my daughter wants to convert to Linux

[lazarus]

on her laptop. She just got it back from repair, and they replaced the hard drive, but left Vista on there instead of upgrading her to Win7. I've seen a lot about Ubuntu lately, and how it's gotten a lot more user friendly.

So, what do we do? Where do we start? (And will iTunes run on Ubuntu?)
On edit: Wow, that's pretty simple. They've got a download to set up a dual boot right on the Ubuntu website.

Anything I need to know about this, though?

[Old and In the Way]

1. You need to download the distro and burn it onto a CD as an ISO image

I think it will give you an option to boot from CD, so you can check it out without actually loading it on your hard drive. If you like it, I think you can run the program to install on your drive and partition the drive for dual boot options (Vista or Ubuntu). The only tricky part is getting your wireless to work (although I suspect that Linux has gotten easier to install your wireless card drivers by this point). If you are on ethernet cable, no issue to connect to the Internet.

There's a bit of a learning curve to getting familiar with the Linux lingo, but it's a great educational opportunity to learn a new OS...enjoy.

[lazarus]

2. we didn't even have to do that

The download from Ubuntu's site carved out its own partition and set up a dual boot automatically.

She's figuring it out fast. Kids these days....

[lazarus]

3. okay, a little help

she's having trouble downloading WINE so she can run iTunes. It keeps saying something like the public key isn't available. Any ideas, folks?

[pokerfan]

4. Two things I always do with new installations

1. Enable visual effects provided her hardware supports it (System -> Preferences -> Appearance -> Visual Effects -> Extra).

2. Install the restricted extras (Applications -> Ubuntu Software Center). This will give her mp3, flash, java, audio/video codecs and MS true type fonts.

[lazarus]

5. we'll do that

Edit: She can't find the restricted extras. We both feel kinda dumb, to be honest. :hi:

Also, can you tell me a simple, brain-dead way to get iTunes to work? She's tried WINE and PlayOnLinux, or something like that. They load fine, but when we try to install iTunes, it comes up with a crazy error message about not finding a zip file or something.

Okay, here's what it says when she tries to install iTunes:

Archive: /home/kasii/Downloads/itunessetup.exe

End-of-central-directory signature not found. Either this file is not
a zip file, or it constitutes one disc of a multi-part archive. In the
latter case the central directory and zip file comment will be found on
the last disc(s) of this archive.
zipinfo: cannot find zip file directory in one of /home/kasii/Downloads/itunessetup.exe or
/home/kasii/Downloads/itunessetup.exe.zip, and cannot find /home/kasii/Downloads/itunessetup.exe.ZIP, period.

If there's a linux-friendly program to sync iPods and stuff that isn't iTunes, that'd work, too.

[RoyGBiv]

6. Read this ...

http://www.geek.com/articles/news/ubuntu-10-04-sports-plug-and-play-support-for-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch-2010032/

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/02/28/ubuntu-10-04-supports-iphone-and-ipod-touch-out-of-the-box/

The basic point is you may not need iTunes.

[lazarus]

8. that's great

we'll definitely try those out.

Would it be so hard for Apple to make a Linux-ready iTunes? I guess there's no demand for it.

She's trying to get Flash to work right now.

Edit: I just plugged in my iPod to test it, and rhythmbox came right up. Sweet. Thanks!

And we got Flash to work, too.

[RoyGBiv]

10. It wouldn't be hard ...

... and there is demand, but Apple itself has no interest. There's no advantage for them given their business model.

Glad it seems to have worked out.

[lazarus]

11. one weird question

I'm used to the old Windows way of doing things with directories and files and folders. Is there an equivalent to Explorer in Ubuntu?

[RoyGBiv]

12. Sorta ...

In Ubuntu, it's called Nautilus. Click on Places at the top, then choose one of the directories, and it will start Nautilus.

Your Home directory is the top of where all your personal files will be located.

[lazarus]

14. got it

thanks!

[RoyGBiv]

15. Just to satisfy my OCD ...

Below is a graphic representing the way the Linux file system works. Your "Home" directory is a subdirectory of the root or "/" file system. It is most commonly notated either as:

"/home/<user name>" e.g. /home/lazarus

-or-

~/

The latter is commonly used when you're notating a subdirectory in order to avoid having to type it all out, e.g. ~/Documents would be the "Documents" folder in your home directory.

These are important to know if you ever do anything with the command line.

Programs available to all users on the system are usually kept in /usr, but some are in /opt. Different distributions deal with this differently. It's not worth worrying about as a casual user, but I wanted to mention it. Sometimes, e.g. while using Firefox, you may want to tell a program to use a specific application to open something, and you might have to navigate to the executable. It will usually be in /usr/bin. The "bin" stands for binary and is somewhat analogous to C:\Program Files in Windows. Programs only available to the administrator of the system are in /sbin. There are also executables in /bin. These are, as noted, essential system commands that you generally only will worry about if you use the command line.

[RoyGBiv]

13. Screenshots

[pokerfan]

7. In the Ubuntu Software Center under the Applications menu

Then type 'restricted extras' into the window. Make sure you select the Ubuntu version.

Can't help with the iTunes stuff as I've never owned an iPod/iPhone but I understand that Ubuntu 10.04 has added support for these devices. Try plugging one in and see if it shows up in the file manager.

[lazarus]

9. that worked

and it does recognize iPods. This is pretty cool.

[ConsAreLiars]

16. Very smart kid and a very smart move.

The various Linux variants are quite accessible to new users. There are very important differences 'under the hood' and differences that the user will experience and need to become accustomed to at the user interface level, but I've found them easy to adapt to and better, in the sense that they give more power to the user.

As you've already discovered, Linux (I use a Ubuntu-based variant called Linux Mint ( http://www.linuxmint.com/ ), the Linux core, can be tweaked and customized into anything from a high end controller of university or corporate networks or a tightly dedicated research instrument to a very friendly personal computer desktop.

Regarding Wine, as with the iTunes case, you probably can find Linux native programs that do what the Windoze prograns did, and probably even better. But if you/she have one must-use Windoze-only application, as I do, research Winedoors and winetricks and the help forums for that app.

And explore using the multiple workspaces, very practical, and the Compiz eye-candy, which makes practical things fun as well:



Some words from a Mint forum, probably cribbed from any other distro:

Definition of a Linux Adventurer:
They are not scared to try something new or different.
They are willing to pick a random button and click it ... to open a terminal and type gibberish they do not understand and hit 'enter'.
To type endless key words into Google, until they find relative directions and then to try each method until one works, or until they "b0rk" their OS so bad they have to start over.
To do a 'fresh' install, again.
They are not scared to screw up ... they just do it.

My experience. It is easier to fix it when some daring act breaks it than to break it without trying. A half hour from 'broke-it' instead of half a day or week after 'it broke itself'.

(edit formatting errors and add a little)

[RoyGBiv]

17. OT: The Cube

Ya know, I'm risking my Linux Adventurer cred ..

I've been using (to the extent it was possible at the time) Compiz since the first alpha releases, and I've played with various things a lot. But it wasn't until a couple weeks ago that I realized how much you could manipulate it. I had accidentally managed to get a background in there once, but I couldn't remember how I did it.

I normally don't need manuals for things, but I *need* a manual for the Compiz Settings Manager. I don't understand what half that shit does, but it's sure fun to play with.

Found the Sphere thing too ... anyway

[ConsAreLiars]

18. The "Linux is hard" meme is gradually becoming displaced by the "Linux is fun" experiences many

have been having. This adventurer poked around Desktop Cube/Appearance and opened Skydome where the choice of background was offered. I've found the cylindrical variant but not the landing from outer space spherical one.

I can do most everything I have been doing for decades with Linux Mint, right out of the box, and adding the rest was not difficult. While the windoze model is is to encourage passivity and surrendering authority to the powers that be and pay those who claim to be useful, hoping they might not be thieves, the Linux model is to ask you to play and learn through playing, ask questions and get help through the community, become more empowered.

I am having more (maybe almost as much, maybe more, that was a miracle machine) fun than when I bought an A1000 for the price of of a better used car than I owned at that time, now for free. And I will soon (waiting for the new bank statement) send $$ to keep it going.

[BadgerKid]

19. The sound system has had its bugs

but generally Ubuntu is great and there's good community support.

I'd recommend downloading the latest live CD and check that it does what you want out before committing to installing it on the hard drive.