Installing Ubuntu 9.04

[Coh3n]

Following my Poll on whether I should install Windows XP or Ubuntu 9.04, I have decided to install Ubuntu. A special thanks to everyone who voted on that thread, and for your feedback. Anyway, I decided to install Ubuntu for many reasons:

• Overall speed.
• The "One-click-away" program installer.
• The fact that it is a fraction of the size of Windows.
• Very user-friendly, and awesome community.
• There are plenty of people here at SRL that are willing to help me if I have problems.
• The few Willows programs I will be using can be run through Wine.
• More people voted for Ubuntu.
• I like learning new things, and what's more interesting then learning a new operating system?

Things I feel I'm losing:

• $30 to the MO 2007 licence I used.
• Freezing, errors, overall lag.

Worst case scenario I really screw things up, and I end up installing XP anyway. So you're probably wondering my reason for making this thread. Well...

My question to you is:
[LIST][*]What are all the useful apps/programs/plugins/etc. that I should get after I install? (i.e. Wine, Tortoise SVN (for Ubu), IIRC).[*]How would I get those apps? Is there a quick way of doing it through the Command Prompt?

What I'm going to install so far (will add to the list as they get suggested):

• Wine.
• SCAR through Wine.
• IRSSI.
• Java installed through Wine (to run SMART).
• MO 2007 (if it works through Wine).
• Compiz settings manager.

Please post any useful information you have that will make my transfer over to Ubuntu easier/better.

Thank you very much in advance.

[Buckleyindahouse]

There's a gui so you can browse programs.
Under programs or applications tab
It should be called Add/Remove programs.

[Widget]

Are you using 32-bit or 64-bit Ubuntu? Certain closed-source plugins can be a pain on x64 Linux (notably Skype and Adobe Flash Player)

If by IIRC you really mean IRC, get XChat, but not the Ubuntu/GNOME-branded one.

I recommend Songbird if you have a large music collection, which is made by Mozilla (the Firefox people) and can be downloaded at http://www.getsongbird.com/ .

The last thing I can think of is the Compiz Settings Manager, which is easiest to get by just typing "sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager" in a terminal, then going through lots of the settings to make your workflow the most efficient. Lots of people like the desktop cube (it's great if you have side mouse buttons to assign to it, but I don't), but I personally like the desktop wall (which is similar but not 3d).

Oh, and you can copy and paste throughout linux by highlighting something and then middle-clicking where you want it to be pasted to.

[Harry]

Do not use any program on WINE unless you NEED that version, or if there is no alternatives.

Get OpenOffice if you want a Microsoft-Office-Like program.
For IRC, you can easily get XChat.
You do not need SVN for SRL anymore, IIRC.

To install programs the easy way, you can use the package manager. If you know the exact name of the program, you can `sudo apt-get install PACKAGE'. ie, for XChat, `sudo apt-get install xchat'.

[Nava2]

There is no tortoise SVN for ubuntu. If you'd like a similar version with GUI etc, install Rapid SVN. It's nice, not as easy to learn but you can get the hang of it.

The best way is probably just using svn in the terminal.

sudo apt-get install subversion
sudo apt-get install wine

Make sure to install java etc into the wine files. Just download the installers off of Sun in the manual selecting of your operating system.

OO comes with your instalation by the way.

Oh for sure, if you aren't getting xChat,

sudo apt-get install irssi

it's tough to learn but once you get the hang of it, it's rediculously fast. Oh also search Synaptic for flash player and shockwave plugins. Don't forget to get the JDK since you will need it for school anyways.

Oh and for graphics, play with GIMP, it's really nice.



E: Sorry, it's kind of jumbled..

[Simtoon]

I might start using Ubuntu tho i always get problems when installing it some how to get stuck on 82% when installing

[Shuttleu]

when installing make the following:
a swapdisk partition the size of your ram
a ext3 partiton around 5-6 gb and put the root as /
a ext3 partiton using up the rest of the space and put the root as /home

~shut

[Buckleyindahouse]

I might start using Ubuntu tho i always get problems when installing it some how to get stuck on 82% when installing

I got problems when I had 2 different ram manufactures.

1gb patriot
and 512mb samsung.

Check your memory, just a hunch.

[Simtoon]

I only have one Ram Stick. 2GB

[Wizzup?]

Don't forget VirtualBox, it can be really useful if WINE somehow fails.
For IRC, use irssi.

And like Widget said - the compizconfig-settings-manager is important too. (Why don't they ship it by default, anyway?)

when installing make the following:
a swapdisk partition the size of your ram
a ext3 partiton around 5-6 gb and put the root as /
a ext3 partiton using up the rest of the space and put the root as /home

~shut

Why a separate partition for /home ?
Anyway, I suggest using the non advanced partition setup, if possible... Then Ubuntu will set it all up for you.

[Buckleyindahouse]

Why a separate partition for /home ?
Anyway, I suggest using the non advanced partition setup, if possible... Then Ubuntu will set it all up for you.

Soooo, when he wants to change to another linux OS he can change the main parts and /home is intact thus leaving all his data there for his new linux OS.

[Shuttleu]

Why a separate partition for /home ?

because thats the way i learnt to install it
thats the way i have always done it
i have never had any problems
and what Buckleyindahouse said


~shut

[Coh3n]

Thanks to everyone who gave feedback, and comments/questions are all in red.

Are you using 32-bit or 64-bit Ubuntu? Certain closed-source plugins can be a pain on x64 Linux (notably Skype and Adobe Flash Player) 32-bit I'm pretty sure.

If by IIRC you really mean IRC, get XChat, but not the Ubuntu/GNOME-branded one. I meant irssi actually (I thought it was IIRC )

I recommend Songbird if you have a large music collection, which is made by Mozilla (the Firefox people) and can be downloaded at http://www.getsongbird.com/ . Thanks, but I don't plan on putting music on this computer, I have all my music on my desktop.

The last thing I can think of is the Compiz Settings Manager, which is easiest to get by just typing "sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager" in a terminal, then going through lots of the settings to make your workflow the most efficient. Lots of people like the desktop cube (it's great if you have side mouse buttons to assign to it, but I don't), but I personally like the desktop wall (which is similar but not 3d). Yeah, I'll mess around with that a little, but I don't want it to slow down my computer, so I probably won't have that much graphic stuff.

Oh, and you can copy and paste throughout linux by highlighting something and then middle-clicking where you want it to be pasted to. Nice.

Do not use any program on WINE unless you NEED that version, or if there is no alternatives. The only program I plan on using is SCAR/SMART.

Get OpenOffice if you want a Microsoft-Office-Like program.
For IRC, you can easily get XChat.
You do not need SVN for SRL anymore, IIRC.

To install programs the easy way, you can use the package manager. If you know the exact name of the program, you can `sudo apt-get install PACKAGE'. ie, for XChat, `sudo apt-get install xchat'. I really like that feature.

The best way is probably just using svn in the terminal.

sudo apt-get install subversion
sudo apt-get install wine

Make sure to install java etc into the wine files. Just download the installers off of Sun in the manual selecting of your operating system. Like from the Sun site? Cause I would need the Windows version would I not?

OO comes with your instalation by the way. I know.

Oh for sure, if you aren't getting xChat,

sudo apt-get install irssi

it's tough to learn but once you get the hang of it, it's rediculously fast. Oh also search Synaptic for flash player and shockwave plugins. Don't forget to get the JDK since you will need it for school anyways. Isn't JDK the other type of Java?

Oh and for graphics, play with GIMP, it's really nice. Not looking for a whole lot of graphics, this computer blows remember. :P



E: Sorry, it's kind of jumbled.. Lol it was kind of jumbled.

Don't forget VirtualBox, it can be really useful if WINE somehow fails. What's the difference between VirtualBox and WINE?
For IRC, use irssi. Plan on it.

And like Widget said - the compizconfig-settings-manager is important too. (Why don't they ship it by default, anyway?)



Why a separate partition for /home ?
Anyway, I suggest using the non advanced partition setup, if possible... Then Ubuntu will set it all up for you. I will probably do that, I don't want to start doing thinks that I don't know a lot about in fear of really mssing something up.

Soooo, when he wants to change to another linux OS he can change the main parts and /home is intact thus leaving all his data there for his new linux OS.
I don't plan on changing OS.

[Buckleyindahouse]

you might not plan on changing the OS, but since your a Linux noob, you can enter the wrong command screw up your OS.
Then have to re-install, but if that happens you /home directory will be preserved.

Best bet is to make it on a seperate thing.

[Coh3n]

you might not plan on changing the OS, but since your a Linux noob, you can enter the wrong command screw up your OS.
Then have to re-install, but if that happens you /home directory will be preserved.

Best bet is to make it on a seperate thing.

Okay and can you make these during the installation? Or do I have to run off the Live CD after to edit partitions?

[Buckleyindahouse]

either way works.

[Coh3n]

either way works.

Alright, thanks.

Time to install, wish me luck.

[Wizzup?]

Soooo, when he wants to change to another linux OS he can change the main parts and /home is intact thus leaving all his data there for his new linux OS.

Some settings are most likely not portable, which leaves you with broken configs...

[Boreas]

VirtualBox allows you to run a whole OS (probably XP) within the program. It acts as the hardware for the guest OS, allows you to choose RAM, HD etc. WINE on the other hand, acts as the OS for Windows programs, and allows you to choose 98, 2000, XP.

If a program is just making calls to functions that Windows normally provides, then WINE will basically point it towards the Linux version of those functions (SCAR). If the program needs Java (RS), you need to install the Windows version of Java in WINE. If the program needs the .NET framework, it probably won't work with WINE (Mono might work, but that's another story). If it needs both (Scion), or uses something that WINE can't translate (see here for how well WINE works with popular apps) then you will need to install a full blown XP within VirtualBox.

Whenever you think of something you need, just google 'ubuntu _______ alternative', most of the time you get something equal or better, and won't have to worry about WINE and VirtualBox.

[Coh3n]

Some settings are most likely not portable, which leaves you with broken configs...

Well good thing I didn't do that then.

VirtualBox allows you to run a whole OS (probably XP) within the program. It acts as the hardware for the guest OS, allows you to choose RAM, HD etc. WINE on the other hand, acts as the OS for Windows programs, and allows you to choose 98, 2000, XP.

If a program is just making calls to functions that Windows normally provides, then WINE will basically point it towards the Linux version of those functions (SCAR). If the program needs Java (RS), you need to install the Windows version of Java in WINE. If the program needs the .NET framework, it probably won't work with WINE (Mono might work, but that's another story). If it needs both (Scion), or uses something that WINE can't translate (see here for how well WINE works with popular apps) then you will need to install a full blown XP within VirtualBox.

Whenever you think of something you need, just google 'ubuntu _______ alternative', most of the time you get something equal or better, and won't have to worry about WINE and VirtualBox.

Awesome explanation, that will help me a lot I think, thanks.

[Buckleyindahouse]

Well good thing I didn't do that then.



Awesome explanation, that will help me a lot I think, thanks.

I'll wait till you need to reinstall it and all your files are gone

[Coh3n]

I'll wait till you need to reinstall it and all your files are gone

Lol alright. TBH I don't plan on having very many files on this computer, it's mainly just to mess around on when I'm not at home. And any files I do save on here, I immediately back up to my desktop anyway.