This may be a stupid question, but I haven't learned how to write files to a CD without using K3B. I tried dragging a file to the icon of a blank CD-RW on the desktop, just to see what would happen. It said, "Could not start process Unable to create io-slave: klauncher said: Unknown protocol ". So is there no drag-and-drop CD writing, as in Windows?

Not on any distro I've seen. You can burn files with programs like cdrecord and cdrdao, which is what k3b uses (k3b is only a front-end). It depends on what sort of files you have.

man cdrecord
man cdrdao

for more info.

If you use Gnome, you can drag files to the folder that opens when you go to Places > CD/DVD creator.

Moved: This thread is more suitable in Linux-General and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

KDE doesn't (and will never due to M$ regulations) have built-in CD burning in the file manager.

You'll have to explain that to me. How does Microsloth have a copyright on CD burning within a file manager? Copyrighting that sounds like Apple claiming in court that Microsloth had no right to imitate it by offering a GUI.

And if that's the case...Microsloth has us beat there, doesn't it? Because I was hoping that Linux could copy files to a CD as fast as Windows can (or faster). K3B doesn't seem convenient for copying a few files.

I agree, that is an odd claim to make. Windows tends not to have decent in built burning software, but Linux has had cdparanoia for years.

newbiesforever - look at "man cdparanoia". It's command line, but should be perfect for your needs. And, IIRC, cdparanoia is what K3B sits on to do it's burning.

So how can Gnome/Nautilus do it so easily?

Or Konqueror?

M$ have a patent (or copyright) on having a CD burning function that treats CD/DVD's as folders AND an archiving one that treats archives as folders BOTH AT THE SAME TIME in a file manager. That means that you can make one such functions available but not BOTH of them in the same file manager, or give both as long as one of them relies on an external GUI, but give the two and make them use the filemanager as GUI and you're in deep shit. Also they don't even need patents or copyright. Just their hitmen (they got plenty of 'em) to enforce their desires.

As I said, you can have decent cd burners, but not integrate BOTH CD burning as folder and archive as folder in one filemanager, or you're prey of M$.

They relied on the file-roller GUI for archiving while leaving the CD as folder option in. Which complies with M$'s whishes.

Konqueror did the opposite, leave CD burning out and archiving as folders in. Also complying M$'s whishes.
BTW: The mac finder does the same nautilus does, CD burning in, archiving out. Done by bomarchivehelper.

But you, the user, can add whatever menu actions you wish to konqueror, by creating a "service menu".
To learn how to do this take a look at kim http://bouveyron.free.fr/kim/

Yes, you can. But it won't be as nice (no drag & drop, which is what the OP wanted to do). Also the whole deal AFAIK
is that M$ doesn't want any OS not endorsed by 'em to look better than 'doze and they use every illegal move in their books to make sire no one make any non-M$ OS look better than 'doze.