Ubuntu uses GNOME as the desktop and Kubuntu uses KDE4. They are like night and
day. GNOME is deliberately made simple with few configuration options to give a
very usable system. KDE uses a different approach. It is meant to give the user
all of the bells and whistles. KDE4 is quite new (only a ear old) and is a major
rewrite using the latest version of QT, the programming environment upon which
KDE is based. Because it is new, features are still being added. A new version,
4.2 is due out at the end of the month and I am using it now. It is great.

Both GNOME and KDE use the sme package manager, Synaptic. You use Synaptic to
add new programmes. There are at least a half a dozen browser choices.

However, since KDE comes with Firefox already so you can use it. You will want
to use it as your default browser and changing that is quite easy. Just start
Firefox from the menu under Internet. It will ask you if you want it to be your
default browser. If it doesn't you can change that setting so that it prompts
you to do so. It is in Firefox's Preferences (under Edit ion the an the menu) on
the Advanced group of tabs. Just check the box at the bottom.

You can also edit your settings in the Favorites section of the menu | S ystem
Settings and then go to Default Applications | web browser. In the box at the
bottom click on the radial button and type firefox with a capital.