Ubuntu Tutorials
Topics
1. Introduction
2. Running and Installing
3. The Desktop
4. Hardware
5. Downloading and Installing programmes
6. File Handling
7. Internet and Working Online
8. The Linux Terminal
9. Common Terms
1. Introduction
Linux offers an alternative operating system to Windows, whatever version you may have. It can provide a system and software environment which will carry out most of the same tasks for which most 'Windows' based computers are used. It can provide an office suite which will accept Microsoft Word and Excel files........Best of all, it is free!
If you are still interested, then read on.
Linux comes in various forms, or distributions; the differences are principally the graphic interface, desk 4. top appearance and the packages of software which come with each. The common distributions at the moment are, Mandriva, Suse, Fedora, Xandros, Linspire and Ubuntu.
Ubuntu has several versions and is very popular at the moment. It is easy to use and is considered by many to be the best form of Linux yet produced. It has been geared towards the desktop user. It has a powerful world-wide volunteer support team which produces a version update every six months. In addition the system and its software package are continually being updated and are available online. The current version of Ubuntu is 9.04, and is called "Jaunty Jackalope", it was released in April, 2009, but in October, "Karmic Koala" will be released as version 9.10
Ubuntu is available free online, but better still, is is readily available on the DVDs which come with the most popular computer magazines, which you can purchase or borrow from the Bairnsdale Library. The file is a very large one to download, about 650 MB, and so a magazine copy is a better bet. Also, you can use the dvd version as a 'live dvd', that is, you can run the system straight from the dvd, and on an "MS Windows" PC. This enables you to become familiar with it and test the compatibility with your peripheral hardware, etc. If you decide you like it, then it can be installed straight from the dvd, as a dual operating PC; that is at boot up you can choose either Windows or Ubuntu as the operating system. If you didn't like the trial then you just remove all remnants of it from your PC quite easily.
Although you may find some of your current software will not work with Ubuntu, Linux sources have countless programmes which will prove good replacements. The author of these tutorials was so impressed he installed Ubuntu 'over the top' of Vista on a new laptop and uses Ubuntu exclusively with great satisfaction; e.g., refer to the options below, all free software. ....in preparation
| Ubuntu 9.04 | XP / Vista |
| Open Office Calc. | Excel |
| Open Office Writer | Powerpoint |
| Firefox | Internet Explorer |
| Gimp, Irfanview, etc. | Photoshop, Irfanview, etc. |
| Kompozer, Quanta Plus | Dreamweaver |
| Scribus | Publisher |
| Avast | Avast |
| Firestarter | Zonealarm |
