You can set up a root password in the "Expert" install. If you do a regular install, you will never be prompted for a root password (not in Breezy, Hoary, or Warty).

Oops, my bad. I forgot that I used the 'expert' option. This time around, after screwing up my installation and reinstalling, I forgot to add expert and didn't get prompted. Good thing I read this thread; now I know how to do add the root password myself. :)

Go to:

System -> Administration -> Login Screen Setup

Click on the 'Security' tab.

Check the 'Allow root to login with GDM' checkbox

This should allow you to login as root from GDM.

Linux is great because it's safe. But if your constantly logging in as root your not using Linux the proper way. One of the reasons Linux is so safe is because you, by default, do not log in as root, but as "user." Unlike windows who will log you in as admin by default. With root or admin for windows folks privliages you leave your computer vunerable to attack. One of the first things I learned as a Linux newbie is not to actually log in as root but to use the sudo method. The guys in the Slackware forum love to jump on people for logging in as root. (I have been jumped many times :-D). So yeah the sudo method is safer and for the better if you want your computer to really demonstrate one of the true strengthes of Linux, its safety!!

'Penguin of Wonder':

I agree with you completely. I only provided the above solution because that's what they wanted to know. I don't think you should login as root, but it's good to know how your system works. Knowledge is power.

The sudo method is all fine and nice, but I prefer the old-fashioned way and feel personally responsible enough to not do anything stupid like graphically logging in as root. Is there any way to enable root without breaking the graphical admin tools (Which the Ubuntu FAQ claims will happen)? (Sorry if that's a stupid question.)
Edit: I suppose I could get used to it, except for one thing: Sometimes, it just doesn't work. For example, some sections in whatever the Kubuntu Control Center is called just do nothing when I attempt to enter administrator mode.

Windows users are trying Linux,
 

and need to be able grow comfortable within it.
Those curious have their data secured on separate partition, and dual boot just to see what this Linux is all about.
So if these people were able to secure their data, able to download and install different distros to try them out and dual boot with Windows, they would feel offended by the fact that this distro they are just testing is holding their hands tight and don't even allow them feel like master of their own computer.
Eventually they feel like Linux is not all freedom, but even more restrictive, less customizable, and uncomfortable than Windows.

Logging in as root is just too much extra work.

If you prefer to make root-like graphical changes, just create a launcher with this command for KDE or this command for Gnome It's a lot easier to do that than log out of user, log in as root, make changes, log out of root, and log in as user again.

As for the KControl "Administrator Mode," yeah, it's a little buggy. The way to get around that is to do And Ubuntu does allow you to create a root user if you want--it's not limiting anybody or holding your hand. It's using a particular default. If you want to use something other than the default, you can, which is why there's an "expert install" mode that does let you create a root user.

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/RootSudo

Please feel free to name one thing that you can't customize in Ubuntu that you can customize in other Linux distros. Thanks.

You can also log in as root by selecting "safe mode" in the grub options...That logs you in as root...


Ubuntulifestyle

Yea.. name a few more then...