Ubuntu Tips

GOS stands for Good Operating System and was the operating system of choice for WalMart's $199 Everex computer last year that they couldn't keep in stock. GOS is a customized version of Ubuntu Linux and like most Linux operating systems is free to use and works on almost any laptop or desktop built since 2000 or so.

In this week's video, I give you a quick overview of some of the features of GOS 3 Gadgets. You will notice an Apple like application dock complete with animations, the newest version of OpenOffice.org's word processor, spreadsheet and presentation manager, tight integration with Google services like Gmail, Google Docs, and desktop gadgets (thus the new name).

For me, the best part of learning more about Linux is that it truly is simpler to use than Windows and is much more secure without the need of becoming a computer security expert. Take a look at the video below to see what a truly revolutionary operating system can look like...for free!

Thanks to long time listener and web visitor, Daniel, for suggesting this week's tip. I have been using this technique for more than ten years, but in order to learn it, you really must see it in action. Thus, it was a natural for our Video Tips, which are now almost 18 months old!

For Ubuntu and Windows users, you can quickly switch between open programs by pushing Alt+Tab on your keyboard. Macintosh users have a key called the "Command" key on their keyboards. By holding down the Command+Tab key, Mac users can switch between their open programs.

Why use the keyboard instead of your mouse? Time. I didn't run any official tests, but I'm willing to bet that it takes at least three times longer to look at your task bar or dock (how many of you know what that is?), hunt for the application you need to switch to, then click on that program than it does to use the Alt+Tab or Command(Apple key)+Tab technique.

I know this doesn't make much sense reading it, so click the play button on the video below and watch it in action! I show the Windows technique first, Ubuntu second, and end with the Macintosh tip. All told it's about 2.5 minutes...2.5 minutes that WILL change your computing life. Pass this tip on to ALL of your computer buddies.

Windows user can use this tip to start programs automatically when they boot up their computers. This week I learned how to do the same thing with Ubuntu Linux (and its derivatives). Since my goal for this site is to impart all the knowledge I have in my brain to you, here is how to start programs on boot up in Ubuntu Linux:

1. Click System --> Preferences --> Sessions from the menus
2. Click the Add button in the Startup tab (should be already open)
3. Type the name of the program you want to start
4. Click the Browse button next to the Command box
5. Browse to the /usr/bin folder
6. Find and double-click the name of the program you want to start
7. Click OK
8. Click Close

Then next time you restart your Ubuntu machine, it will start the program you added. Of course, you can also uncheck the boxes next to programs you don't need to start automatically just as easily.

It's not as complicated as it sounds in writing. Watching the video below (2 minutes) will demonstrate the tip for you.

A show listener asked about keyboard shortcuts for Ubuntu Linux...ask and you shall receive, click here.

For those looking for a way to create PDFs in Ubuntu - this seems to be the most popular solution.

Yesterday, I talked about my woes in getting a Linksys WMP54GS PCI wireless card to work on an almost 10 year old computer that I successfully installed Xubuntu (Ubuntu Light) on for a customer.

The "official" instructions on how to accomplish the task are lengthy and require many commands typed into a terminal windows (think DOS prompt). After many dry runs and dead ends, I found

Interestingly, because of the security setup in Ubuntu, drag and drop file management (ability to drag files from one folder to another) doesn't work without a little tweaking. I'm still learning the ins and outs of how Ubuntu is put together and how the all powerful "root" user corresponds to some commands or programs we want to run in Ubuntu.

Opening programs as the "root" user has the potential of creating some security or stability issues, but this small tweak seems to be universally accepted. To read more about drag and drop, the hack and how they relate to the Linux root user, read this forum thread on the Ubuntu Forum site.

What I demonstate in the video below is how to create a launcher item (shortcut) on your Ubuntu panel to open the file manager (Nautilus) in a mode that allows you to drag and drop files from folder to folder.

1. RIGHT Click any panel
2. Click Add to panel
   
3. Click the Custom Application Launcher button
4. Type a name for your new Launch icon
5. Type the following the command line:  gksudo nautilus
6. Click the No icon button to bring up a list of icons you can choose from for your new launch button
7. Click OK twice
8. Click Close 

Now your accessing your file manager (Nautilus) from this panel button allows you to drag and drop!

This week's tip addresses a rough area with Ubuntu Linux...using wi-fi (wireless) Internet. I have had some of the same problems utilizing wireless Internet as other people, so I set out to learn more about it and find as straight forward a solution as I could. What I found was called WiFi Radar. I wrote about it in Day 3 of my 14 day Ubuntu only series. In today's tip, I submit to you the video version of that tip.

Since I'm in Day 4 of my Ubuntu 14 day trial, I had to do this week's tip as another Ubuntu tip. I'm learning much about the Ubuntu...some things I like, some I don't, but overall it's working pretty well. One visitor this week asked about backup in Ubuntu and since that is one of my favorite soap box topics, I researched it for Ubuntu. I found a program called "Simple Backup". It works and the "how-to" can be found in this week's video tip below:

One knock that I read about Ubuntu is the poor wireless support for laptops/wireless Internet. I took this laptop (a Compaq Presario 2100) on a short family vacation in June and had no problems connecting to wireless networks all along the way. I will say that the procedure wasn't as smooth as the wireless utility built into Windows XP (which I also like better than Vista's utility). It did work, however.