Newbie questions on Linux

ok, due to the innumerable amount of problems from XP, I am now determined to adapt the Linux environment. Though I have a few questions.

1) I need to install photoshop CS and Stata (and possibly MS office 2007 and adobe professional), now I have heard there are two ways: 1) wine or 2) create a virtual windows environment in addition to Linux. Can anyone give a detailed explanation on the pros/cons, as well as detailed steps of how to do it (or a link may also do it)?

2) After I have downloaded a desired software (ie: vlc), it doesn't have an .exe file like in windows, and I am utterly confused of how to install them.

3) I am planning to create websites/blog, are there any good plug-ins for Linux?

4) How do I enable Nvidia graphics driver, as well as setting up a dual monitor?

Other than that, I am really amazed of how customizable the desktop bar, the organization, and speed of linux. Looking forward to learn more.

 

Answers in Bold.

 

What distribution are you using.

 

Thanks. Allow me for more questions. By the way, it's Ubuntu 7.1 if it is what you are referring to.

OK from the Add/remove, there is only a list of plug-ins/prog, however, I may need some programs beyond that list, like VLC or Gunzip. I have downloaded the VLC 0.9.4.tar.bz2, but I have no clue how I can install it since there is no .exe file. Can someone tell me how I install I download from websites, instead of directly from add/remove?

Also, I try to open a rar file with no luck (it says "cannot open, achieve type not supported", I have searched the net, someone said you have to type some command "ie: unrar etc". What command and where do I type this command upon opening the zipped file?

 

You just search, check, and apply in ADD/Remove programs.....
Now, WHY THE HELL UBUNTU 7.1?!?!

 

Why? Is it 7.1 crap? That's the one available to me, I just installed it yesterday. Let me know if there is any other superior version, I will not be reluctant to use that.

Edit: I have downloaded 7-zip and it is shown on the Add/Remove, but I can't locate this program under Applications, nor can I use it to open a rar file (ie: I click choose "open with other application" but I can't find 7-zip available.

 

First thing I would do is ditch the Ubuntu 7.1 and go for the newest version , which is 8.04 Hardy Heron. Your version is about a year old and it best to go with the newer version due to the numerous changes to driver etc. Just go to the Ubuntu site and download the ISO file. They burn the ISO file to disc as an image and you should be set to begin installing Ubuntu.

There are many different "versions" of Linux. Most of the bigger and more popular distributions(as they are called) are using a form of what they call package management. What this means is that rather than going to the web and downloading files, you start up your package management program(ex: synaptic) and download your programs through it. This is a much better and cleaner way to do things and I advise you to do it this way. That way you will get icons in your start menu for most apps, and removing apps is also easier. For installing VLC, I would start up Synaptic and type in VLC. See what comes up. If VLC comes up, choose it and choose install. Another good thing about this method, is if there are patches and updates the system knows about whats installed an you can install them properly.

Rar is a proprietary compression format. There are 2 programs that I know of that can handle these files unrar-nonfree and unrar. One is the proprietary version and the other is the free version. I think both should work the same. You need to install one of these through the package manager(i.e. synaptic) first. Then you can use the command line and navigate to the directory where the rar file exists. Then you would execute something similar to unrar -x "rar file".

 

It's Ubuntu 7.10. The 0 is important.

In short, don't. That's really the worst way to install software in Linux, unless you know your way around a compiler and system libraries and such. The only way you might consider downloading an application directly from a website is if they provide a .deb package for you. If not, just go through the repository. That's why you should use Ubuntu 8.04 instead of 7.10... it's got much newer software included. Or if you wait until the 30th, Ubuntu 8.10 will be released.

The archive type isn't supported because .rar is patent encumbered. 7-zip should open it though a GUI, though. If not, you should be able to open a terminal, then change to the directory where the .rar file is, and type "unrar e <filename>" (even the free unrar is flaky, FireSnake ). You don't type upon opening the file... the typing is to open the file. unrar is the program, and the only way to start it is to type it.

I think you may have some problems with Linux because you're very clearly approaching things from the Windows mindset. Linux is NOT Windows. Do some reading, go through some of the tutorial documentation that exists for Ubuntu, and switching from Windows. It will help.

 

Nothing, just old...I suggest 8.04, hell, 8.10 is about to come out.

 

While 8.10 is imminent, 8.04 is a "LTS" (long term support) release. The next LTS is 9.04.

 

OK, just got a new monitor, the thing is I can only set it to twin mode; but I want to set it as X seprate mode, is there any tutorial or guide? When I apply the Separate X mode, only the new monitor is showing something, while my laptop monitor is automatically turned off. By the way, I am using Nvidia card, and is trying to set it in the driver.

 

The LTS branding is mostly for companies, who want a longer support lifecycle for an OS. Any home user is just fine using the latest release, LTS or not.