And so it shall be.

In my last post here I mentioned I was having much better luck with OpenSUSE. That is still the case! I created a new blog to detail my experiences with OpenSUSE. So, let me invite you to come on over to The OpenSUSE Newbie. Quite a creative name, no? :P

Long time, no post. Sorry.

I'm not sure who, if anyone, reads this any longer. But I wanted to make a post and let you know how things are going. Around early August 2006 I became too frustrated with Kubuntu to use it any longer. I just could not get it to work the way I wanted. Dual screens, higher screen resolution, webcam, printer, widgets, I could get none of it to work. So I reformatted the computer and sold it.

But the itch was still there.

Just a few days ago I got a very large hard drive. I partitioned most of it for Windows XP but left 50GB for Linux. I installed Mepis, but I could never get it to go any resolution higher than 640x480. Unacceptable. I installed Kubuntu 6.10, but could not get it to go higher than 1024x768, nor could I get it to go dual screen. Unacceptable.

OpenSUSE 10.2 solved everything. I installed it last night and it detected all of my hardware properly. I am now running dual-screen in Linux! It's really nice. OpenSUSE even found my printer (Samsung ML-2010) but I haven't tested it yet. My webcam was detected, too. And I can run both monitors in 1280x1024, which is a big deal for me.

So now I'll just be finding Windows equivalent programs to use in OpenSUSE, if I can get them installed properly, that is. I just have the hardest time getting programs installed in Linux. It shouldn't be so hard! Maybe I'll start up an OpenSUSE Newbie Chronicle one day soon.

How to enable MP3 playback and streaming in Kubuntu.

1. Make sure you have access to the extra repositories...follow these instructions to get access.
2. Open Adept.
3. Search for 'libxine-extracodecs'
4. Click the blue arrow beside the package and choose 'Request Install'
5. Click 'Apply Changes'
6. Once the package is downloaded and installed successfully you may close Adept.
7. You can now play and stream MP3s using AmaroK.

How to add more repositories in Kubuntu.

This is a quick guide to show you how to enable access to more repositories (over 18K packages).

1. Open Konqueror and go to /etc/apt/
2. Right-click sources.list, choose Actions-->Edit as Root
3. Input your password then click OK


4. Remove all text and paste this in:

## Add comments (##) in front of any line to remove it from being checked.
## Use the following sources.list at your own risk.

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted universe multiverse

## MAJOR BUG FIX UPDATES produced after the final release
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-updates main restricted universe multiverse

## UBUNTU SECURITY UPDATES
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricted universe multiverse

## BACKPORTS REPOSITORY (Unsupported. May contain illegal packages. Use at own risk.)
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-backports main restricted universe multiverse

## PLF REPOSITORY (Unsupported. May contain illegal packages. Use at own risk.)
deb http://packages.freecontrib.org/ubuntu/plf dapper free non-free
deb-src http://packages.freecontrib.org/ubuntu/plf dapper free non-free

5. Close KWrite and choose Save
6. Open Konsole by clicking K Menu-->System-->Konsole
7. Input 'sudo apt-get update'
8. Input your password (apt-get update will update the repository list on your PC)
9. Once you see 'Fetched xxxB in xxxs (xxxB/s) Reading package lists... Done' then you can close Konsole



Now you have access to over 18K packages.


To be able to play MP3s follow these instructions.

Thanks to Linux and Open Source Blog for the list of repositories.

How to install Firefox for Kubuntu Linux 6.06.

Installing Firefox in Kubuntu 6.06 is absolutely painless. I did it with just a few clicks.

Make sure you have access to the Internet.

Pre-Install (to make sure you have the most up-to-date libraries and files):
1. Click K Menu-->System-->Adept


2. Input your password
3. Click 'Fetch Updates'
4. Click 'Apply Changes' if there are upgradeable packages available
5. Done. Click OK or Quit to exit Adept.


Firefox install:
1. Click K Menu-->System-->Adept
2. Input your password
3. Click 'Fetch Updates'
4. Input 'firefox' in the search box


5. Find 'firefox' in your package list
6. Click the blue arrow beside firefox
7. Click 'Request Install'


8. Click 'Apply Changes'
9. After installation is complete click OK or Quit to exit Adept.

Firefox is now installed. Click K Menu-->Internet-->Firefox to start Firefox 1.5.0.4 in Kubuntu 6.06!

Using Gmail through Kontact.

1. Click Settings--->Configure Kontact
2. Under Mail folder click Accounts

3. Click Add beside Incoming accounts box
4. Choose POP3 then click OK

5. Type in a name for your account (ex. My Gmail)
6. Input your Gmail username without the @gmail.com
7. Input your password
8. Port 995
9. Check box for 'Store POP Password' (unless you wish to enter your pw every time you check your Gmail)
10. Check box for 'Leave messages on server' (unless you'd like them to be deleted from Gmail's server)
11. Check box for 'Enable interval mail checking' then choose a time

12. Click on Extras tab
13. Choose 'Use SSL for secure mail download'
14. Click OK

15. Click Sending tab
16. Click Add
17. Choose SMTP then click OK

18. Type a name for the account
19. Input smtp.gmail.com in the Host box
20. Port 587
21. Check box 'Server requires authentication'
22. Input username and password
23. Check box 'Store SMTP password' (unless you wish to enter pw every time you send e-mail)

24. Click Security tab
25. Use TLS Encryption
26. Click OK

27. Click OK again to exit Kontact configuration.
28. Done. You should now be able to send/receive mail using your Gmail account.

Problems with Opera 9 for Linux running Java?

If you're like me, you've been having a rough time getting Java to work in Opera 9. I installed Java, clicked 'Enable Java' in Opera, and pointed Opera to my Java directory: /usr/java/jre1.5.0_07/lib/i386/ . However, Java would never work and Opera kept unchecking the 'Enable Java' box.

To make Opera 9 run with Java enabled just run Opera with this code:

opera --debugplugin --debugjava

Now, since I am a newbie, I don't really know what's going on with that command...but I assure you Java will work. Test it here on the official Java site.

You should be rewarded with:

How to install Opera 9 in Kubuntu.

I wrote step-by-step instructions on how to install Opera 9 in Kubuntu 6.06. View my instuctions here.

Autologin, Opera, and more.

This post is created using Opera 9 in Kubuntu. Yay me!

I discovered a way to get Kubuntu to login automatically, rather than having to give your username/password at every bootup.

1. Click on the K Menu
2. Click System Settings
3. Click Login Manager
4. Click Administrator Mode and input your password

5. Click on the Convenience tab
6. Place a check mark in the Enable Auto-Login box
7. Click Apply



I downloaded and installed Opera 9. However, no icons or links to Opera were created for me. I could not find it installed in the K Menu...so I had to search for the Opera executable and create a link to it (a shortcut). I placed the link on my desktop as I don't know how to put things in the K Menu yet. This is what the installation of Opera looked like:



And here's Opera 9 in Kubuntu:



I didn't know Gmail uses Flash....hmmm. I guess I'll have to put Flash on my list of apps to install.



Conclusion:

Autologon is a very nice feature that I was used to from Windows XP. I'm glad Kubuntu includes this option and makes it easy to find then enable. Opera was so very easy to install, but the problem of no link (shortcut) to start the browser is certainly problematic for the target group of Kubuntu/Ubuntu: the everyday novice computer user. This isn't Kubuntu's fault by any means, it's Opera's deficiency that should be corrected ASAP.

The amazing 22-minute Kubuntu 6.06 install.

I burnt the Kubuntu 6.06 DVD available on Kubuntu's site. I chose to download it via BitTorrent. After a successful burn I booted from the DVD and chose to 'Check CD for defects.' The check results were fine--everything on the DVD was ok. So, let's begin the install!


I chose 'Start or install Kubuntu.'



The Live DVD is loading.




Live desktop. Genius! It's the Kubuntu OS, but only booted up by DVD. Nothing is installed on my hard drive whatsoever. Yes, you can access the Internet via Live DVD. This is great.




I clicked the 'Install' icon on the desktop to begin the install process. I need to choose my language. There is an amazing amount of languages to choose from.


Now, choosing the time zone.



Choosing keyboard layout.



Name the computer and choose username/password.


Partitioning.



A final screen to review my choices.



Partitioning and formatting complete...copying files to the HD.



After the files are copied Kubuntu checks for something on the Internet.



Checking for updates. Even before the first bootup, nice!



Finishing up. Grub is a text-based bootloader that performs the same job as LILO or System Commander.




Done! I clicked 'Restart.'



Kubuntu Live DVD shutting down.



Booting for the first time.




(I apologize for the blurriness. I don't know what went wrong.)


You can see, in all the blur, there's a red exclamation alert. I clicked it and was taken to an updater. I guess Kubuntu checks for updates upon every bootup?





After installing the updates I found a nice program called Ksnapshot in the Graphics applications. Here's what the desktop looks like immediately after install with only the stock programs and settings. (Yours may or may not have the IOMEGA ZIP icon...I do since I have a ZIP drive.)



Conclusion:

Installation was frighteningly easy. I started at 2:34PM and I was at my desktop ready to do the updates at 2:56PM. It took me from booting off the DVD to an Internet-ready desktop OS in 22 minutes! Not to mention I had to perform an action during install only seven times. Nice. I like having an install where it doesn't require much input from me. When was the last time you installed Windows in 22 minutes with performing only seven actions (as in typing a name, clicking on options)? Most likely your answer is: Never. Same for me.

I would say virtually anyone can install Kubuntu. It's very easy. So now it's time to find and install programs. I'm going to try Firefox, Thunderbird, and Opera. Wish me luck! Pictures and updates shall continue.

Kubuntu on hold.

My Kubuntu project is on hold until I return from my one month trip to Korea. I'll return in early June and I'll get started on Kubuntu. I would have started on Kubuntu this week, but the person I bought the P3 system from last Tuesday (Apr. 25) didn't ship it until May 1! What a jerk. That's six days AFTER I paid for it. Surey this person shall receive neutral feedback on Ebay from me.

Purpose and intent.

I'm just a regular guy, a college student, and avid computer nerd. I started out in computing with a Commodore 64 given to me back in the 1980s by an uncle. That started a lifelong passion that burns hotly to this day: Computing. Since moving from the C64 to a PC I've used Microsoft OSes from MS-DOS all the way up to Windows XP (and every OS in between--except for ME). I even tried dabbling in OS/2 Warp at one time. I think it's time to branch out and learn something new, something challenging, and something (seemingly) exciting. That would be Linux. Specifically, Kubuntu Linux.

Years ago I installed Red Hat 5.2 on a Cyrix PR166+ system but I could never get my video card to work. I could never load KDE or GNOME and get an actual desktop. I was imprisoned by the command line. I gave up, reformatted, and went back to Windows 95 or 98 (whatever was the latest at that time). I hadn't though much about Linux until recently when I learned about Ubuntu and my interest as piqued. However, I decided to go with Kubuntu with the KDE desktop rather than Ubuntu with the GNOME desktop simply because I like KDE's overall look.

Within a week I'll be installing Kubuntu 5.10 on a used Dell Optiplex GX110 system. The specs are low, but adequate:

Pentium III 933MHZ
512MB PC100 SDRAM
15 GB Hard Drive
i810 onboard video
Sound Blaster Live! Value (onboard sound disabled)
AOpen 16X DVD-ROM
X2Gen MG17R 17" LCD (not a very good LCD, to be honest)

I'll be documenting my installation and configuring of Kubuntu with commentary and pictures on this blog. Comments from readers are welcome and flames will be deleted. This is not a blog to debate which OS is better, it's simply a place to watch one somewhat advanced Windows user dive into the alluring world of Linux.