Wow, I LOVE kubuntu

Hi,
I just got my Kubuntu DVD in the mail today. Trying linux for the first time ever, I ran a live session off the DVD and I have to say I really like it. :yes:
Too bad there are no linux drivers for my samsung m520 or I'd switch to linux completely. I use that as a phone as modem, cause I dropped my landline service because of too many issues.
I might run a dual boot, once I can figure out how to with linux and windows.
Thanks for the guide Calvin, it's what really got me interested in trying linux for the first time.
I love linux already.

 

Just one question, can anyone recommend a good USB bluetooth 2.0 adapter? I'll need that to be able to get online in linux.
I'm looking now, but not quite sure what to get.

 

Glad to see my guides are helping people. You should try out Ubuntu to see if you like GNOME more. You don't want to be stuck with a DE you hate.

 

You can read my Ubuntu Guide for details on installing.
And btw, Im in the same boat as you with the cell phone modem.

 

Ok thanks Thomas, I will.
@Calvin, I'm getting ubuntu in the mail around saturday, and I'll definitely check it out too. Just got kubuntu first, that's all.

 

Have you been able to get your phone to work in linux, Thomas?

 

You can get your phone working in a Windows virtual machine. Then you can use the VM as a gateway for the Linux install. I don't know how difficult that would be to set up though.

 

Yes, Kubuntu is awesome! Congrats. I have been using it for about 3 years and I use it 99% of the time and Windows for 1%.

 

That seems like too much of a pain. I'll see about getting a bluetooth adapter, or just running a dual boot for awhile.
Got dual boot up and running, it was really easy. *phew* But it took a LONG time for kubuntu to install.

 

Kubuntu (and Mandriva) work so well, even a cave man can do it.

 

lol Zoid.
I'm having a problem though, if anyone can help please? For the past couple hours, I've been reading various sites on this issue. For some reason, Kaffeine wont play dvd's. It said something about needing to download a plugin, I found and installed the libdvdcss package, but now, it still wont play.
To be honest, I'm very confused, having never used linux before. I don't have internet access on that partition, and not sure how to get it running. Only thing I've read is, that something about the upgrade to 8.04 messed up kaffeine somehow.
Can anyone help?

 

Ok, apparently it's a bug with no known fix as of yet.
Linky.

 

ubuntu is much much better for me .. gnome is much more easy on the eyes and the brain .. kde is very professional

also kde uses aloot of ram compared to gnome .. and i hate the dolhpin app to pieces

try ubuntu .. i ordered a free cd for both ubuntu and kubuntu just got them a week ago .. gonna try them soon

 

I'm going to try it, as soon as it arrives in the mail.
I got mplayer finally installed, after downloading 69 packages manually (dependencies). That was a lot of fun. But atleast it works.

 

I had a problem with getting Kaffeine to play DVDs. It said I needed some libraries, blah. So I let it install them but that did not work.

But I found that installing the packages named ffmpeg and libxine-ffmpeg fixed my problem.

 

yeah, enable the medibuntu repositories....download vlc or mplayer, install libdvdcss2 and the win32codecs

 

In the case I'm reporting above, doing this was not enough. There's a bug somewhere in the dependencies.

 

Hmm, I haven't been able to find anything concrete yet. Can anyone recommend a good bluetooth USB adapter that will work with ubuntu/kubuntu?

 

I've got built in bluetooth, but not sure about compatible adapters....there's a linux hardware compatibility list on the 'net somewhere, can't find it at the moment, but I'd check that and write down some that work.

Here's one http://www.linux-drivers.org/

another to check http://tuxmobile.com/

 

Ok thanks Zoid. I'll look at them.

 

Well, I ordered an Azio bluetooth module from here. One person there said it was instantly recognized in Ubuntu. I'll find out when it comes in the mail. I just hope setting up bluetooth in linux isn't a pain.

 

Well, I just got ubuntu in the mail, and tried it. I think I like it better.

 

I run Ubuntu and use my cell as modem. Switched from XP in which I used Motorola Phone Tools. Once you get your bluetooth adapter just make sure ubuntu is recognizing your phone, in system/pref./hardware info. Then all you need to do is get GnomePPP which is just the graphical front for WVDialer which is already installed. Setup your phone as modem under settings of GnomePPP and you'll be good to go. GnomePPP will be in App/Internet once installed. Good luck.

 

Thanks Sava, I'll look into that.

 

I'll try that with my Samsung phone...

 

That can be done with my Blackberry as well, but horribly slowwwww....but comes in handy if you get caught somewhere with no wireless cloud....so I say set it up at least as a fallback !!

 

What Samsung phone do you have Thomas?

 

R500 aka Hue.
Alltel is my Service Provider.

 

Thomas....never heard of Alltel? You are only 4 hours from me if you're in Valdosta.....

 

uhh, you never heard of alltel?
There only the largest netork in America, check there site....

 

No, sure haven't. I'll check it.

 

They recently got bought by Verizon as well.
I use the Quicklink software in Windows, I'll try out Gnome PP.

 

Ah ok. I have the M520.

 

Hello from ubuntu/firefox.
I finally got internet access working through bluetooth after messing with it for a long time.
I'll post later on how I got it working if anyone is interested.

 

Kewl....the second time you need to do this, it will go so fast and easy a cave man could do it.....

 

lol Zoid. I hope you're right, but this time I've documented all I did.

Basically, this tutorial is nearly exactly what I followed. It uses wvdial, but I'm happy, it works for me.

 

I have a question, and a couple first impression opinions.
First, I know linux has about 1000 viruses in the wild. I think I read something about ch0700, that it makes whatever dir you select invisible. Is that enabled by default? Also, I'm using the uncomplicated firewall (UFW), so besides those two, and safe browsing practices, am I relatively safe?
My opinions. I don't really care for firefox, I might install thunderbird.
Other than that, I really love Gnome and ubuntu is really fast on my older desktop. Although for some reason, some times when I have firefox open, I get A LOT of harddisk thrashing, not sure why.
That's all for now. So far really liking linux. Thanks again Calvin for your guide.

 

uhh, thunderbird is an email client..lol
Look if your laptop is affected by the HDD thrashing issue.
Also, Ubuntu is secure out of the box, no need for anything really.

 

It is??? Lol, then what does Kubuntu use for a web browser? I swore it was thunderbird.
But please understand, this is my first time ever not using windows, and I've only ever used IE and safari before.

 

lol, no problem.
Kubuntu has Konqueror, a web kit browser(similar to safari).
Try out Epiphany or Swiftweasel.

 

Ah ok, thanks!

 

I'm not sure if it's a 1000, I revised the info in my guide. Check it again, it'll answer that. What you've heard is completely false pertaining to directories and what-not. Why do you not like Firefox? If it's for a good reason then you can use alternatives such as Opera. The hard disk thrashing is a known problem (But only with Firefox 3 beta 5), read about it here. I suggest you just upgrade your system (using Update Manager) and the problem will be fixed.

 

Well, the hdd thrashing for one, and two, the fonts are really ugly and it's hard to read them. I'm currently messing around with settings to see if I can find the perfect one.
I removed ff3 and installed ff2, and the performance issues have improved significantly.

 

Well since you have FF2 now I'm not so sure I can help you with that. Would you tell me what was wrong with Firefox 3 in the first place to make you replace it with Firefox 2? Coming from Safari/Internet Explorer I would assume FF3 would be the best choice. About your fonts, open up Preferences, go to Content, click "Advanced" in fonts and colors, and where it says "Proportional" set Sans Serif, uncheck "Allow pages to choose their own fonts instead of my selections above", set the serif to serif (if it already isn't).

Some tips and tweaks (that I remember right now) that you should like: Set font rendering to subpixel smoothing (if you have an LCD monitor), if you like to play videos then I suggest you install Mplayer and SMplayer. Even GNOME Mplayer should work out fine as far as I know. Change the look! Don't settle for what you have now (default orange/brown) get a theme you like and set a usplash that is custom tailored to your likings. use a GDM that looks cool and set the icons to something wicked. In the end this is what makes Ubuntu my favorite (along with the now turned off Compiz-Fusion).

 

Because I was having major HDD thrashing, and the windows would totally freeze while it was waiting for FF to do whatever it was doing. With FF2, it's stopped.
So far, as a browser, I'm starting to like it. Thanks for the tips, it's better but still not quite there. I have to go to bed anyway, so I'll get to it again tomorrow.
Thanks for the tips.
EDIT: I set the default font after your suggestions, and it's an improvement.

 

Did FF3 freeze when playing flash content? If so, I can a fix for that. It's also a known issue. Can you provide a screenshot of your fonts dialog and an example of the horrible fonts?

 

If you mean black out while it loaded, yes it did that a lot too.
I'm not having any problems with FF2, so I'll stick with it for the time being.

 

Screenshot. It's a lot better than it was, but could still improve a lot.

 

Move on up to Flock when you get everything else sorted. It runs FF extensions and the 2beta2 is based on FF3, AND updates itself over the net, unlike FF in linux.

 

Ya, Flock is really nice, even if you don't use the social networking features.