Jump to content
The Education Forum

Ubuntu


John Dolva

Recommended Posts

300px-Ubuntu_11.10_Final.png

WIKI : https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Ubuntu_Enterprise_Cloud#Cloud_computing

Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot)

Company / developer Canonical Ltd. / Ubuntu Foundation

OS family Unix-like

Working state Current

Source model Free and open source software (with exceptions)[1][2]

Initial release 20 October 2004; 7 years ago

Latest stable release 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) / 13 October 2011; 2 months ago[3]

Latest unstable release 12.04 (Precise Pangolin) Alpha 1 / 1 December 2011; 13 days ago[4]

Available language(s) Multilingual (more than 55)

Update method APT (front-ends available)

Package manager dpkg (front-ends like Synaptic available)

Supported platforms i386, AMD64, ARM[5][6]

Kernel type Linux (Monolithic)

Userland GNU

Default user interface :

4.10 to 10.10: GNOME Panel 2.x

11.04: Unity shell on top of GNOME 2.x

11.10: Unity shell on top of GNOME 3.x

License Mainly the GNU GPL and various other free software licenses / plus proprietary binary blobs.[1][2]

Official website www.ubuntu.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some resources for dealing with m$ windoze withdrawal symptoms and easing the transition. ( remember always : you are not alone. :) )

Numerous forums and databases + such as :

How you can help Windows users quit

One Day at a time...

''...

Programs or OS?

However, in most cases, people have become accustomed to Windows and a range of programs running on it. The average PC user is unlikely to know the difference between Windows and some of its most popular programs. Anyone who isn’t an enthusiast might have difficulty knowing where Windows ends and Microsoft Office starts.

You can turn this to your advantage, as it’s easier to persuade someone to try out a new program than it is to fundamentally change the way their computer works. By gradually replacing the programs on the computer with Windows ports of common Linux applications, you can ease the transition to an open source environment without having to make a drastic change. Think of this as a similar step to cutting down the number of cigarettes smoked prior to giving up.

Firefox

Swapping Internet Explorer for Mozilla Firefox is a logical first step. Firefox is probably the most popular open source program around and it provides enough similarity to earlier versions of Internet Explorer to provide a painless transition.

To install the Windows version of Firefox, browse to www.mozilla.com/firefox and download and install the program. On installation you can transfer Internet Explorer favourites and the default homepage. There are people who have difficulty telling Firefox apart from Internet Explorer 6, especially once the homepage is the same.

Assuming that the tentative steps with Firefox have gone OK, you can try pressing the advantage. Select some must-have Firefox add-ons that will improve your subject’s web browsing. You can find a list by choosing Tools > Add-ons > Get Extensions. Try adding Adblock Plus, English Dictionary to work with the inline spell checking, and NoScript. There are loads of others, but these are invaluable in cutting down web irritations and protecting the browser.

...''

Link to comment
Share on other sites

linux distros download links

http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html

Free GNU/Linux distributions

The FSF is not responsible for the content of other web sites, or how up-to-date their content is.

Following are the GNU/Linux distributions we know of which have a firm policy commitment to only include and only propose free software. They reject non-free applications, non-free programming platforms, non-free drivers, or non-free firmware “blobs”. If by mistake they do include any, they remove it. If you have found such non-free software or documentation in one of these distributions, you can report the issue and earn GNU Bucks in the process. To learn more about what makes for a free GNU/Linux distribution, see our Guidelines for Free System Distributions.

We list companies that sell hardware preinstalled with a free GNU/Linux distribution separately.

If you know of a distribution that may qualify but isn't listed here, please ask the distribution's maintainers if they want to follow these free software principles. If they do, and they would like their distribution to be listed here, they should write to <webmasters@gnu.org>.

If you're wondering why a certain distribution isn't listed here, you may want to check our page explaining why we don't endorse some common distributions. There, we've listed the reasons why several well-known distributions don't meet our guidelines.

Some distributions are making efforts to move toward a completely free system. We thank them for their ongoing work to achieve that goal, and hope to list them here some day.

Individual GNU packages (most of which are included in the free distros here) are described separately.

---------------------------

http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=108605.0

---------------------------

http://www.downseeker.com/software/linux-distros/

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Why? (to be edited)

Pro:

Con:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/237516/five_linux_desktops_that_arent_unity_or_gnome_3.html

''...

Torvalds' reaction to what he views as the "head up the arse" behavior in GNOME 3? “I'm using Xfce,” he said. “I think it's a step down from gnome2, but it's a huge step up from gnome3.”

Both Unity and GNOME 3 have their fans, to be sure. But one of the best features of the free and open source Linux operating system is that there's almost infinite customization possible, so you can make it pretty much whatever you want it to be.

If you're looking for an alternative to one of these less-than-universally-loved desktops, here are a few key contenders to consider. Many, it should be noted, don't just rival but often surpass what's offered by Windows and Mac OSX.

Five Alternatives to Consider

1. KDE

I'll start off with KDE, which historically has been the most obvious and longstanding alternative.

If you run Kubuntu instead of the standard desktop Ubuntu, in fact, KDE is what you're already used to. KDE is also similar in many ways to Microsoft Windows, so if you've spent much time on a Microsoft system, KDE will probably feel familiar to you as well.

KDE and GNOME differ primarily in the way they present things on the desktop. Traditionally, GNOME's desktop has been associated with simplicity while KDE's has offered more options.

With a highly polished look, some believe KDE is the most visually attractive of all the Linux desktops. Besides Kubuntu, OpenSUSE, Mandriva and PCLinuxOS are all among the distributions that include KDE by default.

2. Xfce

Yes, it appears the low-resources Xfce desktop is now the choice of Linus Torvalds himself. Not that it's any wonder, of course. In fact, Xfce is a great lightweight desktop that's used by default in Xubuntu, the Ubuntu variant designed for low-specification computers.

149311-Linux%20Penguin.jpg

Xfce focuses on using minimal resources while offering very quick speeds. Xfce is also modular, standards-compliant and reusable, allowing users to pick and choose from a number of separately packaged components.

3. Enlightenment

It may be somewhat less well-known than KDE and Xfce, but Enlightenment offers an excellent alternative. Sometimes known also as E, Enlightenment serves as the basis for the Bodhi Linux distribution but can also serve as a window manager within GNOME or KDE. The software can be used on anything from mobile phones all the way up to powerful, multi-core desktops.

4. LXDE

A small footprint is generally a desirable quality in a Linux desktop, and on that front LXDE is a leading contender.

Short for Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment, LXDE demands very few resources and so is an excellent choice for older computers, in particular. That's not to say it's overly bare-bones, however; rather, it features an attractive interface, multilanguage support, standard keyboard shortcuts and additional features like tabbed file browsing.

LXDE is featured by default in the Lubuntu variant of Ubuntu as well as Knoppix.

5. Fluxbox

Last but not least, Fluxbox is an X window manager that's full-featured but very light on resources and easy to handle. Fluxbox is not as feature-rich as GNOME or KDE, but it's considerably friendlier for low-spec computing uses.

Linux users who are not happy with their favorite distribution's choice of a desktop environment can always switch distributions, of course. I often recommend Linux Mint for those who want to do that.

It's typically not necessary to go that far, however. In most cases, you can keep the Linux distribution you've been using and just add on a different desktop.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you're wondering why a certain distribution isn't listed here, you may want to check our page explaining why we don't endorse some common distributions. There, we've listed the reasons why several well-known distributions don't meet our guidelines.

Some distributions are making efforts to move toward a completely free system. We thank them for their ongoing work to achieve that goal, and hope to list them here some day.

Individual GNU packages (most of which are included in the free distros here) are described separately.

All of the distributions that follow are installable to a computer's hard drive and most can be run live. They are listed in alphabetical order.

BLAG Linux and GNU, a GNU/Linux distribution based on Fedora.

Dragora, an independent GNU/Linux distribution based on concepts of simplicity.

Dynebolic, a GNU/Linux distribution with special emphasis on audio and video editing.

gNewSense, a GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian and Ubuntu, with sponsorship from the FSF.

Musix, a GNU+Linux distribution based on Knoppix, with special emphasis on audio production.

Parabola GNU/Linux, a distribution based on Arch that prioritizes simple package and system management.

Trisquel, a GNU/Linux distribution oriented toward small enterprises, domestic users and educational centers.

Ututo, a GNU/Linux distribution based on Gentoo. It was the first fully free GNU/Linux system recognized by the GNU Project.

Venenux, a GNU/Linux distribution built around the KDE desktop. In addition to their own sites, many of these distros are available from mirror.fsf.org. Feel free to download or mirror the distros from there, preferably using rsync. (Free distro maintainers: please contact FSF sysadmin to have your distro mirrored there.)

The Free Software Foundation is the principal organizational sponsor of the GNU Operating System. Our mission is to preserve, protect and promote the freedom to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer software, and to defend the rights of Free Software users. Support GNU and the FSF by buying manuals and gear, joining the FSF as an associate member or by making a donation, either directly to the FSF or via Flattr.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~awb/linux.history.html

LINUX's History

Note: The following text was written by Linus on July 31 1992. It is a collection of various artifacts from the period in which Linux first began to take shape. This is just a sentimental journey into some of the first posts concerning linux, so you can happily press 'n' now if you actually thought you'd get anything technical. From: torvalds@klaava.Helsinki.FI (Linus Benedict Torvalds) Newsgroups: comp.os.minix Subject: Gcc-1.40 and a posix-question Message-ID: Date: 3 Jul 91 10:00:50 GMT Hello netlanders, ...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I'm continuing to enjoy Linux. It's a learning curve to be sure but the benefits are many: utilities like torrent downloads, pdf readers, are significantly better than windows ones. The down load speeds are up considerably. The main drawback seems to be lack of a good dvd viewer but like most Linux problems there are likely solutions. I like it and look forward to the day when for me as Linus Torvalds predicted, the end of windows, while not a goal, will be a result.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It appears there is a neat solution to the media player issue. GEEKBOX*** is a 20 meg linux system that can boot off an external storage device or be onstalled in a separate (~ 35 m3g) partition and appears to be able to play any media file. So, I think a repartitioning and a fiddle with the MBR might be one of the easiest way to have a multi boot setup that eventually will enable letting M$Windows go for good. Eventually, of course, there will be a simple installation directly into any of the many Linux disrtros. Of course eventuallt by dissecting whatever distro one has will also lead to more elegant solutions. Imo that's one of the beauties of Linux. BTW the latest KDE desktop is pretty amazing from what I've seen so far.

edit oops : GeeXboX***

Edited by John Dolva
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Just added *google* ( * = 'wildcard' or 'anything') to better privacy and the load and look of the forum is much better (for now...no doubt they'll find another way to datamine)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just added *google* ( * = 'wildcard' or 'anything') to better privacy and the load and look of the forum is much better (for now...no doubt they'll find another way to datamine)

LOL ... of course.. you can't sign in without it...duh. Had to disable that and restart firefox before being able to sign in again. Of course they would have thought of that one.You learn something every day.. Today I've learnt I'm an idiot. Still it was a funny lesson.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just added *google* ( * = 'wildcard' or 'anything') to better privacy and the load and look of the forum is much better (for now...no doubt they'll find another way to datamine)

LOL ... of course.. you can't sign in without it...duh. Had to disable that and restart firefox before being able to sign in again. Of course they would have thought of that one.You learn something every day.. Today I've learnt I'm an idiot. Still it was a funny lesson.

||

hmmm, it was a matter of having two lines before the asterix google bit ||*google* . Now it seems to work and stay logged in. Of course there are other dataminers to deal with, but that seems to work in blocking anything with google in the scripts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just added *google* ( * = 'wildcard' or 'anything') to better privacy and the load and look of the forum is much better (for now...no doubt they'll find another way to datamine)

LOL ... of course.. you can't sign in without it...duh. Had to disable that and restart firefox before being able to sign in again. Of course they would have thought of that one.You learn something every day.. Today I've learnt I'm an idiot. Still it was a funny lesson.

||

hmmm, it was a matter of having two lines before the asterix google bit ||*google* . Now it seems to work and stay logged in. Of course there are other dataminers to deal with, but that seems to work in blocking anything with google in the scripts.

.. and seems to (I'm getting hesitant in jumping to conclusions) seems to make connecting to the net a problem that is a new thing and kindof strange to resolve (wish I'd spent more time in lectures than in the tavern)

anyway, at whatever level, Linux is fun. (imo)

Edited by John Dolva
Link to comment
Share on other sites

VIDEO: WikiLeaks' Jacob Applebaum on the War on the Internet

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 Internet freedom activist and WikiLeaks collaborator Jacob Applebaum spoke at a forum titled War on the Internet , co-hosted by Electronic Frontiers Australia and the Australian Greens at Trades Hall in Melbourne on January 21.

http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/49812

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...