Linux Noob - Ubuntu 8.04 Install

Fireblade2K4

Fireblade2K4

Fireblade2K4

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Well I had to post this as I am over the moon :D

This is my first post from my Ubuntu install in my laptop and I have to say I am amazed at the functionality of this linux based OS.

I have always been a windows fan but decided the other night that I wanted to try something I could customise and have a mess with and well this seems exactly what I am looking for.

Apart from it taking me 6 hours to get my wireless connection working eventually figuring out that I needed to install b43 fwcutter, everything else has been a breeze.

I have two questions to ask, firstly how do I install programs, the obvious double click on an .exe file doesn't work as I want to install VLC player if that is possible, secondly can anyone post some recommended link of where I can get plugings, themes etc.

I'm VERY new to the world of open source OS so the help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Stu
 
Welcome to the wonderful world of Linux :)

Firstly, congrats on getting the wireless working - that's no mean feat especially as you're just starting out with it.

To install applications you can use the repository, which not only helps ensure you're downloading from a reliable source but also installs the application for you and also takes care of any dependencies on other required software. You cna either use the Syanptic application which has a nice GUI or you can use the command apt-get install <package name> obviously replacing <package name> with whatever you want to install. Let us know if you need more info on using either Synaptic (or one of the other package managers) or the apt command.

If you're looking for some themes and stuff, have a look at www.gnome-look.org website.
 
Yeah wireless can be a bitch sometimes.

Package management however is awesome. Since your new you might as well use the GUI. System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager. Search vlc, mark it for install, click apply changes. All done!

If its not there you might need to toggle some additional repositories on. From settings > repositories menu - can't remember off the top of my head if its enabled out the box or not.

I typically use apt-get from a terminal all the time. Once you learn how to use a terminal it is far quicker than going through gui's. e.g. "sudo apt-get install vlc"

If your trying to install software thats not packaged it really depends on whatever your installing. Most your typical applications exist in the huge repositories or are already packaged up.
 
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It's very rewarding like that.

To install packages with Ubuntu you use the 'apt-get' command. If you know the package name you want to install run 'apt-get install <package_name>', this is just 'vlc' for VideoLAN. Once installed you can just run 'vlc'.

If you don't know the package name you can use the 'apt-cache' command, i.e. 'apt-cache search videolan' returns over ten related packages on my Debian install.

Oops: typing too slow.
 
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GarethDW said:
To install applications you can use the repository, which not only helps ensure you're downloading from a reliable source but also installs the application for you and also takes care of any dependencies on other required software.
Click to expand...

Hi Gareth, sorry if I am being a bit thick here but what is the Repository and where do I find this?

Thanks
Stu
 
The repositories are just centralised places where you can download applications and patches. Your installation should already be configured to point to one repository - I believe it's one of the official Ubuntu ones by default, based on the location you specified during the installation of Ubuntu. There are also mirrors, set up by various companies or universities, etc... that simply duplicate what the official Ubuntu repository has, so that the load is spread a bit more evenly and downloads are faster for everyone.

In Ubuntu select System -> Administration -> Synaptic. From within here you can configure which repository you want to point to. I choose to use the Oxford university mirror because it's jsut down the road from me and I get very good speeds from there, otherwise I use Virgin Media's mirror or ticklers.org. These should all be listed in the available mirrors, so you can just select whichever one you want to use.

Then, as Una said, you just perform a search for whatever application you're looking to install, and when you've found it you right click and select the Install option, followed by clicking the Apply button. That's pretty much all there is to it.

Sometimes some of the packages you want to install won't be in the default Ubuntu repository, in which case you'll want to make sure you've selected to use the Restricted Repositories as well. It's all in the config section of Synaptic... I'm sat at a Windows machine so can't do a screenshot and am trying to remember this from memory, so apologies if I forgot something ;)
 
As above, most Linux distrobutions use repositories. This is by far the easiest way to get software. It's a big set of servers that has tens of thousands of programs and such on them. Ubuntu uses the apt system borrowed from Debian, another distro. There is Synaptic which provides a GUI, but in many forum posts people mention using apt-get since it's easier to describe in text than a series of mouse clicks.

To use it you open a terminal window and type
sudo apt-get update (this updates the list of available software)
then hit enter and type
sudo apt-get install package name here

To install VLC I type
sudo apt-get install vlc

When you do that it'll automatically go out to the secure repository, find the latest version, look at what other programs it might require, download them all, and install them all. There's no click-through. There's no web browser required. A side benefit is that ALL programs installed this way are then updated together. When a new version of something comes out you'll be given the opportunity to upgrade it. It's not just the OS like Windows Update, but also all your other stuff as well. It's quite nice when you get used to it.

You can also use it to install many programs at once. Just list the packages wou want in a row separated by spaces. this makes it super handy when you're setting up a new system and you want to install a few dozen applications without having to spend all afternoon going to web sites and downloading installers.

I reccomend you enable all the repositories in Software Sources and then install ubuntu-restricted-extras using the package manager. In one go it'll install Flash, Adobe Reader, codecs, and a bunch of other stuff that is not legally allowed to be put on the CD with the distro.
 
And just to confuse you a tad more... There's another way of doing it !!

Look at the top left of your screen

Applications

At the bottom of that menu is Add/Remove
This is like a light version of synaptic

Click on that then make sure All available applications is selected. Then type "Restr" in the search bar... Restr is just short for "Ubuntu restricted extras"... Tick the little box ..That'll install a heap of Kewl goodies.. Like Flash, Fonts etc. When its done that type VLC in the search bar



Install.jpg
 
Guys thanks for the info so far. I really am now considering moving my desktop over from Vista to Ubuntu. I don't game anymore on my PC's as I have a 360 and PS3 for that so for what I do, general run of the mill PC tasks this platform seems ideal.

Outcast, thanks for that it is a little easier that way of seeing exactly what programs are availalbe and also you get a description of what it actually does.

For all the help so far guys, thanks again, I'm sure I'll be back for more soon, lol.

Stu
 
If you're not using your PC for gaming, or some other Windows-specific task, then I'd strongly recommend Linux. For everyday usage, e.g. browsing, email, IM, listening to MP3s, watching films, etc... it really is ideal.

Plus, you won't need to spend cash on an operating system ever again, yet you'll be able to update it as soon as a new release is made available if you so wish.
 
No worries..

Help is what the Linux community is all about.

As far as Add/Remove goes... Just remember it DOESN'T list all the available apps. (there are Thousands upon thousands)

SYSTEM - Administration - Synaptic is the McCoy
 
Outcast, your posts are always helpful and your use of screenshots to illustrate your points is excellent, however, you have the most God-awful taste in themes! :o :p

De gustibus non est disputandum, I suppose.
 
Hey... I'm a N00b !!

hehe

I try and stay away from aero style themes coz I don't want my desktop to look like anything from Ms.. Thats why I don't install screenlets etc.

AWN is pretty kewl but I still haven't installed it on this. It's on my test machine in the garage.
 
I put Ubuntu 8.04 x64 on my computer yesterday afternoon. And I have to say that I'm a little worried by just how easy it was!

Wireless card (a Belkin USB one) - worked straight away. Hell of a contrast - that took about an hour of buggering about in WinXP x64. Wacom tablet works fine. Screen size is set up nicely now that my graphics card (6800GT) is properly installed. Thunderbird and VLC installed fine. Wine installed fine, and even ran Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates without a hitch (although just a tick slower than running under Windows, unsurprisingly).

I wasn't totally new to Linux before this (mucked around with Linspire a few years ago, and I'm forever playing with Dad's Eee 4G), but still - I'm hugely impressed with it.
 
Outcast said:
Another Convert !!

:-)
Click to expand...

Heh. I didn't need much in the way of persuading.

I'm not sure if I'll nuke XP off this computer just yet. If I find a good Linux based alternative to AutoCAD, and if I can get my wheel and GPL running in Wine, and if I can get my sodding Creative sodding Audigy sodding soundcard to work rather than have to use the onboard....Ubuntu can see it, it just doesn't make any noise. But hell, if that's the worst problem....

Question for the 8.04 users - am I the only one who likes to sit giggling like an idiot, mucking around with the 'rubberised' window effect? :)
 
There is no credible alternative to AutoCAD on Linux. It's been many years since I tried to run it on WINE, so it might now work. Might be worth a play, even if just to satisfy intellectual curiosity.

Creative drivers = turds. They suck on Windows and they don't support Linux. Write them a note and ask them why their drivers are so crap.

Yes, everyone does that. You'll do similar spinning the desktop cube shortly. :p
 
BillytheImpaler said:
There is no credible alternative to AutoCAD on Linux. It's been many years since I tried to run it on WINE, so it might now work. Might be worth a play, even if just to satisfy intellectual curiosity.
Click to expand...

I'll try it on Wine. Hell, if it can run Orion Pirates it really ought to be able to cope with a little bit of CAD.

BillytheImpaler said:
Creative drivers = turds. They suck on Windows and they don't support Linux. Write them a note and ask them why their drivers are so crap.
Click to expand...

The Audigy 1 driver for XP x64 isn't that bad, by their standards. But yes, Creative suck.

BillytheImpaler said:
Yes, everyone does that. You'll do similar spinning the desktop cube shortly. :p
Click to expand...

:D
 
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