content.
 * Play multimedia files, audio and video, and even those in the wmv video format
 * Play DVDs, even those with DVD menues
 * Surf the web, even watch and listen to youtube videos
 * Write an essay, even save it as Word Document

Setup
For the distribution, this example uses SUSE Linux 11.3. Flash Player is included with firefox and works out of the box. For other pros and cons, see distro comparison. This has been tested with SUSE Linux 11.3.
 * Install SUSE
 * Test that your keyboard works
 * Test that your mouse works
 * connect to the net

Some useful settings
alias lsdirs=ls -d */
 * You want an alias "lsdirs" that lists all directories in your cwd. Do this by adding
 * to your /etc/profile.

ForwardX11 yes
 * When doing ssh, you want the ability to do X11 forwarding with openSSH, so make sure your /etc/ssh/ssh_config contains a line
 * You may want to switch off the system beep and enjoy the newly-gained silence in your office.

Make sure sound works
dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/dsp
 * Test that your sound works: open a console and type
 * If it does not work, follow the instructions at sound troubleShooting.

Make sure the printer works
yast2 printer
 * Test that printing works. A printer is installed automatically during a default installation. This is valid for well-known printers. If yours is not installed automatically, call

Make sure the scanner works
Do a test scan using the SUSE setup utility: yast2 scanner

Make sure you can burn a DVD
See if you can burn a DVD, see CD/DVD burning.

UMTS
If you want to connect to the internet via UMTS, see UMTS.

Use
After installing Linux you will have to do some settings. You need to install mplayer to play music and videos and you need to install a scanner and check your printer is installed.

Play multimedia files
Main Article: mplayer

To play music and video files we choose the software mplayer. yast -i subversion yast -i gcc-c++ automake autoconf make yasm zlib-devel gtk2-devel xorg-x11-devel svn co svn://svn.mplayerhq.hu/mplayer/trunk mplayer cd mplayer ./configure --enable-gui && make -j8 && make install
 * To install the software to download the mplayer source code, open a console as root and enter:
 * Install the software to build mplayer:
 * Download ("checkout") the mplayer sourcecode:
 * Build mplayer:

Play DVDs
To play DVDs with or without menues, we use vlc. To install it, open a console and enter yast2 choose Software -> Repositories -> add -> Community Repositories -> VideoLan Repository -> Import key -> Finish

Then, call yast -i vlc To play a DVD, create a user: useradd -m kino passwd kino Log out from your display session (CTRL_ALT_BACKSPACE), login as kino, open a console and enter vlc Choose File -> Open Disk

Surf the web
As you have installed SUSE Linux 11.3 by default, you can just start a browser by clicking on the firefox symbol. If you do not recognize it, you can also open a console and enter firefox You will be able to watch videos on youtube. Everything is all set.

Write an essay
As you have installed SUSE Linux 11.3 by default, you can just start a word processor, openOffIce, by opening a console and entering soffice

Scanning
To be able to scan, you need to initialize your scanner: yast2 scanner After its test scan works, use the software xSane for scanning.

Calculator
If you need a calculator quickly, type ALT_F2 and enter kcalc

Read PDF files
We choose Acrobat reader to view PDF files. To install it, enter yast -i acroread

Packing and unpacking files
Main article: Packing and Unpacking Files

This article recommends ark.

Audio Volume control
This article recommends KMix.

Edit text
Main article: text editors

This article recommends kWrite.

Image viewer
This article recommends konqueror.

Use a digital camera
Main article: use a digital camera

To get your photos from your digital camera, use digikam.

Use a camcorder
Main article: use a camcorder

To get your videos via firewire from your camcorder, use kino. For other types of camcorders, see camcorder.

Talk to friends online
Main article: Talk to friends online

This article recommends pidGin for IM and IRC chat, skype for IP telephony with or without a webcam.

Listen to webradio
Follow the instructions at webradio.

Run Windows software
Main article: Running Windows SoftWare

Sometimes you may need to run Windows software, e.g. when WinZip brought out a new packing format that is only available with WinZip. To do this, use the Software wine.