I am new to kontact. I am coming from thunderbird which is difficult to setup on linux 64. So, I said to my self, let me give kontact a try.

So here I am. Now,
how do I get kontact to launch links in the default browser?
how do I password protect kontact?
how do I get kontact to be in the system tray?
how to I get kontact to make me coffee?

I am using ubuntu gnome edition, not the KDE, sorry.

Kontact will launch links in the default browser. It does so by default. The default browser is specified in KDE System Settings > Default Applications.

As far as I am aware it cannot be password protected...

Kontact as an option under Settings > Configure Kontact to enable System Tray integration. This will need to be done component by component (ie. once for KMail, then Akregator and so forth) if the option is not there in the general settings.

Unfortunately it isn't good enough to control your coffee machine

No coffee?

I have firefox set as default though?

No password protect? So files are not encrypted. Darn the password protection keeps the gf busy.

Ok thanks. I have to admit, KDE has some good programs. I just can't get with the desktop though. Feels too rigid.

Thank SysOS for helping a lowly noob

You probably have the default set in the GNOME settings, and KDE uses a different location to store that preference.