Ubuntu for Non-Geeks, 2nd Edition

A Pain-Free, Project-Based, Get-Things-Done Guidebook

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A Pain-Free, Project-Based, Get-Things-Done Guidebook

By Rickford Grant, Rickford Grant

Publisher: No Starch Press

Released: June 2007

Pages: 345

This newbie's guide to Ubuntu - now updated for Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn), the latest Ubuntu release, which puts the spotlight on multimedia enablement and desktop effects - lets readers learn by doing. Using immersion-learning techniques favored by language courses, step-by-step projects build upon earlier tutorial concepts, stimulating the brain and increasing the reader's understanding.

Ubuntu for Non-Geeks, 2nd Edition covers all the topics likely to be of interest to an average desktop user. Inside, you'll learn to:

Download and install free applications, games, and utilities

Connect to the Internet and wireless networks

Configure your hardware, including printers, scanners, and removable storage devices

Watch DVDs, listen to music, and even sync your iPod

Download photos and videos from your digital camera, then edit and share them

Tackle more advanced tasks as soon as you're ready

Full of tips, tricks, and helpful pointers, Ubuntu for Non-Geeks, 2nd Edition is a hands-on, project-based, take-it slow guidebook intended for those interested in-but nervous about-switching to the Linux operating system. Step-by-step projects build upon earlier tutorial concepts, helping you absorb and apply what you've learned.

Included is a companion CD that lets you try out Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) without making any changes to your computer and then install it when you're ready.

Chapter 1 BECOMING A PENGUINISTA
1. What Is Linux?
2. About the Penguin
3. Why Should I Use Linux?
4. But Is Linux Really Ready for the Desktop?
5. What Is a Distribution?
6. What Is Ubuntu?
7. Hardware Compatibility
8. Hardware Requirements
9. Good News for AMD64 Users
10. Mixed News for Mac Users
11. Speaking Ubuntu
12. Where Do I Go from Here?
Chapter 2 WADING AND DIVING
1. Going in for a Dip
2. Taking the Plunge—Installing Ubuntu
3. Single- or Dual-Boot Setup?
4. Getting Ready for Action
5. Doing the Deed
Chapter 3 A NEW PLACE TO CALL HOME
1. Welcome to the GNOME Desktop
2. The Top Panel
3. The Bottom Panel
4. Project 3A: Customizing the GNOME Panel
5. Project 3B: Manipulating Menus
6. Virtual Desktops
7. Wanda Revisited—GNOME Easter Eggs
8. Shutting Down
Chapter 4 MORE THAN WEBBED FEET
1. Setting Up a High-Speed Connection
2. Setting Up a Wireless Connection
3. Setting Up a Dial-Up Connection
4. Firefox: Your Internet Browser
5. Project 4A: Installing Firefox Extensions
6. Project 4B: Installing the Flash Plugin
7. Email with Evolution
8. An Email Alternative: Thunderbird
9. Other Internet Applications
Chapter 5 ROUNDING OUT THE BIRD
1. Project 5A: Installing Applications via Synaptic
2. Project 5B: Installing Applications via GNOME App Install
3. Performing System Upgrades via the System Update Panel Applet
4. If an Update Ruins Your Day . . . or System
Chapter 6 A TIDY NEST
1. Nautilus: Your File Manager
2. File Handling in Nautilus
3. Navigating in Nautilus
4. Understanding the Linux Filesystem
5. What's in All Those Other Folders?
6. Using Nautilus as a Network Browser
7. Reading Data CDs and DVDs
8. Burning Data CDs and DVDs
9. Burning ISO Images to Disk
10. Duplicating Data CDs
11. Burning Multisession CDs
12. USB Storage Devices
13. Project 6: Creating and Extracting Compressed Files
Chapter 7 DRESSING UP THE BIRD
1. Project 7A: Creating a New User Account
2. Project 7B: Customizing Your Desktop Environment
3. Project 7C: Placing Home and Trash Icons on the Desktop
4. Project 7D: Changing Your Login Screen
5. Project 7E: Changing Your Splash Screen
6. Choosing a Screensaver
7. Project 7F: Wrapping Things Up—Installing and Applying Firefox Themes
Chapter 8 SIMPLE KITTEN WAYS
1. Meet the Terminal
2. Some Goofy, Yet Useful, Fun with the Command Terminal
3. Nontoxic Commands
4. Commands with Some Teeth
5. A Couple of Other Biters You'll Be Using Soon
6. Project 8A: Creating a Plan
7. Project 8B: More Command Practice with pyWings
8. Project 8C: Command Practice Review with Briscola
9. Customizing the Terminal
10. Tabbed Shell Sessions in the Terminal
Chapter 9 AUTOMATIX AND NOT SO AUTOMATIX
1. Project 9A: Installing DEB Packages Not Available via the Ubuntu Repositories: Automatix
2. Project 9B: Converting RPMs to DEB Packages Using Alien
3. Compiling Programs from Source
4. Project 9C: Compiling and Installing Xmahjongg
5. Project 9D: Running Java Apps: Risk
6. Running Windows Applications with Wine
Chapter 10 GUTENBIRD
1. Printers
2. Project 10: Creating a Virtual PDF Printer
3. Canceling a Print Job
4. Scanners
Chapter 11 FONT FEATHERED FRENZY
1. Project 11A: Installing TrueType Fonts Locally
2. Project 11B: Installing TrueType Fonts Globally
3. Project 11C: Installing Microsoft Windows Core Fonts via Synaptic
4. Project 11D: Installing Microsoft Core Fonts from Your Windows Partition (for Dual-Booters)
5. Customizing Your System Fonts
6. Creating Your Own Fonts with FontForge
Chapter 12 POLYGLOT PENGUINS
1. Read-Only Language Support
2. Typing Nonstandard Characters
3. Viewing Your System in Another Language
4. Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Input
5. Project 12: Installing Asian Language Input Support for SCIM
Chapter 13 PENGUINS BACK AT WORK
1. OpenOffice.org
2. Word Processing Done Lightly with AbiWord
3. Some Other Cool Productivity Apps
Chapter 14 BRUSH-WIELDING PENGUINS
1. Project 14A: Digital Cameras
2. Viewing Your Images with gThumb
3. Project 14B: Creating Web Albums with gThumb
4. Project 14C: Emblems Again! (Creating Your Own)
5. Getting Arty with the GIMP
6. XPaint
7. Sodipodi
8. Project 14D: Installing Picasa via Automatix
9. A Few Other Graphics Apps to Consider
Chapter 15 TUX ROCKS
1. Audio File Formats
2. Project 15A: Installing MP3 Support for Audio Apps
3. Audio Rippers and Encoders
4. Audio Players
5. Creating Audio CDs
6. Project 15B: Listening to RealMedia Streams with RealPlayer
7. Other Cool Audio Apps
Chapter 16 PLUGGIN' IN THE PENGUIN
1. Knowing Your Limits
2. iPod Filesystem Formats
3. Managing Your iPod in Ubuntu
4. Photo Transfer with GPixPod
5. Converting Audio File Formats
6. Linux on Your iPod?
7. Other MP3 Players
Chapter 17 COUCH PENGUINS
1. Playing Video Streams with RealPlayer
2. DVDs
3. Totem Movie Player
4. Using Your Digital Video Camera
5. Other Video Apps
Chapter 18 DEFENDING THE NEST
1. Does My System Need Protection?
2. The First Line of Defense
3. Software Firewalls
4. ClamAV: Antivirus Software, Linux Style
5. Project 18: Virus Scanning with avast!

Appendix UBUNTU DESKTOP CDS FOR AMD64 USERS
1. Downloading and Burning Ubuntu Desktop CD ISOs to CD
2. Ordering an Install Disk from Ubuntu
3. Ordering an Install Disk from Other Online Sources
Appendix RESOURCES
1. Forums
2. Linux Reference
3. Blogs
4. Hardware Compatibility Issues
5. Wireless Connections
6. Free Downloads
7. News and Information
8. Magazines
9. Books
10. Ubuntu CDs
COLOPHON

Title:

Ubuntu for Non-Geeks, 2nd Edition

By:

Rickford Grant, Rickford Grant

Publisher:

No Starch Press

Formats:

Print
Safari Books Online

Print:

June 2007

Pages:

345

Print ISBN:

978-1-59327-152-7

| ISBN 10:

1-59327-152-2

Description

Table of Contents

Product Details

Recommended for You

Chapter 1 BECOMING A PENGUINISTA

What Is Linux?

About the Penguin

Why Should I Use Linux?

But Is Linux Really Ready for the Desktop?

What Is a Distribution?

What Is Ubuntu?

Hardware Compatibility

Hardware Requirements

Good News for AMD64 Users

Mixed News for Mac Users

Speaking Ubuntu

Where Do I Go from Here?

Chapter 2 WADING AND DIVING

Going in for a Dip

Taking the Plunge—Installing Ubuntu

Single- or Dual-Boot Setup?

Getting Ready for Action

Doing the Deed

Chapter 3 A NEW PLACE TO CALL HOME

Welcome to the GNOME Desktop

The Top Panel

The Bottom Panel

Project 3A: Customizing the GNOME Panel

Project 3B: Manipulating Menus

Virtual Desktops

Wanda Revisited—GNOME Easter Eggs

Shutting Down

Chapter 4 MORE THAN WEBBED FEET

Setting Up a High-Speed Connection

Setting Up a Wireless Connection

Setting Up a Dial-Up Connection

Firefox: Your Internet Browser

Project 4A: Installing Firefox Extensions

Project 4B: Installing the Flash Plugin

Email with Evolution

An Email Alternative: Thunderbird

Other Internet Applications

Chapter 5 ROUNDING OUT THE BIRD

Project 5A: Installing Applications via Synaptic

Project 5B: Installing Applications via GNOME App Install

Performing System Upgrades via the System Update Panel Applet

If an Update Ruins Your Day . . . or System

Chapter 6 A TIDY NEST

Nautilus: Your File Manager

File Handling in Nautilus

Navigating in Nautilus

Understanding the Linux Filesystem

What's in All Those Other Folders?

Using Nautilus as a Network Browser

Reading Data CDs and DVDs

Burning Data CDs and DVDs

Burning ISO Images to Disk

Duplicating Data CDs

Burning Multisession CDs

USB Storage Devices

Project 6: Creating and Extracting Compressed Files

Chapter 7 DRESSING UP THE BIRD

Project 7A: Creating a New User Account

Project 7B: Customizing Your Desktop Environment

Project 7C: Placing Home and Trash Icons on the Desktop

Project 7D: Changing Your Login Screen

Project 7E: Changing Your Splash Screen

Choosing a Screensaver

Project 7F: Wrapping Things Up—Installing and Applying Firefox Themes

Chapter 8 SIMPLE KITTEN WAYS

Meet the Terminal

Some Goofy, Yet Useful, Fun with the Command Terminal

Nontoxic Commands

Commands with Some Teeth

A Couple of Other Biters You'll Be Using Soon

Project 8A: Creating a Plan

Project 8B: More Command Practice with pyWings

Project 8C: Command Practice Review with Briscola

Customizing the Terminal

Tabbed Shell Sessions in the Terminal

Chapter 9 AUTOMATIX AND NOT SO AUTOMATIX

Project 9A: Installing DEB Packages Not Available via the Ubuntu Repositories: Automatix

Project 9B: Converting RPMs to DEB Packages Using Alien

Compiling Programs from Source