(gettext.info)System Installation

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2.1 Operating System Installation
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   The default language is often already specified during operating
system installation.  When the operating system is installed, the
installer typically asks for the language used for the installation
process and, separately, for the language to use in the installed
system.  Some OS installers only ask for the language once.

   This determines the system-wide default language for all users.  But
the installers often give the possibility to install extra localizations
for additional languages.  For example, the localizations of KDE (the K
Desktop Environment) and OpenOffice.org are often bundled separately, as
one installable package per language.

   At this point it is good to consider the intended use of the machine:
If it is a machine designated for personal use, additional localizations
are probably not necessary.  If, however, the machine is in use in an
organization or company that has international relationships, one can
consider the needs of guest users.  If you have a guest from abroad, for
a week, what could be his preferred locales?  It may be worth installing
these additional localizations ahead of time, since they cost only a bit
of disk space at this point.

   The system-wide default language is the locale configuration that is
used when a new user account is created.  But the user can have his own
locale configuration that is different from the one of the other users
of the same machine.  He can specify it, typically after the first
login, as described in the next section.