Spectre257
05-28-2013, 08:44 PM
First off, you maybe wondering what Ubuntu is.
Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software, using its own desktop environment. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of ubuntu, which can be translated as "humanity towards others" or "the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity".
The above was pulled from Wikipedia.
After just re-installing Ubuntu on my new laptop, there were a few things I needed to do to make using Ubuntu a little bit easier.
I would recommend anyone who has just installed Ubuntu, or even had Ubuntu installed for a while to do these few simple things.
[1] Change your repository server location.
This configures Ubuntu to download, update, or upgrade packages from the Main download server, rather than the location-based servers.
Type or Copy + Paste this command into a terminal:
sudo software-properties-gtk
In the window that pops up set the select "Main Server" from the drop down list, like in this picture.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
Now in the "Other Software" tab, make sure these options are selected.
- Canonical Partners
&
- Canonical Partners (Source Code)
Like this
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
Now close the window and run an update in the terminal with this command:
sudo apt-get update
[2]Update and install your device drivers.
In Ubuntu 12.10, jockey-gtk has been replaced by software-properties for managing third-party driver configuration. So, to access this feature, open the terminal and run this command:
sudo software-properties-gtk
In the window that pops up, click on the "Additional Drivers" tab.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
For Nvidia graphics cards, it is recommended that you use the Official Nvidia drivers instead of Nouveau Drivers to be able to get better graphics performance in games, HD videos and stuff.
You can install the latest Nvida driver using the x-swat PPA with the following commands:
First type, and run this
sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
then this:
sudo apt-get update
then this:
sudo apt-get install nvidia-current nvidia-settings
Using the same PPA, you can also install AMD Catalyst driver with these commands:
sudo apt-get install fglrx-installer
then this:
sudo aticonfig --initial -f
For NVIDIA Optimus laptops, you can install the graphics driver with these commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bumblebee/stable
then this:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
then this:
sudo apt-get update
then this:
sudo apt-get install bumblebee bumblebee-nvidia
[3] Installing media, and other stuff (Skype, GIMP, and more)
GIMP
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
To install GIMP, a GFX type program sort of like Photoshop, run these commands in a terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp
then this:
sudo apt-get update
then this:
sudo apt-get install gimp gimp-plugin-registry gimp-resynthesizer
Wine
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
To install Wine, a Windows Emulator type program, run these commands in a terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa
then this:
sudo apt-get update
then this:
sudo apt-get install wine1.5
VLC & MPlayer
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
To download VLC & MPLayer, a media playing program for listening to music, and playing videos, run these commands in a terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:videolan/stable-daily
then this:
sudo apt-get update
then this:
sudo apt-get install mplayer vlc
Pidgin Chat Client
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
To install Pidgin, an Instant Messenger that you can use to chat with your Windows Live, or Yahoo, or other contacts all in one, run these commands in a terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pidgin-developers/ppa
then this:
sudo apt-get update
then this:
sudo apt-get install pidgin pidgin-data pidgin-plugin-pack pidgin-themes
then this:
sudo apt-get install pidgin-lastfm pidgin-guifications msn-pecan pidgin-musictracker
Skype
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
To install Skype, run these commands in a terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository "deb [Only registered and activated users can see links] $(lsb_release -sc) partner"
then this:
ssudo apt-get update
then this:
sudo apt-get install skype
[4] Installing Adobe flash player.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
To install Adobe flash player, to watch videos and play games online, run this command in a terminal:
sudo apt-get install flashplugin-installer gsfonts-x11
[5] Installing Google Chrome
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
To install Google Chrome, run these commands in a terminal:
wget -q -O - [Only registered and activated users can see links] | sudo apt-key add -
sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [Only registered and activated users can see links] stable main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google.list'
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install google-chrome-stable
Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software, using its own desktop environment. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of ubuntu, which can be translated as "humanity towards others" or "the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity".
The above was pulled from Wikipedia.
After just re-installing Ubuntu on my new laptop, there were a few things I needed to do to make using Ubuntu a little bit easier.
I would recommend anyone who has just installed Ubuntu, or even had Ubuntu installed for a while to do these few simple things.
[1] Change your repository server location.
This configures Ubuntu to download, update, or upgrade packages from the Main download server, rather than the location-based servers.
Type or Copy + Paste this command into a terminal:
sudo software-properties-gtk
In the window that pops up set the select "Main Server" from the drop down list, like in this picture.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
Now in the "Other Software" tab, make sure these options are selected.
- Canonical Partners
&
- Canonical Partners (Source Code)
Like this
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
Now close the window and run an update in the terminal with this command:
sudo apt-get update
[2]Update and install your device drivers.
In Ubuntu 12.10, jockey-gtk has been replaced by software-properties for managing third-party driver configuration. So, to access this feature, open the terminal and run this command:
sudo software-properties-gtk
In the window that pops up, click on the "Additional Drivers" tab.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
For Nvidia graphics cards, it is recommended that you use the Official Nvidia drivers instead of Nouveau Drivers to be able to get better graphics performance in games, HD videos and stuff.
You can install the latest Nvida driver using the x-swat PPA with the following commands:
First type, and run this
sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
then this:
sudo apt-get update
then this:
sudo apt-get install nvidia-current nvidia-settings
Using the same PPA, you can also install AMD Catalyst driver with these commands:
sudo apt-get install fglrx-installer
then this:
sudo aticonfig --initial -f
For NVIDIA Optimus laptops, you can install the graphics driver with these commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bumblebee/stable
then this:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
then this:
sudo apt-get update
then this:
sudo apt-get install bumblebee bumblebee-nvidia
[3] Installing media, and other stuff (Skype, GIMP, and more)
GIMP
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
To install GIMP, a GFX type program sort of like Photoshop, run these commands in a terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp
then this:
sudo apt-get update
then this:
sudo apt-get install gimp gimp-plugin-registry gimp-resynthesizer
Wine
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
To install Wine, a Windows Emulator type program, run these commands in a terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-wine/ppa
then this:
sudo apt-get update
then this:
sudo apt-get install wine1.5
VLC & MPlayer
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
To download VLC & MPLayer, a media playing program for listening to music, and playing videos, run these commands in a terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:videolan/stable-daily
then this:
sudo apt-get update
then this:
sudo apt-get install mplayer vlc
Pidgin Chat Client
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
To install Pidgin, an Instant Messenger that you can use to chat with your Windows Live, or Yahoo, or other contacts all in one, run these commands in a terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pidgin-developers/ppa
then this:
sudo apt-get update
then this:
sudo apt-get install pidgin pidgin-data pidgin-plugin-pack pidgin-themes
then this:
sudo apt-get install pidgin-lastfm pidgin-guifications msn-pecan pidgin-musictracker
Skype
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
To install Skype, run these commands in a terminal:
sudo add-apt-repository "deb [Only registered and activated users can see links] $(lsb_release -sc) partner"
then this:
ssudo apt-get update
then this:
sudo apt-get install skype
[4] Installing Adobe flash player.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
To install Adobe flash player, to watch videos and play games online, run this command in a terminal:
sudo apt-get install flashplugin-installer gsfonts-x11
[5] Installing Google Chrome
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
To install Google Chrome, run these commands in a terminal:
wget -q -O - [Only registered and activated users can see links] | sudo apt-key add -
sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [Only registered and activated users can see links] stable main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google.list'
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install google-chrome-stable