Reproduced Introduction to Ubuntu Linux (iii): Familiar with Ubuntu Linux desktop environment

Reprinted from http://terrychen.info/ubuntu-linux-beginners-guide-getting-started-with-ubuntu-desktop/

In the Ubuntu Linux Introduction (ii): Install Ubuntu Linux article, we have finished installing Ubuntu Linux, before we start to configure and use Ubuntu, we will work together to understand the basic Ubuntu interface and operation.

1. Sign in to Ubuntu

GDM is the default login interface for Ubuntu, allowing users to sign in to Ubuntu. After starting Ubuntu, click on the user account name, then enter the password, click "Login" button to enter the system.

It is important to note that there are some options available at the bottom of the screen:

• Language: Select the language in which the desktop environment is used, and all languages installed in language support can be selected here.
• Keyboard layout: Choose a keyboard layout that is appropriate for your keyboard, usually by keeping the default USA setting.
• Desktop environment: Choose the desktop environment to use, different desktop environment determines the different interface styles and operating habits. The previous version of Ubuntu 11.04 built only one desktop environment, but the introduction of the Unity Desktop in Ubuntu 11.04 as the default desktop environment, in the desktop environment option is called Ubuntu Desktop, the original desktop environment coexist, in the desktop environment option is called Ubuntu Classic table Surface. So you can choose between Ubuntu and Ubuntu Classic Desktop two different desktop environments.
• Accessibility tool: A tool to facilitate the use of computers by people with disabilities.
• Power off button: Click this button to access the Shutdown menu, which provides the option to shut down and restart the computer.

There are differences in appearance and operation between the Unity desktop and the Ubuntu Classic desktop, but there is not much difference in nature, so please choose the right interface for yourself. Let's take a look at two different desktop environments.

2. Ubuntu Classic Desktop Introduction

After entering the Ubuntu Classic desktop, the interface looks like this:

Here's a look at the various parts of the Ubuntu Classic desktop:

• Top panel:

  The left side of the top panel is the main menu, which includes three menus:

  1. Application: This menu will manage the installed programs and also launch the Ubuntu Software Center for installing the uninstall program.
  2. Location: The menu used to access the frequently used catalogs.
  3. System: Here you can find options for adjusting system settings and personal preferences.

  On the right side of the main menu is the launcher for common software (similar to shortcuts in Windows), we can right-click on the top panel blank, select "Add to Panel" to add the launcher to any location, file, application, or you can drag and drop the launcher from the main menu here.

  The right side of the top panel is the notification area that displays the system status, including whether the system has updates, input methods, network connection status, volume, battery level, and so on, and some programs add icons to the notification area at run time. The right-hand side of the notification area is the Shut Down button, where you can lock the screen, shut down, restart, or logoff, and access the control Center for adjusting system settings.

• Desktop:

  When we put in the disc or insert a USB flash drive, the corresponding icon will automatically appear on the desktop for easy access by users. We can also drag and drop the launcher from the Application menu onto the desktop.

  Right-clicking on the desktop will show the Desktop menu, you can create initiators, documents and folders, and you can set the desktop background.

• Bottom panel

  The left icon on the bottom panel is the display desktop. Clicking this icon minimizes all windows.

  The middle area of the bottom panel, similar to the Windows taskbar, lists the currently open windows.

  The workspace switcher is then used to switch between different virtual desktops.

  The icon at the far right of the bottom panel is the Recycle Bin, which contains the deleted files.

About Unity Desktop

After entering the Unity desktop, the interface looks like this:

Note: Because the Unity desktop needs to support 3D accelerated graphics card, if you try to enter the Unity desktop as shown in the prompts, that your video card does not support 3D acceleration, you can try to install additional drivers, please go to the Ubuntu Classic desktop, Launch control center, select the hardware category of additional drivers, Install additional drivers for the video card. If you still can't use unity, search for the installation of Unity 2D in Ubuntu Software Center.

Here's a look at the various parts of the Unity desktop:

• Starter:

  The initiator is the bar on the left side of unity, which is the most important part of unity. When no window is maximized, the launcher will remain on the left side of the desktop, but when there is a maximized window, the launcher will automatically hide so that the current window has the largest display space, and moving the mouse to the top left of the screen will reappear.

  The launcher is similar to the Windows 7 taskbar, pinning the icons for commonly used programs and showing the programs that are currently running. Right-click on the currently running program icon and select the PIN to launcher option to pin the program to the initiator for quick start of frequently used programs.

In addition to popular programs, the launcher has icons for Ubuntu Software Center, Workspace switcher, apps, files and folders, and Recycle Bin for quick access.

• Ubuntu Flag button:

  The UBUNTU flag button in the top left corner of Unity has two features: When the launcher is hidden, the mouse moves to the button to make the launcher reappear, to switch windows or to launch popular programs, and click this button, which will appear as shown in the Quick Access menu, quick Start frequently used programs or documents.

• Top panel:

  The Unity top panel has two features: Displays the title and menu of the current window. When the mouse is not at the top panel, the top panel displays the title of the current window, and when the mouse moves to that area, the top panel displays the menu for the current window. That is, the top panel also functions as a title bar and menu bar.

  The right side of the Unity top panel is the notification area, no different from the Ubuntu classic desktop.

Now that we have a basic understanding of Ubuntu desktop environment, but before we start using Ubuntu Linux, we also need to set some settings for Ubuntu, please continue to read Ubuntu Linux Primer (iv): Ubuntu initial knowledge settings.

Reproduced Introduction to Ubuntu Linux (iii): Familiar with Ubuntu Linux desktop environment