Linux Format

On your FREE DVD Ubuntu Remix 17.04, Android x86 6.0, Solus 2017.04.18.

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Last month’s news that Ubuntu was abandoning Unity and switching to GNOME 3 caused a stir, but what will it mean in terms of usability? Well, there’s already a GNOME version of Ubuntu available, along with various other desktops, so we could have brought you that. Then we thought, “What’s the point in showing you one alternativ­e desktop when we can give you five?” So we decided to create another of our desktop remixes.

This one is Ubuntu 17.04 with a choice of GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, Cinnamon, MATE and the standard Unity desktop. When you boot from the DVD you can choose your desktop from the Ubuntu menu.

You can try any of the desktops from the DVD but you’ll notice that there’s no install icon on most of them. This is because of the way we have to create the desktop remixes now to comply with Ubuntu’s more stringent licensing, which prevents installati­on from the remix. We took the easiest option and removed the install option to avoid you wasting time running an installer that will fail right at the end. You can still install Ubuntu 17.04 from this DVD, but you only get the standard Unity desktop.

Adding any other desktop is simple, especially if you first install the Synaptic package manager, which offers more features that the Ubuntu Software Centre. Open the package manager and add the multiverse and universe repositori­es. Then reload the package list and you’ll find the other desktops available. The packages you need to install are: ubuntu-gnome-desktop, kubuntudes­ktop, xubuntu-desktop, cinnamon-desktop-environmen­t or mate-desktop-environmen­t. Each of these will install everything you need to use that particular desktop. Then you can log out and pick your new environmen­t. Unlike with the live DVD, your choice will be remembered and selected as default on your next reboot.

Login details: username ubuntu, and you can keep the password field blank.

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