Whatever you do next, first of all you will need to get the Xubuntu development version. This is available as an ISO image file, and the latest ('daily') version can always be found here.
There are then four main options for installing the OS, depending on what you have available.
Each of these is described in a separate paragraph in a bit more detail below, and, after you have installed Xubuntu, at the end of each of these paragraphs you will find a link onto Step 2 with more information about 'Testing' itself.
However, just by installing the OS you have actually already completed some very valuable testing - you have confirmed (or not) that the installation itself works.
Now, the Dev Team really needs to know this extremely valuable information - there are more details on the Reporting Back page, but for now please be aware that the way to give them this info is by reporting your install on the Iso Tracker
One of the ways to test Xubuntu is just to install it on a computer or laptop and start using it.
Be aware though: you may experience problems or instability with a development version of Xubuntu, and may not be able to be as productive as you want. So you really should use a computer that you don’t depend on. Strange as it may seem: those problems, that instability may be annoying to you but it is what the Xubuntu Development Team wants to know about: it shows where there are things that still need to be worked on.
By simply being online, writing a letter, printing a document, sending an e-mail you discover the problems, that Xubuntu gets to solve. If this seems a fair deal to you, then please get testing.
If you don't already know how to install Xubuntu, then please read this great tutorial, which applies as much to Xubuntu as to Ubuntu.
Once you've got Xubuntu running, you are ready to move on to Step 2 and start testing.
This should give you enough space to install, update (you'll find updates more frequent during the 6 month cycle) and not feel constrained by free space issues.
It’s quite common nowadays for computers to have more than one operating system (Windows, Xubuntu, BSD to name a few) on its hard disk. In that case an extra menu (GRUB) will show up at each boot. Every time you start up your computer GRUB lets you choose which operating system you want to use for that session.
Then the operating system you choose will simply start up and be no different from what you are used to - there is no interference between the operating systems. It's like having two or more computers in one.
Once you've got Xubuntu running, you are ready to move on to Step 2 and start testing.
You can simply install the development version of Xubuntu inside your current operating system, using a Virtual Machine, or 'VM' (an 'emulator'). This virtual computer will not interfere with your main operating system, apart from taking up some space on your hard disk, but it will allow you to do some invaluable testing.
Some simple ways to set up a VM are to use Boxes, VirtualBox, VMWare or KVM. Xubuntu testers have some experience with using these for testing and can help you. Middle-click here if you want to talk to people in the Xubuntu Development Channel now in a new window. There people are often available in real time.
Xubuntu Testers regularly use VM's to test things - so it's a perfectly acceptable method of testing.
Once you've got Xubuntu running, you are ready to move on to Step 2 and start testing.
You can indeed still help us. In several ways in fact. If your computer has a CD or DVD drive, or a USB connection and you have a USB disk or stick that you can use, you can do some valuable testing by using the development version of Xubuntu in a live-session.
If you don't already know how to do this, here is a great tutorial.
To do this with a VM you simply need to give the machine a small amount of space and boot the iso on that. No need to actually install unless you wish to do so.
Once you've got Xubuntu running, you are ready to move on to Step 2 and start testing.