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Linux

updated 01.21.11

Ubuntu Logo

Ubuntu is my Linux distribution of choice.

If you are not interested in using Ubuntu, two other Linux distributions that I’d recommend are Fedora and OpenSUSE. Fedora is for the more advanced user and can be difficult to configure. That said, both are good alternatives, but Ubuntu has emerged as the most popular and easiest to use Linux distribution. I highly recommend Ubuntu over the other Linux choices.

When installing Ubuntu, I recommend a wired Internet connection, if possible. Ubuntu will not always have a driver for your wireless device. If you are wired up during the initial Ubuntu installation, it will pull a working driver from the Internet that will make the wireless card work.

Important Installs:

  1. Adobe Flash Player. With Ubuntu 8.04 and later, you can install Flash directly from Adobe’s website. Once on Adobe’s download page, pull down the list of downloads and choose the .deb for Ubuntu 8.04+ option. Open the download and install effortlessly with Ubuntu’s package manager.
  2. Sun Java. Type the following command in the Terminal to automatically download and install Java: sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin sun-java6-fonts
  3. Thunderbird Email. I much prefer Thunderbird over Ubuntu’s Evolution for email. If you only use a web-based email service, you won’t need a desktop client. But if you want Thunderbird, simply type in the Terminal: sudo apt-get install thunderbird
  4. Install Transmisssion BitTorrent client. Type the following command in the Terminal: sudo apt-get install transmission
  5. Install Microsoft TrueType fonts. This may or may not be something that interests everyone, but it’s easy to do. Type the following command in the Terminal: sudo apt-get install ttf-mscorefonts-installer
  6. Install extra hardware drivers. If you are connected to the Internet during the install and first boot, Ubuntu should seek proprietary drivers for your hardware automatically. If this isn’t the case, get connected and choose Hardware Drivers from the Administration menu. If your wireless card does not work by default, this is how you get a driver for it. Also, a proprietary graphics card driver may be necessary to fully take advantage of Ubuntu’s desktop effects.
  7. Install Google Chrome. Google’s fast and slick web browser is also available for Linux! You can download and install from Google’s Chrome page.

Software Choices:

  1. IRC chat. Xchat is the best solution on Linux. I believe it comes preinstalled on Ubuntu.

Helpful Places:

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