Ubuntu for Non-Geeks A Pain-Free, Get-Things-Done Guide

500 Pages·2010·33.704 MB·English

by  Rickford Grant, Phil Bull

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A P A I N - F R E E , G E T - T H I N G S - D O N E G U I D E

R I C K F O R D G R A N T W I T H P H I L B U L L

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4TH EDITION

PRAISE FOR UBUNTU FOR NON-GEEKS
“A fast, crystal-clear topical tour of the amazing collective accomplishment
embodied in Ubuntu. I learned something new in every chapter, and ended up
with a computer that did more of what I wanted it to do, faster. This book should
come with every Ubuntu Live CD—it’s just the documentation I needed to take
some of the mystery out of my machine.”
—BOING BOING
“Highly recommended to all Ubuntu newcomers.”
—PC WORLD
“If you’re a Linux novice, or an experienced user who wants a good book to
recommend, I give this book a big thumbs up.”
—LINUX TODAY
“This very nice book on Ubuntu Linux is clearly targeted at the neophytes who
wish to take their first steps in installing and using Ubuntu. The author explains
in a step-by-step manner the solutions to the problems that one might face in
installing, configuring and using Ubuntu Linux.”
—SLASHDOT
“Grant makes it seem easy with his step-by-step instructions and plenty of
screenshots.”
—LINUX.COM
“This is a good, practical book that reads well and doesn’t involve the victim in
lots of superfluous stuff.”
—UNIX REVIEW
“With books like this in the hands of non-geeks, the lines of distinction between
geeks and non-geeks might just begin to blur!”
—IT WORLD
“The best thing in Rickford Grant’s Ubuntu Linux for Non-Geeks is plenty of
practical examples.”
—LINUX MAGAZINE
“Highly recommended for both new Linux users and new computer users in
general.”
—BLOGCRITICS

UBUNTU FOR
NON-GEEKS
4TH EDITION
A Pain-Free,
Get-Things-Done Guide
by Rickford Grant with Phil Bull
San Francisco
UBUNTU FOR NON-GEEKS, 4TH EDITION. Copyright © 2010 by Rickford Grant and Phil Bull.
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior
written permission of the copyright owner and the publisher.
14 13 12 11 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
ISBN-10: 1-59327-257-X
ISBN-13: 978-1-59327-257-9
Publisher: William Pollock
Production Editors: Ansel Staton and Megan Dunchak
Cover and Interior Design: Octopod Studios
Developmental Editor: Keith Fancher
Technical Reviewer: Milo Casagrande
Copyeditor: Kim Wimpsett
Compositor: Susan Glinert Stevens
Proofreader: Linda Seifert
For information on book distributors or translations, please contact No Starch Press, Inc. directly:
No Starch Press, Inc.
38 Ringold Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; [email protected]; www.nostarch.com
The Library of Congress has cataloged the first edition as follows:
Grant, Rickford.
Ubuntu Linux for non-geeks : a pain-free, project-based, get-things-done guidebook / Rickford Grant.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 1-59327-118-2
1. Linux. 2. Operating systems (Computers) I. Title. QA76.76.O63.G7246 2006
005.4'32--dc22
2006015576
No Starch Press and the No Starch Press logo are registered trademarks of No Starch Press, Inc. Other product and
company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Rather than use a trademark
symbol with every occurrence of a trademarked name, we are using the names only in an editorial fashion and to the
benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark.
The information in this book is distributed on an “As Is” basis, without warranty. While every precaution has been
taken in the preparation of this work, neither the author nor No Starch Press, Inc. shall have any liability to any
person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the
information contained in it.
In loving memory of Dr. James Howard Cremin, who, along with his family,
gave me a place in which to find a sense of self during my early days of tumult
and who managed to keep his cool when I blew out half the electricity in his
house one Christmas morning. And to the loving memory of his son, and my
friend, John Cremin, who was kind, completely selfless, and a truly good
heart. I miss you both.
—Rickford
To Nan,
You were right, we’re not!
—Phil

B R I E F C O N T E N T S
About the Authors ........................................................................................................xxi
Acknowledgments .....................................................................................................xxvii
Introduction ...............................................................................................................xxxi
Chapter 1: Becoming a Penguinista
Welcome to the World of Linux .......................................................................................1
Chapter 2: Wading and Diving
Running and (If You Like) Installing Ubuntu ......................................................................11
Chapter 3: A New Place to Call Home
Getting to Know the Desktop .........................................................................................25
Chapter 4: More Than Webbed Feet
Connecting to the Internet ..............................................................................................45
Chapter 5: Slipping and Sliding
Exploring the Internet, Linux Style ...................................................................................59
Chapter 6: Rounding Out the Bird
Downloading, Installing, and Updating Programs the Easy Way ........................................79
Chapter 7: A Tidy Nest
File and Disc Handling in Ubuntu ...................................................................................93
Chapter 8: Dressing Up the Bird
Customizing the Look and Feel of Your System ...............................................................123
Chapter 9: Simple Kitten Ways
Getting to Know the Linux Terminal and Command Line . . . and the Cool Things It Can Do ...155
Chapter 10: Gutenbird
Setting Up and Using Your Printer and Scanner .............................................................193
Chapter 11: Polyglot Penguins
Linux Speaks Your Language .......................................................................................211
Chapter 12: Penguins at Work
Getting Down to Business in Linux ................................................................................227
Chapter 13: Brush-Wielding Penguins
Linux Does Art ...........................................................................................................243
Chapter 14: Tux Rocks
Music à la Linux .........................................................................................................261
Chapter 15: Pluggin’ In the Penguin
Working with Your iPod, iPhone, and Other Digital Media Devices ..................................277
Chapter 16: Couch Penguins
Video and DVD Playback in Ubuntu .............................................................................291
Chapter 17: Feathered Flippers
Linux Gaming ............................................................................................................305
Chapter 18: Penguins at the Gates
Working with Ubuntu in a Windows World ..................................................................323
Chapter 19: Defending the Nest
Security .....................................................................................................................339
Chapter 20: A Colony of Penguins
The Ubuntu Community ...............................................................................................355
Chapter 21: Wounded Wings
Fixing Common Problems ............................................................................................375
Appendix A: Installing Ubuntu from a USB Flash Drive ....................................................405
Appendix B: Ubuntu Desktop CDs for AMD64, Opteron, or Intel Core 2 Users ..................409
Appendix C: Manually Partitioning Your Hard Disk ........................................................413
Appendix D: Resources ...............................................................................................421
Index.........................................................................................................................427
viii Brief Contents