First steps with Ubuntu Gutsy
I recently installed Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibson on my Dell E1405 laptop dual booting with Windows Vista. Here are my first steps at configuration. Note, I tried Kubuntu (KDE) for a while, but ended up going with the Gnome version because it seemed stabler, a little faster, is more popular (i.e. more support articles aimed at regular Ubuntu), and also the Compbiz Fusion / Beryl stuff looked cool. I'll probably add some KDE apps as I discover them in the future.
- Get internet working with Verizon wireless EVDO express card (Novatel V640)
http://www.savvyadmin.com/2007/06/03/ubuntu-dell-5700-evdo/
This actually works with no problems. And it seems to be faster under Ubuntu than under Vista.
- Select package manager repositories
- From the Gnome desktop's System menu, Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager
- Settings -> Repositories
- in the Ubuntu Software tab, check:
main, universe, and restricted - in the Updates tab, check:
gutsy-security
gutsy-updates - After closing the dialog, be sure to click the "Reload" button.
- Run Update Manager
System -> Administration -> Update Manager- press the Check button
- press the Install Updates button
- Configure Firefox
- set home page to del.icio.us
- remove bookmarks toolbar
- save downloads to /home/sofeng/incoming
- install del.icio.us Bookmarks Firefox Add-on
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3615 - install IE Tab Firefox Add-on (oh, not available for linux)
- install flash plugin (free version)
sudo apt-get install mozilla-plugin-gnash - youtube doesn't work
- remove free flash plugin
sudo apt-get autoremove mozilla-plugin-gnash - install flash plugin (non-free version)
sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree
got an error message:
sofeng@tortoise:~$ sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Package flashplugin-nonfree is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
E: Package flashplugin-nonfree has no installation candidate
It appears as if I didn't add the multiverse repository. But I did. It turns out I didn't press the "Reload" button after adding the new repositories. hmmph. went back and did that and everything worked good.
- Install and configure emacs
sofeng@tortoise:~$ sudo apt-get install emacs22
copy in my .emacs file
- Install and configure my shell and terminal
- copy in my .bashrc
- copy in my .Xdefaults
- copy in my .screenrc
- install urxvt:
sofeng@tortoise:~$ sudo apt-get install rxvt-unicode - To my suprise, I actually like gnome-terminal better than urxvt. The gnome-terminal font was better than urxvt and I couldn't figure out how to use that one with urxvt. While I was evaluating gnome-terminal, I found out it actually has areal transparent background!This is sweet. Google "ubuntu transparent background" to find out more. I will still use screen inside of gnome-terminal in lieu of gnome-terminal's tabs. There's no replacement for screen yet.
- Turn off PC speaker to get rid of annoying beeps
sofeng@tortoise:~/$ sudo sh -c 'echo "blacklist pcspkr" >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist'
from http://ubuntu-tutorials.com/2007/07/26/turning-off-the-system-hardware-beep-linux-tutorial/
- Do not dim display when on battery power
From the Gnome System menu, Preferences -> Power Management
On Battery Power tab:
Dim display brightness by: 0%
