Moving to Ubuntu Linux [With DVD]

493 Pages·12.121 MB·English

by  ProQuest., Gagné, Marcel

Moving to
Ubuntu Linux
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Addison-Wesley
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Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed
as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and the publisher was aware of a
trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters or in all capitals.
Ubuntu, the Ubuntu logo, Canonical, and the Canonical logo are all registered trademarks of
Canonical Ltd.
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implied warranty of any kind and assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. No liability is
assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of the use of the
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gagné, Marcel.
Moving to Ubuntu Linux / Marcel Gagne.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-321-42722-X (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Linux. 2. Operating systems (Computers) I. Title.
QA76.76.O63.G3455 2006
005.4'32—dc22
2006021595
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication is protected by copy-
right, and permission must be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, stor-
age in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or likewise. For information regarding permissions, write to:
Pearson Education, Inc., Rights and Contracts Department
One LakeStreet,Upper SaddleRiver,NJ07458
Fax: [phone]
ISBN 0-321-42722-X
Text printed in the United States on recycled paper at RR Donnelley Crawfordsville in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
3rd Printing May 2008
This book is dedicated to
Chris Kelly,
my great friend of more than thirty years
and the only guy crazy enough to fly
5,000 kilometers in a Cessna 172, with me as the pilot.
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Contents
Acknowledgments xix
Foreword xxi
Chapter 1
Introducing Ubuntu! 1
But What Is Linux? 2
Is Linux Really FREE? 4
What’s a Distribution? 4
Linux and the GPL 5
What Do I Gain? 5
Security 6
Stability 6
Power 6
Money 6
Freedom from Legal Hassles 7
What Do I Lose? 7
Hardware and Peripheral Support 7
Software Packages 8
A Step into the Unknown 8
Some Tips on Using This Book 8
Quick Tips and Shelling Out 9
Meet Your Desktop 9
vii
viii Moving to Ubuntu Linux
Help Me! 10
The Ubuntu Community 11
The Linux Documentation Project 11
Linux User Groups 12
About the DVD 12
It’s My Philosophy 13
Resources 14
Chapter 2
Running and Installing the Ubuntu Live DVD 15
Ready to Try Ubuntu Linux? 17
HELP! 18
Boot Level Options 19
Taking a Tour of Ubuntu Linux 20
Famous Places on the Menu 27
Administering and Personalizing Your System 28
Installing the Ubuntu Live DVD 31
Remember to Share 40
Resources 40
Chapter 3
Getting Your Hands Dirty (Desktop Overview) 41
Getting to Know You . . . GNOME 42
A Few Words About X 42
Logging In 43
Becoming One with the Desktop 44
Your First Application 46
Windows, Title Bars, and Menus, Oh My! 48
The Title Bar 48
On to the Menu Bar 50
And the Wastebasket? 51
Resizing Windows 51
Command Central 52
A Polite Introduction to the Command Line 54
Give Me More! 55
Changing Your Password; It’s All About You! 56
Contents ix
User Security 58
Much Ado About sudo 60
I Need More Help! 61
Logging Out 62
Navigating Your Ubuntu Desktop 64
Resources 64
Chapter 4
Navigating Nautilus 65
Files, Directories, and the Root of All Things 66
Wherever You Go . . . 70
Search Me . . . 71
Navigating the Side Panel 72
Navigating Networks 75
Uh, Roger, Copy That . . . 78
Creating New Folders 79
“I’ve Changed My Mind” (a.k.a. Renaming Files) 79
Copying Files and Directories (and Moving, Too!) 80
Wait! What About Links? 81
Which Brings Us to Permissions 84
Deleting Files and Folders 86
Other Interesting Places to Visit 87
My World, My Way 88
Making Your Home a Home 88
Chapter 5
Customizing Your Desktop (or Making Your World Your Own) 89
I Am Sovereign of All I Survey . . . 90
Changing the Background 90
Save My Screen, Please! 93
Moving Things Around 95
Is That a Theme or a Motif? 98
Defining Your Own Theme 100
Adding New Themes 102
Adding Icons and Shortcuts to Your Desktop 102
Applets Galore: Back to the Panel! 106