MSN for ubuntu

You can either use the pre installed pidgin messenger or use something like meebo.  If you really missed the interface of MSN live for windows. You can install the AMSN.  It looks and functions like windows msn with little differences.

Install it by keying this in the terminal 

sudo apt-get install amsn

or 

search for AMSN in the package manager

Browser add ons

1) Installing flash player so that you can view youtube content and other flash sites.

Macromedia has already made it very simple for linux users to install flash plugin now, compared to previously where you will need to extract the file and manually put them into the usr\lib\firefox, folder. You just need to do as what you do in windows, and choose the Deb package and the flash player will be installed. Just remember to close your browsers before installing.

However, if using that method don't work for some reason or another you can always key in this command in the terminal

sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree flashplayer-nonfree

2) Installing Java runtime

You can either, go to a java based website and click on the get plugin icon. And allow the browser to search for required plug-ins or simply click on tools, add ons and search for java. Click on apply plugin to install that.

Simple enough. Similar to windows.

Writing chinese

You can write Chinese in ubuntu, however you need to start a notepad and write in the notepad. Copy and paste into the program you want the chinese characters.

1) Go to Applications > Add/Remove... In the left panel choose System Tools, in the show option, make sure you choose all available application, and try to search for Language Support.


2) Now you can go to System > Administration > Language Support, In the Language selection panel, tick the Chinese language.

3) Start a notepad and right click anywhere on the notepad. Choose SCIM input.
Notice that a keyboard icon has appeared beside the updates icon or network icon at the top right hand corner. Click on it and choose simplified or traditional. Choose entry mode, example 智能拼音.

Opening RAR archives

The archive manager does not support winrar files by default. Installing 7zip or winrar via wine is an option. You can also get ubuntu to extract rar files by running this in terminal

sudo apt-get install unrar-free

or

sudo apt-get install unrar



Playing DVDs in totem movie player

By default, the plugin is not installed. You can easily download codecs of mp3 or other file types when the player is unable to play. But for a DVD video disc, you will need to do some special terminal commands .

Start the terminal

sudo apt-get install totem-xine libxine1-ffmpeg libdvdread3

Wait for it to download...

Then the second command

sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/install-css.sh

Restart and you can load the DVD disc off the movie player now.

Installing windows programs in linux

If you really have to use a windows application in linux, you will need to make use of this program called " wine ". You can install it using the add/remove programs menu.A restart is required after installing.


Before you can execute or install any windows programs, You will need to put an entry in the wine config page.
Click on add application.
Once done, you will be able to right click on the file and run with wine program loader

Useful information when using ubuntu

1) export HISTSIZE=0

Everything you typed in the terminal is recorded. You can press the up arrow key to repeat the commands. This command clears all the past history. The capital letters are required

2) CD [ followed by pathname]

It is quite different from dos commands when you try to navigate from point to point. One easy way to copy the address that is displayed on the places address bar. Type a CD in terminal and followed by a space. Right click and paste the destination in like this, And you will jump direct to the folder

3) If you put your mouse over a music file, hold it there, ubuntu will play the song, a direct instant preview

4) If a particular software or program fails to run as it should after installing, Do a restart and try again. One thing about ubuntu is that it does not prompt for a restart.

5) When prompted for password in terminal. Just key in your password. The cursor will not move. It is still registering your entry.

6) Whenever you are installing something that requires a CD, you cannot eject the Disc and switch like windows.  You will need to unmount the device,  and mount it again.

sudo mount /media/cdrom0/ -o unhide

sudo umount /media/cdrom0/

Firewall and IP blockers

1) Installing firewall

By default, there is no firewall running in ubuntu. As it is relatively safe with no worries about any hacking that may occur in linux. So firewall is not a necessary. You can install a firewall program called " fire starter "

Once again, use the synaptic package manager to search for firestarter. Installing it is easy as pie.


Now to learn how to allow ports and programs. There are 2 sections of the firewall settings. Click on the policy tab. The config screen is split into the upper and lower part. The lower part of the section is more user friendly. You can right click and add. There will be ready custom prepared entries for common ports like Http, MSN, etc. If you don't allow that, the browser will be blocked. But if you don't intend to use firewall. There is nothing to worry.

2) Installing IPlist

This is a peer guardian equalvilant for users who are familiar with windows's ip blocker.

You can download the deb package. For standard PCs, choose the 

iplist_0.24-0hardy1_i386.deb. After installing you can find it under the internet category of the programs menu. For some reason you do not see it blocking, you may need to use the terminal to start the program. Type

sudo ipblock -s [ Start the blocker program ]

Usage: ipblock [options]

Options:
-s start blocking
-d stop blocking
-r restart IPblock
-u update lists
-c convert lists to ipl format
-g start IPblock GUI
-l show status
-v show version and exit
-h show this help

Compiz desktop. Adding the special effects

1) Installing compiz advance desktop effects

This is a real cool thing that attracted me to learn ubuntu. A 3D rotating desktop. You may watch the video in my blog at the side bar.
Before installing the compiz itself you need to have a decent 3D card. No need for a high end top grade one. Any card that is AGP should suffice.
Let's start by activating your drivers. This must be activated. Or else you won't be able to run the compiz.
Go to system => administration=> hardware drivers


Activate your drivers by ticking the box. Let it download and install the native drivers. A restart would be nice. So that the settings will take effect. Now check that it is activated. You may notice that your system is slightly faster now. To install the compiz effects, use the add/remove manager. Remember to change the options beside the search bar to show all applications or else you may not see the compiz application. Do a search for advance desktop.


Simply tick the check box and it will download all the require software to make your ubuntu real nice. After all the installation is done, you simply need to configure the compiz by going to system => preferences => advance desktop effects settings. It is the 2nd one in the menu.
There are a lot of settings here for you to play around with, so I will just cover the few basic ones,
1) click on the desktop menu at the left side, tick the boxes, desktop cube and rotate cube. It will prompt you if you want to disable wall, just say yes.
2) click on the general menu at the left side. Click the only one setting general setting on the right. Click on desktop size, tab. change it to 4 for example.

Close the settings page, and now you can press and hold "CTRL + ALT". Click on your desktop and mouse your mouse.

Press and hold "CTRL+ALT" + the keyboard arrow keys can also rotate the desktop.
This will behave exactly as you would if you click on the desktop spaces on the lower right hand corner.

You can also aim any where on the desktop and scroll your mouse scroll.

The "windows Key" + E will show a zoom out view of all your desktops.


2) Enabling visual effects.

This effect allows the individual windows to shake like jelly when being dragged around the desktop.

Simply go to system => preferences => appearance =>visual effects

Click on extras.


3) Installing AWN - Avant Windows Navigator


This is something really nice and looks great in replacement of task bar

* Important Note * If your Compiz is not up and running, you cannot install AWN.

3.1) [ Install in Ubuntu 8.04 ]

Install using terminal

First : To add repository, both are to be executed in terminal

echo "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/awn-testing/ubuntu hardy main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list


echo "deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/awn-testing/ubuntu hardy main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list

Second : update your repository

sudo apt-get update


Third : install AWN

sudo apt-get install awn-manager-trunk awn-extras-applets-trunk

Once done you can activate it by going to the applications=> accessories=>Avant Window Navigator


3.2) Install AWN in 8.10

Goto the synaptic package manager
System->Administration->Synaptic Package Manager.

Look for avant-window-navigator

Check that and also
awn-applets-python-extras
awn-applets-c-extras

Once done. You can launch it in applications => accessories