KDE
Try KDE
Trying out a desktop environment like KDE can seem a daunting task. Installing Linux, BSD or other Unix OS requires a commitment that you may not be quite ready to give yet. Try KDE provides a list of resources for alternative methods of trying a KDE desktop and applications, some of them without even needing to have a new operating system installed.
KDE for Linux, Unix, Windows or Mac OS X
If you are a Linux/Unix user, you may be able to install and try KDE alongside your existing user interface. Additionally, for Linux/Unix users, it is possible to obtain individual KDE applications and use them from within your existing environment. Please check with your Linux distributor or Unix vendor for instructions on obtaining the full K Desktop Environment or specific applications.
The KDE Windows project exists to allow users of MS Windows to use KDE Applications natively from within a MS Windows environment. Please see the KDE Windows website to download the latest KDE Windows Installer. While KDE Applications are well supported on MS Windows, to obtain the immersive KDE workspace experience, it is recommended that you try KDE on a supported Linux/Unix system.
The KDE Mac project provides experimental packages that integrate natively into Mac OS X.
Live CDs with KDE
A Linux live CD is a Linux operating system stored on a bootable CD or DVD. If your computer is set to boot from CD, putting the CD or DVD into your drive and rebooting your computer will let you boot from and run the Linux operating system on the CD or DVD media without needing to install it to your hard disk. When you remove the CD and reboot your computer again, it returns back to it's previous state. A live cd is a great way to try out KDE without having to install Linux to your hard disk. Running from a CD is slower than running from disk, so please keep in mind that KDE performs much better when it's installed.
To use these live CDs you will need a CD burner and CD burning software, a blank CDR, CDRW, DVDR, etc. and sufficient free disk space for storing and writing the image.
These live CDs also work within Virtual Machines, such as VirtualBox or VMware. Testing a live CD in this way negates requirement of a blank disk, and you can run KDE concurrently with your existing system.
- KDE Four Live, frequently updated with recent version of KDE 4:
http://home.kde.org/~binner/kde-four-live/ - Debian KDE team KDE livecd's
http://pkg-kde.alioth.debian.org/kde4livecd.html - Kubuntu livecd's
Kubuntu offers Livecd's for download or free delivery on kubuntu.org/ - PLD linux Livecd with KDE 4.x:
http://kde4.livecd.pld-linux.org/index.php - Mandriva Linux live CD with KDE 4.x:
http://www.mandriva.com/en/download/free - Fedora Linux live installer with KDE 4.x:
http://fedoraproject.org/en/get-fedora-kde
Live CDs with KDE 3
- PC Linux OS live CD with KDE 3.5:
http://www.pclinuxos.com/index.php?option=com_ionfiles&itemid=28 - SimplyMEPIS Linux live CD with KDE 3.5:
https://www.mepis.org/mirrors
Remote desktop
NX is a technology that allows remote desktop access based on open source technologies. The NX Client software is free and available for Linux, Microsoft Windows and Apple's OSX. Once installed, you can sign up for logins to either of these servers to get a trial KDE desktop.
To download the NX Client software, visit http://www.nomachine.com/download.php
- gopc.net provides a remote KDE 3 desktop using the NX protocol. http://www.gopc.net
- NoMachine provide a test server that allows you to try a KDE 3 desktop for 7 days as an evaluation service for the NX software: http://www.nomachine.com/testdrive.php
Community
Try KDE wants to grow with the community's needs. Do you have suggestions for ways to improve the content of this or other KDE websites? Please email the KDE Promotion Team with your ideas.
