At this stage, we'll talk about some basic things you can do to customize your Linux installation. This includes desktop customization and installation of extra applications in few easy steps.

Customize your desktop

The desktop you are using is a KDE desktop. We will show examples of how to add widgets to your desktop, select a wallpaper and how to customize the appearance of windows and general desktop theme. The slideshow below is just an example of huge amount of possibilities of desktop designs. So don't hesitate to experiment with creating your own perfect Linux desktop.

Short guide to Software Installation

In Linux terminology, software is composed of one or more packages. The Debian installation gives you access to more than 30 000 packages making a large number of programs available. The slideshow below takes you step by step through the software installation process. As an example, we install a chess game. 

Linux Customization FAQ

Q: Do I need to learn a command line in order to work with the Linux operating system?
A: No. 

Q: How do I open/edit my existing Microsoft Office documents?
A: Simply, use LibreOffice, which is a full-fledged, free of cost alternative to Microsoft Office Suite. LibreOffice allows you to keep existing Microsoft Office document formats.

Q: Will I be able to work with file formats such as PDF, JPG, MP3, DOC, XLS, AVI, MKV, MP4 under Linux.
A: Yes, all you need to do is to install appropriate software. Most of the relevant software is already installed by default.

Q: Will I be able to play movies in formats such as mp4, mkv or avi?
A: Yes, just use the VLC player. It supports many video and audio formats.

Q: How do I use the SKYPE communicator?
A: SKYPE is not included as part of the standard Debian Linux repository but you can download and install its official Linux version. However, for your privacy we recommend to use free software GNU Telephony instead.

Q: Why is my wireless card not working?
A: Many of the wireless drivers belong to the non-free Debian repository. Therefore, in order to use your wireless card you need to install proprietary software packages: firmware-iwlwifi and firmware-realtek for Intel and Realtek cards, respectively. Both packages are part of the non-free Debian Linux repository.