Eva's useful guide to Ubuntu 9.04

 

A. Media Codecs, DVD support and more
B. Install useful software
C. Set up Firefox & Thunderbird
D. How to install fonts

E. Get more languages
F. How to force the package architecture
G. How to install Virtualbox

H. Miscellaneous
I. Ubuntu Branding
J. Hardware Specific issues

 

All the commands in orange should be run in a terminal:
Applications → Accessories → Terminal

You don't have to type in the commands! You can paste a command in a terminal using the wheel click / middle click of your mouse.

 

A. Media codecs & DVD support


1. Universe, multiverse and restricted repositories.

In Ubuntu 9.04 "Jaunty", the universe, multiverse and restricted repositories are activated by default.

If you want to make sure they are active:
System → Administration → Software sources

Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope - Software Sources - Repositories by default universe restricted multiverse

 

2. Enable the medibuntu repositories.

 

sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/jaunty.list --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list

Add the GPG Key:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install medibuntu-keyring && sudo apt-get update

 

OR do both of these in one line only:

sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/`lsb_release -cs`.list --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list; sudo apt-get -q update; sudo apt-get --yes -q --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring; sudo apt-get -q update

 

3. Install non-free-codecs

 

The non-free-codecs meta-package will install a lot of very useful packages, and includes ubuntu-restricted-extras: support for MP3 and various other audio formats (GStreamer plugins), Microsoft fonts, Java runtime environment, Flash plugin, w64codecs or w32codecs depending on your architecture. All in one!

sudo apt-get install non-free-codecs

 

4. Install more codecs, DVD support, VLC and mplayer:VLC Media Player - Ubuntu Jaunty useful Guide

 

The libdvdcss2 package is essential to play encrypted DVDs. VLC is probably the best media player around.

sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2 gxine libxine1-ffmpeg vlc mplayer mencoder

 

 

B. Install useful software

 

1. Adobe (Acrobat) ReaderAcrobat Reader Linux

 

The default pdf reader, Evince, should be fine for almost everything. It is also much faster than its closed source competitor.
However, Adobe Reader is also available:

sudo aptitude install acroread acroread-plugins


And for those who like to read pdfs directly in their browsers:

sudo aptitude install mozilla-acroread

 

2. Google EarthInstall Google Earth in Ubuntu Jaunty Jackalope

 

Ubuntu 9.04 "Jaunty" comes with the recent version 5.0
As many Google applications, it is still labeled as a beta, but seems to run really flawlassly.

sudo aptitude install googleearth

 

A detail: you can make Google Earth adapt to your desktop theme. Open the main menu editor and replace the googleearth %f command with googleearth -style GTK+ %f:

Google Earth Jaunty Shortcut GKT Theme

 

If a more recent version of Google Earth comes out, it can can be downloaded from the official website, as a .bin installer. Download and save the GoogleEarthLinux.bin package. Then install:

chmod +x GoogleEarthLinux.bin
./GoogleEarthLinux.bin


3. More Free Open Source SoftwareMozilla Thunderbird under Ubuntu Jaunty Jackalope 9.04

 

Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0: E-Mail (Outlook replacement)

sudo apt-get install thunderbird thunderbird-gnome-support

 

Filezilla 3.2.2: Full FTP utility

sudo apt-get install filezilla

Audacity  

Audacity 1.3.7: Audio editor (≈ Samplitude / Cubase)

sudo apt-get install audacity

 

Sound Converter 1.4: it says it all

sudo apt-get install soundconverter

 

gThumb 2.10.11: Definitely better than the default GNOME image viewer "Eye of GNOME".

sudo apt-get install gthumb

I couldn't find a fast way to change the file associations. Here is the slow way: for each file type, first find a file of this type. Right-click on it, → Properties → Open with
Finally chose gThumb out of the list.

 

Shutter: A great program to make screenshots
Installation instructions here.

 

Skype Ubuntu Linux Screenshot

Skype 2.0.0.72: Skype works with Jaunty!
See my configuration and more screenshots here.

sudo apt-get install skype

 

Install some these applications in one stroke:

sudo apt-get install audacity filezilla soundconverter gthumb thunderbird thunderbird-gnome-support

 

4. More specific and system software

 

GParted: A partition editor similar to the defunct Partition Magic

sudo apt-get install ntfsprogs gparted

Gparted Ubuntu Linux Screenshot

 

 

Start-Up Manager: a graphical tool to change the settings of the boot loader and splash screen

sudo apt-get install startupmanager

Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope - Startupmanager

 

 

You may want to install a firewall. ufw (Uncomplicated Firewall) is installed by default, but not active. Gufw is a nice GUI for ufw.

sudo apt-get install gufw

Launch Gufw with:
System → Administration → Firewall configuration

Make sure you apply predifined rules for ftp, pop3, smtp, ... if you want to be able to use these services.

Gufw Uncomplicated Firewall ufw Ubuntu

 

 

Dropbox is a great cross-platform application to share, store and sync files online and between computers. This software is amazing, and they offer 2 GB free software space, without file size limitations.
Installations instructions here. (.deb or repositories)

 

Truecrypt is an encryption software application. It has a nice GUI, and the source code is available. Some licence concerns though.
Download .deb from here.

 

 

5. Uninstall unused software and cleanup


Uninstalling unused packages helps to to reduce the number of updates and to keep a less-cluttered system.

Personnaly, I don't use Evolution, F-spot, Rhythmbox, Tomboy and gnome-games:

sudo apt-get remove rhythmbox f-spot tomboy evolution evolution-common evolution-exchange evolution-plugins evolution-webcal gnome-games gnome-games-data

If you don't own any Palm smartphone / organizer, you can remove the Palm Pilot sync tools and libraries:

sudo apt-get remove gnome-pilot gnome-pilot-conduits libgnome-pilot2 libpisync1 libpisock9

 

F-spot and Tomboy are the only two applications using mono in a default jaunty install. If you don't use them, there is the possibility to remove mono. For many, it is also a "religious" thing. It's not my case, but Free Software is about choice isn't it? You have the choice to remove mono... or not.

sudo apt-get purge libmono0 mono-common

 

At this point, your system may be full of unused libraries. The package deborphan helps finding and removing orphaned libraries. It has a Gtk frontend called gtkorphan.

sudo apt-get install deborphan gtkorphan

GtkOrphan Deborphan Ubuntu Screenshot

 

Finally, a little cleanup:

sudo apt-get autoremove
sudo apt-get clean

 

C. Set up Firefox & Thunderbird

 

Both Firefox and Thunderbird have the great ability to share the same “profile folder”, no matter if you boot Windows or Linux. When you (re)install a Linux or Windows system, you only have to configure your profile so the program knows where your “profile folder” is.

 

firefox -P

thunderbird -P

 

Now you've got your bookmarks, contacts & emails back!

 

Thunderbird 2.0 Select Profile

 

Useful Firefox extensions:

 

DownThemallDownThemAll: one of the best download managers

 

FlashblockFlashblock: block heavy animations and ads

 

User agent swicherUser Agent Switcher: solves many compatibility problems!

 

Split Browser ExtensionSplit Browser: usefulf for big, large monitors

 

 

Useful Thunderbird extensions:

 

Mozilla Lightning: The official calendar extension for Thunderbird
(Project homepage)

 

Zindus Thunderbird AddonZindus: Sync Google and Zimbra contacts with Thunderbird
(Project Homepage)

 

Thunderbird Add-On Google Sync CalendarProvider for Google Calendar: Allows bidirectional access to Google Calendar. Requires Lightning.

 

 

D. How to install fonts in Ubuntu

 

1. Red Hat Liberation Fonts

 

The Liberation Fonts are a great "GPL+exception" replacements offered by Red Hat Liberation Fonts Red Hat for the three most commonly Microsoft fonts: Times New Roman, Arial, and Courier New.

sudo apt-get install ttf-liberation

 

2. Microsoft Fonts

 

The Liberation Fonts are intended to be a full replacement for the Microsoft Fonts. If you want to install the Microsoft Fonts anyway, here is the procedure:

sudo apt-get install ttf-mscorefonts-installer

 

The ttf-mscorefonts-installer package was named msttcorefonts in previous ubuntu versions.

If you have already installed the ubuntu-restricted-extras or the non-free-codecs meta-packages, ttf-mscorefonts-installer will already be installed on your system.

 

3. How to install any font in Ubuntu

 

a) Open your home folder in Nautilus

b) Enable "Show Hidden Files" option from Nautilus View menu:

Show hidden files Gnome Nautilus


c) Create a new folder named ".fonts" (with a dot!)

New .font folder Nautilus GNome

d) Copy all the needed fonts in the newly created folder.
Your Windows fonts can be copied from C:\Windows\Fonts

e) For some applications, a restart may be needed.

 

 

E. Get more Languages

 

One of the positive aspects of Linux is its ability to let you choose the language of your applications and desktop. It is also possible to use as many spelling correctors as you like.

In my case I need spelling correctors in French, German, Spanish and English, and my default desktop should be in Spanish.

The installation of languages has benn improvend in Ubuntu "Jaunty" and is very easy and intuitive.

System → Administration → Language Support

Language Selection window - Ubuntu Linux - Screenshot

Language Support Ubuntu Linux Screenshot

Software like Firefox, Openoffice.org, Thunderbird will be updated with new locales, dictionnaries, and UI language packs.

 

 

F. How to force the package architecture

 

Problem: you are running Ubuntu 64 bit, and the software package you want to install is 32 bit.

Gdebi-gtk will give you the following error message:
Error: Wrong architecture 'i386'

Gtk Debi Wrong architecture

This could happen with Skype, Eclipse, IBM Lotus Symphony or the excellent game World of Goo.

Solution: install the package from the command line with the --force-architecture option:
sudo dpkg -i --force-architecture NameOfPackage.deb

For example:

sudo dpkg -i --force-architecture skype-debian_2.0.0.72-1_i386.deb

 

H. How to install VirtualboxVirtualBox Ubuntu Linux Install

 

It is possible to install the OSS version of Virtualbox directly from Synaptic. However, the Open Source Version does not include USB support, so that I recommend installing VirtualBox by downloading the latest version from the official website.


After installing VirtualBox, you may nedd to restart your computer. After restarting, the VirtualBox menu entry should appear in the System Tools menu. Alternatively, run VirtualBox in a terminal.

 

For Virtualbox to work properly, you have to be in the group "vboxusers". Add yourself in this group using the following command:

sudo adduser user_name vboxusers

 

To share any folder as a network drive, just enter following command at the MSDOS prompt:

net use x: \\vboxsvr\your_shared_folder

 

After each kernel actualization, you may have to recompile the VirtualBox kernel module with the following command:

sudo /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup

 

 

H. Miscellaneous

 

1. No system sounds

 

System → Preferences → Sounds

Ubuntu Linux Sound Preferences - No Sound

 

Still, there will be a treacherous login sound at the login screen! To make it vanish, you'll have to uncheck the "Login Screen Ready" checkbox there:

System → Administration → Login Window → Accessibility

Login Sound Ready Disable Ubuntu Linux

 

2. Change display fonts to RedHat Liberation Fonts

 

System → Administration → Appearence → Fonts

Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty - Appearance Preferences - Red Hat Liberation Fonts

 

3. Save "real estate" / space on the desktop

 

1. Install the compact clearlooks theme to save space in all applications.

2. Merge the two gnome panels in one.

3. To gain even more vertical space:
Display only Icons in Gnome, not Text and Icons
System → Preferences → Appearence → Interface
Change"Toolbar button labels" to "Text beside items" or "Icons only":

Appearence Gnome Toolbars Text beside items No Text


4. Disable some Services and Startup Programs

 

I don't use any Bluetooth devices.
System → Administration → Services

Uncheck the "Bluetooth device management" checkbox:

Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty - Service Settings - Disable Bluetooth Screenshot

 

I also like to disable some startup programs like Buetooth manager, Evolution Alarm Notifier etc. It's in:

System → Preferences → Startup Applications

Startup Application Preferences

 

5. Add Nautilus templates

 

By default, there are no document templates in Ubuntu! If you try a right-click to create a new document, you will end up with this:

Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope - Create new Document - Empty File - Screenshot

There is an easy solution to this problem.

In your home folder, there is a folder called "Templates".

Just add any files you want as templates. Give the files a descriptive name because the file extension is not displayed in the menu.

If GNOME can recognize the template’s file type it will display the proper icon in the menu as well. Templates can also be organized into folders.

That's it! Here is an example of what you get:

Create new Document - Menu templates - Screenshot

 

Precisions on Templates in Ubuntu / GNOME:

In Ubuntu versions prior to "Jaunty", there is no default "Templates" folder. You will have to create one.
( You can also use this method to change the place of the default Templates folder in Jaunty.)

~/.gnome2/Templates seems to be a good place.
In Nautilus, use [Ctrl] + [H] to display the hidden files starting with a dot. Go into the .gnome2 folder and create a "Templates" folder there.

Then tell GNOME where the template folder is:

gedit ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs

Replace this line
XDG_TEMPLATES_DIR=”$HOME/”
by
XDG_TEMPLATES_DIR=”$HOME/.gnome2/Templates”

(This topic was adapted form Tombuntu.)

 

6. The Gnome Control Center

 

In my opinion, the system settings menu in Gnome is a mess. No beginner is able to figure out which settings are in "Preferences" or rather in "Administration", and why.

As the lists are ordered alphabetically, if you use Ubuntu in different languages, you'll have a hard time to find the item you're looking for. As I use Ubuntu in many different languages, it really is a problem for me. And it surely is for new users coming from the Windows world.

Here comes the solution: the Gnome Control Center.

Gnome control center screenshot

Nothing to install, it is already there by default. Edit the main menu:
System → Preferences → Main Menu

And check:
Applications → System Tools → Control Center
and / or
System → Control Center

Now you can easily access the Control Center from the main menu. Alternatively, launch gnome-control-center from the command line.

 

7. Set up the "SUPER" / Windows key

 

Unfortunately the Windows key, also called in a more neutral way the "Super" key, doesn't open the menu by default in Ubuntu.

It is very easy to fix. Go to
System → Preferences → Keyboard Shortcuts

Open the Main Menu with the SUPER Windows Key under  Ubuntu

 

Now change the "Show the panel's main menu" shortcut to the "Super" key. That's it!

 

8. Miscellaneous / Pot-pourri

 

Here is some interesting stuff I have no time to write details about, or more things I usually do on a newly installed system.

A. Use CheckGmail or Gmail Notifier as Linux alternatives to the notifier program released by Google (MacOS and Windows only).

B. [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Backspace] has been replaced by [Alt Gr] + [SysRq] (print screen) + [K] in Jaunty. Get used to it!

C. Look here if you want more free fonts:
"300+ Easily Installed Free Fonts for Ubuntu"

D. Adapt power management to your needs:
System → Administration → Power Managment

E. I like to add a "Downloads" folder to my home directory, bookmark it in Nautilus so it can appear on the places menu. And finally make it the default download folder in Firefox.

F. To mount .iso files without having to burn them, use Gnome ISO Mounter (Gmount-ISO) from the package manager.

G. My favourite tool to batch rename files is Métamorphose. Download .deb packages from the website.

H. Can't find a file? gnome-search-tool is what you're looking for, it is installed by default.

I. Tag your music files with Ex Falso, Easytag or MusicBrainz Picard. More about these applications here.

J. XSane looks like a software monster from the 90's. To avoid scaring out people trying out Ubuntu / Linux, install Gnome Scan (aka Flegita):
sudo apt-get install gnomescan

If you want to uninstall XSane:
sudo apt-get remove xsane

K. To rip DVDs, use dvd::rip or the easy-to-use Thoggen, both to be installed from the package manager. For more infos, read:
"The Ultimate Guide To Manage Your Audio/Video Files In Linux"

L. If you have an HP printer, install the hplip-gui package. It is a great Qt4 frontend to hplip.
sudo apt-get install hplip-gui

 

 

I. Ubuntu Branding

 

 

1. Shipit

 

If you are installing Ubuntu on a friend's computer, it can be useful to have branded material. People may be more confident if they see you installing Ubuntu from an "official" CD than from a CD burned by yourself.

Get one Ubuntu CD shipped for free with the Shipit program. Order more at the Canonical store.

 

2. Get rid of your Windows Vista Sticker!

 

You can get 4 "Powered by Ubuntu" stickers at System76 for free.

However, if you want really good-looking and great quality stickers / case badges, you can get ten of them for $5 at Zareason.
Shipping seems to be free, even to Europe.

Zareason and System76 sell laptops, desktops and servers running Ubuntu.

Ubuntu Stickers - Case Badges Zareason

Ubuntu Stickers - Case Badges Zareason

 

If you want to stay distribution neutral, you can order Linux / Tux Stickers from many places on the Web. If you find really good-looking Linux case badges, I will be happy to link them here.

 

 

J. Hardware specific issues

 

My main harware is a Dell XPS M1330 Laptop, with a NVidia GeForce 8400M GS.

Everything works perfectly by default, which includes the graphic & network cards. Suspend to RAM is extremely fast. Hibernate works without a glitch. All the hotkeys work. Both line out jacks are functional, and even the IR remote control is supported!

Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex" had an ennoying bug affecting the brightness shortcuts. It is now fixed in "Jaunty". Fan and hard drive noise issues (present in "Hardy") have also been fixed.

 

Final thoughts:

Ubuntu 9.04 "Jaunty Jackalope" is Ubuntu's 10th release!
I have used and tested all of them, and must say that this one is the best ever. It is well polished, has no regressions in my case, and it beats any other distribution I have tested so far. Have fun with it!

 

By Johannes Eva, April 2009

About the author: I have been using Free Software since 1998. Back then, my linux distribution of choice was Red Hat Linux 5.1 “Manhattan”, and OpenOffice.org was still called StarOffice 4.0. I soon became a strong partisan of Free Software. Nevertheless, and despite using a Linux environment as my main platform, I am preoccupied by the slow progress of the FOSS movement, and its lack of unity.

Previous article: A plea for hidden rulers in OpenOffice.org

 

This article has been linked on Tuxmachines, LXer, Ubuntu News, GeekTimeLinux, Linux Today and some more...

 

 

Comment from Xela (09-04-22 03:05:07)

Great article,
thanks

Comment from Jeffrey Davidson (09-04-22 03:14:33)

Thanks, great job. I can't wait to get home from work and apply some of your suggestions.

Comment from David (09-04-22 03:36:13)

Some good tips. Thanks.

P.S. Final Thoughts says '9.10' - should be '9.04'

Comment from amd-linux (09-04-22 03:54:41)

Instead of all this conmmandline magic (which deterrs a lot of newbies), you could just recommend Ubuntu Tweak to your readers, which does it all from a convenient graphical menu.

It also does not break anything as it just uses the package management for additonal software:

http://ubuntu-tweak.com/screenshots

Comment from Simon Poon (09-04-22 04:04:58)

Your guide is great...It saves me a lot of time and work tooo.

Comment from Mike Munsil (09-04-22 04:05:12)

Thank you! Very handy.

Is this correct?

>>Start-Up Manager: a graphical tool to change the settings of the boot loader and splash screen

>>sudo apt-get install ntfsprogs gparted

Comment from Ariszló (09-04-22 04:19:37)

Good guide. Deserves its title. Thank you. :)

Comment from m3wt (09-04-22 04:50:52)

this is really helpful. thanks!!

Comment from wolfen69 (09-04-22 06:49:31)

you have "libxine1-ffmpeg" listed twice in the same line for the install of VLC.

great work for the noobs though.

Comment from wolfen69 (09-04-22 06:56:36)

also, adding medibuntu now requires only 1 line in the terminal, regardless of which version of ubuntu you are using. see below.

sudo wget http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/`lsb_release -cs`.list --output-document=/etc/apt/sources.list.d/medibuntu.list; sudo apt-get -q update; sudo apt-get --yes -q --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring; sudo apt-get -q update


Comment from Johannes Eva

@ David: Thanks for the Typo

@ amd-linux: I'll give Ubuntu Tweak a try and get familiarized with it. I'll probably update this guide then. Thanks for the tip!

@ Mike Munsil: I think both lines are correct - or am I missing something?
Updated explanation in the guide:
(ntfsprogs is a package to write, resize, move... NTFS partitions)

@ wolfen69: Thank you for the typo and the tip! It is updated and corrected now.

Comment from skyser (09-04-23 11:35:14)

A very useful guide, indeed. Thank you very much.
Mike is pointing out the fact that in Startup Manager you gave the wrong code and repeated the line for the gparted. It should be corrected.

Comment from anonymous (09-04-24 11:04:45)

A useful addition

REMOVE ORPHAN LIBRARIES

# sudo apt-get install deborphan
# sudo deborphan

A list of orphan libraries will be displayed (if any).

If this is the case, you can remove these libraries with

# sudo deborphan | xargs sudo apt-get -y remove --purge

Then, an apt autoremove is necessary in some cases

# sudo apt-get autoremove

@eva great article! keep bloging

Comment from karpouz (09-04-24 01:22:37)

thanx you very much from France
it helps a lot ! !! !:)

Comment from Rye (09-04-24 10:20:54)

Thank you so much for the very useful information!!

I haven't update since 7.10, so it was nice to have all the commands handy after a fresh install. One of the downsides of Ubuntu is that you have to spend a lot of time getting it the way you want. This speeds things along.

I'm really liking 9.04 so far:)

Comment from Johannes Eva

@ skyser: Now I understand, thank you! I corrected the guide.

@ anonymous: Thanks for the tip. I looked for deborphan, and found a frontend called gtkorphan. Guide updated. I hope deborphan doesn't remove needed stuff though!

Comment from Chetan Crasta (09-04-25 08:35:11)

Thanks a lot for the tutorial, Johannes.
I never knew that the liberation fonts were available! I find the default serif and sans-serif fonts exceedingly ugly.

Comment from dimitris (09-04-25 05:09:24)

really helpfull.thank a lot!! :)

Comment from Bill(09-04-26 01:24:57)

Nice writeup! Thank you!

Comment from SC Marcos (09-04-26 04:04:51)

What an extremely useful site. I started with Feisty and this is just about the best site so far.

Comment from Muhammad Fahd Waseem (09-04-26 08:13:54)

Very, very nice... Pretty useful for new linux users...

And BTW, nice blog design too :]

Comment from Surja Gain (09-04-26 09:27:46)

A very useful guide. Thank you :)
But I have a graphics problem with my installation. I have a Samsung 15" monitor - Syncmaster 591S and an Nvidia 8600 GT graphics card. After installing Jaunty, I get a 800 x 600 resolution full screen. When I change the resolution to 1024 x 764 , (60 Hz) the display area on the screen becomes small with a thick black border and shifted to one side of the screen. I think I had the same problem with Ubuntu 8.10 but I suppose I did download some Nvidia driver and that resolved the problem. This time I couldn't find any Nvidia driver in Synaptic. Is there anything I can do to solve the display problem?

Comment from Dan Garcia (09-04-26 05:14:55)

Surja Gain,
do a sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx-180
And nVidia restricted drivers will be installed. After that you'll be able to select them in system>administration>hardware drivers

Comment from Eric Graves (09-04-27 04:41:14)

Excellent well thought out and easy to understand article. I appreciate the hard work.

Comment from Kaj Rasmussen (09-04-27 10:07:12)

Exellent work.
Now you just have to make the commands readable by using a darker color, please.


Comment from suresh (09-04-27 07:47:59)

Excellent work.Sincerely appreciated.I am a newbie.Just 6-7 weeks old.May be you can bring out a good ebook for persons like me

Comment from Ivo (09-04-27 09:03:48)

Just wanted to add that on 32 bit system you need to enable partner repository as adobe acrobat reader has been moved to partner space. 64 bit version is on medibuntu, and the guide works there.

Comment from Ger Mulvey (09-04-28 01:57:14)

RE: 5 adding nautilus templates

In Jaunty this is done in the Templates folder in the home folder of the user.

Comment from Ivan Kristianto (09-04-29 04:11:34)

Really simple tutorial and very useful. I heard Ubuntu Studio already have most all that stuff. Have you tried it?

Comment from Shervin (09-04-29 06:01:10)

Thanks alot for this great article.
I have googled a bit and found out that the Intel graphic restricted drivers are blacklisted on Jaunty. Is that right?

I really want better drivers. What can I do?

Comment from Johann H Scheepers (09-04-30 09:22:03)

my hats off to you - New to linux - Ha.. windows - To sacrifice the effort and time is allready to be praised - The layout is great !!
Will consult you site frequently
Thank You
JHS

Comment from Vadim P. (09-04-30 02:47:25)

Thanks, great article with some very useful stuff.

Comment from Matthew Donovan (09-05-04 06:46:31)

Thanks very much for these tips. I now go thru them to optimize a new Ubuntu setup. I am also spreading the word about your site. Regards. Matt.

Comment from dwasifar (09-05-05 10:14:36)

Maybe you would want to include a section on how to replace Amarok 2 with Amarok 1.4 using third party repos. Lots of people have Amarok installed even if they're using Gnome, and apparently nobody likes Amarok 2.

Comment from Ron (09-05-06 03:00:17)

how much space do you actually save by removing the programs you mentioned? I have heard that removing parts of evolution can have untended consequences like the time and date on the panel. I like clean but I don't want to brake things.
Comment from Johannes Eva

@ Kaj: Thank you for your comment on the command color. I hope it is better now.

@ Ger: I didn't notice that there was now a default template folder in Jaunty. I still wonder why it is empty by default. Updated.

@ Ivan: I have tried Ubuntu Studio, yes! It is nice, but I don't really realize why Ubuntu Studio is a separate distribution instead of, for example, a package or a theme - see Xubuntu.

@ Dwasifar: Never used Amarok until now, so that I would be unable to give "advices" about it... maybe in the next version of the guide!

@ Ron: I don't remember how much space it saves - I'll try to upadate it when I make a new installation. I don't think it is a lot, so don't bother doing it if you have doubts. Nothing is broken with time and dates in the panel, on the 4 machines I take care of.

Thanks to all for your nice and useful comments!

Comment from Deltafred (09-05-10 02:02:08)

Many thanks for really useful guide. With each new release of Ubuntu I struggle to play restricted DVDs. I have tried several suggested fixes, including the Ubuntu Forum, and yours is the only one that works. Thanks again.

Comment from PerfectReign (09-05-11 06:46:33)

This was a great article and a lifesaver. I'd gone from using SUSE/openSUSE since '04 to really disliking where it was going. I'd switched my laptop over to Vista for a few months, but it just isn't ready for primetime. I'd heard great things about Ubuntu 9.04 but had no clue where to start. This article got me on the right track and I'm a happy Ubuntu user now.

Comment from ST (09-05-12 06:37:06)

Excellent website Johannes, this should be top of every new ubuntu users to-do list!

Well done and keep up the good work.

Thanks again

Comment from MCMalkemus (09-05-17 01:36:23)

Thanks for your site. Wonderful.

I'm running Ubuntu 9.04 an HP dv9743cl, made for Vista. The graphics driver recommended for (NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (version 180) recommended) doesn't quite seem to be good enough. Is there a way to beef up the graphics, so I can use blender and 3D apps?

Many thanks.
Mick

Comment from chinmoy (09-05-18 08:05:02)

This is a huge list. Maybe you can divide them into pages..

Comment from Bryan Pearson (09-05-27 07:09:46)

Thank you for taking the time! I learned several new things from your article, and I appreciate the layout as well.

Comment from Chilenoneto (09-05-28 12:40:45)

I am command line, slackware and CentOS, netadmin related user for a long time... a real fan of ubuntu as a desktop.. .and i'm very glad to read your writings in this awesome article...

I'll try to write a litle script to perform most of the commands in your guide, so i can make a faster deploy of ubuntu to make believers of my friends...

thanks a lot and keep going

Comment from Eljo Anthony NJ (09-05-30 04:40:18)

Thanks 4 the guide!
gr8 work!!!

but,isn't it illegal to 'install' 'non-free' codecs for playing formats like mp3 etc??


Comment from Johannes Eva

@ MCMalkemus: I don't think that there is a major version newer than 180, sorry. Check here for new versions. The proprietary NVidia drivers are probably the best solution for now.

@ Chinmoy: You're probaly right. But multiple pages would take me more time to maintain... and in fact, I personally like long pages!

@ Eljo Anthony NJ: It really depends on the country you live in. In the US I think it is illegal to install DVD support, whereas in France it is tolerated (I think) for interoperability's sake :-)

« In any civilized society, it is every citizen's responsibility to obey just laws. But at the same time, it is every citizen's responsibility to disobey unjust laws. »
Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

Comment from Tom (09-06-01 06:18:50)

You even make sense to a Linux newbie. And the copy and paste of your commands WORKED!! I now have several new and highly useful and helpful programs. THANK YOU. Were there more sites like this MS Windows would die a very early death.

Comment from Sam (09-06-05 06:37:52)

When I tried to enable the medibuntu repositories by copy/pasting the command into the terminal, I got a bunch of error messages. This also affected the non-free-codecs installation. Any idea what's going on?

Comment from Pedro Machuca (09-06-06 06:11:47)

Thank you very much for these instructions. I found them clear, easy and very helpful.
I am a newbie in Linux and I hav been testing different distros. So far, you've made 'jaunty' stand out thanks to your website.

Comment from Sathya (09-06-08 05:29:26)

Nice collection :) great effort :)

Comment from kesselkopf (09-06-23 01:19:46)

Great guide. Canonical the Ubuntu developers should employ you to write the guide for getting started in Ubuntu as this an existing stumbling block and will make this platform much more friendly for folks converting to Ubuntu.

 


Comment from dhasan (09-07-02 07:58:25)

Thank you very much for all the sudo sudo line commands. I just copied and put them into terminal they were functioning though I don´t know anything! The medibuntu repo just installed. shall check it up soon.

anyone could help? in ubuntu 9.04 I could configure the wireless set for my home network. but in ubuntu studio, there is no icon to detect the available wireless signals? After trying for hours on the studio, gave up and reinstalled ubuntu 9.04 :)

 

 

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Johannes Eva - Alto, Viola, Bratsche


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