linux

[rob7b]

can someone help me out please?

i saw a youtube video about ubuntu, so i downloaded and installed it on a multiboot, but i have no idea how to install files?

i want to install songbird but its in tar.gz format?? also i want to install flash player for linux 64bit (for youtube) but its only alpha and in .so format??

lol

you're all probablly laughing at my linux incompetence!

Rob

[Haggisuk99]

the tar.gz is a compressed file similar to a zip or a rar file. You need to extract the files first so look to open it in your archiver program. You should be able to use the same sort of command on the file as below.
Usually in Linux you would goto the path where you have the program and use the following sort of commands using a console box.
I havent used unantu for a while however there is usually an installer package with it such as kpackage that may do the legwork for you etc etc

tar xvfz install_flash_player_9_linux.tar.gz
cd install_flash_player_9_linux/

(use the same name as your file you downloaded of course)

then once you have done that you would need to navigate to the install script location and use the following command

sudo ./flashplayer-installer

you should be able to google for the correct instructions to use etc etc and there should be a walkthrough on the Ubantu site. It may be different for 64 bit i cant remember lol long time since ive done it

hope this helps

[messyhead]

Everything HaggisUK said is correct. But in Ubuntu there is a really easy way to install things. THere's an installer as part of Ubuntu, which has a list of all the programs you can instal, whether they're included or you have to download them. However it's been ages since I used Ubuntu.

Your could try this guide

How to install Songbird on your Ubuntu box and then enjoy the music*|*ArsGeek

You should also have a read at this for some general info on installing packages. It's not like Windows where you can just download the program and install it.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingSoftware

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installingsoftware

[Bazza]

I have to learn to use linux for my placement year which starts in the summer. Reading this has kind of scared me lol. Where on earth do I start?

[messyhead]

Originally Posted by Bazza

I have to learn to use linux for my placement year which starts in the summer. Reading this has kind of scared me lol. Where on earth do I start?

it's really not scary, it's just different to what your used to. Most people that try Linux expect it to be like Windows/MacOS as that's what they've used before.

But Linux works completely differently from the start. Most tasks can be performed from the GUI though, so it's just learning where you need to go to do something.

I kinda miss Ubuntu since I got my laptop, but I'm trialling Windows 7 so don't have the space to put it on, and don't think I could set up a triple boot system anyway as I've already got it dual booting with Vista!

[rob7b]

i got sick of linux so i scrapped it. I did like the cool features and the GUI of ubuntu. The biggest issue when i was trialing ubuntu was the lack of compatabile software. i didnt see the point of running all my windows apps through wine...why not just run them on the windows platform, as they were more stable in their native windows platform.

Again the fact that someone has to write a tutorial on how to install songbird proves my point. Why cant linux be a bit more user friendly...double click>>next>>next>>next>> congrats you have successfully installed ********* and away you go

in my opinion linux still has a long way to go before it can a viable option for the home user.

[Haggisuk99]

Originally Posted by rob7b

Again the fact that someone has to write a tutorial on how to install songbird proves my point. Why cant linux be a bit more user friendly...double click>>next>>next>>next>> congrats you have successfully installed ********* and away you go

in my opinion linux still has a long way to go before it can a viable option for the home user.

It is because Linux was made so that it could be configurable in every aspect and this very freedom is the problem.
One of the main reasons that you cannot install any piece of hardware you want is the fact that Microsoft has the monopoly over the o/s market and most manufacturers will only write drivers due to demand. I can remember a point not so long ago in which it was difficult to get Vista drivers.

The fact is that if more people demanded it then it would become more user friendly and more drivers would become available but i do agree with you that it has some way to go yet before it is user friendly for the average home user.

[tomeglenn]

Originally Posted by Haggisuk99

It is because Linux was made so that it could be configurable in every aspect and this very freedom is the problem.
One of the main reasons that you cannot install any piece of hardware you want is the fact that Microsoft has the monopoly over the o/s market and most manufacturers will only write drivers due to demand. I can remember a point not so long ago in which it was difficult to get Vista drivers.

The fact is that if more people demanded it then it would become more user friendly and more drivers would become available but i do agree with you that it has some way to go yet before it is user friendly for the average home user.

I don't really see how hardware drivers come into this? He is talking about installing software...

I do agree, software installations on Linux should be made easier. Though there are auto-installers for some software. Lookout for .RPM files, these install themselves kind of like setup .exe files on Windows.

[Haggisuk99]

Originally Posted by tomeglenn

I don't really see how hardware drivers come into this? He is talking about installing software....

A hardware driver is a piece of software. I suspect you think that he may be talking about applications and he may well have been doing so, (......my windows apps through wine...) however as software includes drivers and it is one of the biggest problems of Linux in my eyes that hardware comptibilty is a problem such as it is I spoke about it and I was talking in relation to being friendly with the home user and taking it off on a slightly different tangent to what was said to clarify..

[messyhead]

Originally Posted by rob7b

i got sick of linux so i scrapped it. I did like the cool features and the GUI of ubuntu. The biggest issue when i was trialing ubuntu was the lack of compatabile software. i didnt see the point of running all my windows apps through wine...why not just run them on the windows platform, as they were more stable in their native windows platform.

That's really the reason I went back to Windows. I use a lot of photo editing, and the Gimp wasn't really up to it. There are a few good alternatives, Lightzone and Bibble are quite good, but not enough to keep me there. And Lightzone isn't free.

The installer with Ubuntu is really easy to use. But again it's getting away from the Windows expectation i.e. double click to run. You can install most apps available for Ubuntu through the installer (but I can't remember what it's called), and it downloads any files needed and then installs easily.