KPackage and Synaptic can both be used for installing or removing software. For a system-wide upgrade you're much better off to do it in the console...cuz with knoppix you're gonna have some upgrade issues that you'll need to overcome. It's good if you can learn to use the apt-get commands in the console for everything ideally...it will be much easier and faster once you've got it all figured out. But there's nothing wrong with using KPackage or Synaptic. Just remember that however you decide to go you'll need to do an update before searching for the package you want (and you should do updates often).