Top 10 Tips for Beginning Linux Users

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@cmairn

Agenda• Discover what open source software is.

• Learn what an operating system does.

• Cover a brief history of Linux

• Acquire 10 tips to help users who are making the switch to Linux become more confident using it.

• Heresy: I am using Windows today, but will show Linux in action via VirtualBox. (More later)

According to the Open Source Initiative,

“open source is a development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process. The

promise of open source is better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in.”

Source: http://www.opensource.org/

An Operating System takes care of the basic operation of a computer system. It is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for applications. Without an operating system nothing would get done! Applications would have to do all the work.

Source: http://goo.gl/MYdU

Brief History of Linux• MULTICS (Multiplexed Information and Computing

Service).

• UNIX was developed by computer scientists at AT&T/Bell labs in 1969.

• Minux created by Andrew Tannebaum.

• Linus Torvalds continually e-mailed modification requests and later decided to rewrite the kernel and share the code. Linux was born!

Tip 1: Pick a distribution that best fits your needs.

A distribution is an “operating system” that also includes a collection of software applications (e.g., word processors, spreadsheets, media players etc.)

Check out Top Ten Distributions from Distrowatch.com

http://www.ubuntu.com

I am currently using …

10.04 LTS (Long-term Support)

KDEGnome

Gnome Desktop Environment

Image source: http://goo.gl/y5oSZ

KDE Desktop Environment

Image source: http://goo.gl/YPt0w

http://infrarecorder.org/

Tip 1.5: Use InfraRecorder to burn the .ISO image file.

Tip 2: Use a LiveCD and try Linux before installing it.

Having a LiveCD can help you gain access to a crashed non-Linux system!

Download VirtalBox at: www.virtualbox.org

Tip 3: Use VirtualBox to run Linux

inside Windows or

OSX

Tip 3.5: Use Wubi (Windows-based UBuntu Installer)

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/windows-installer

Wubi will setup a dual boot system.

Tip 4: Explore GNOME Desktop (panels, menu bar, drawers

etc.)

Quick Demo

http://ubuntu-tweak.com/

Tip 5: Use Ubuntu Software Center 

Tip 6: Use Synaptic Package Manager to find/update software packages.

Finding Programs

Quick Demo

Tips 7 and 8:

Understand the Linux File System Hierarchy.

Learn to change file permissions.

Tip 9: Start playing with the command line interface.

Image source: http://goo.gl/4ClAj

Source: http://goo.gl/z4kGg

Get the Android apps! http://goo.gl/qyIAw

Get the iPhone app! http://goo.gl/DIyzE

Tip 10: Have Fun and Explore

Video source: http://goo.gl/BNSqe

Compiz/Fusion 3D Desktop in Ubuntu

http://www.ubuntu.com/tv

Select Linux Resources

• http://www.ubuntu.com/• https://www.linux.com/• http://www.linuxjournal.com/• http://www.linux-tutorial.info/• http://www.linuxselfhelp.com/• http://www.youtube.com/ (Search for Linux)

Let’s Hangout!

gplus.to/chadmairn