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5 Things New Linux Converts Should Know

Jonathan DePrizio — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:41:52 +0000

If you’ve recently converted to Linux from Windows, or if you’re just giving Linux a shot, there are a few things you need to know right off the bat about how Linux works and where the major differences are when compared to Windows. Some of the fundamental components are different between the two operating systems, and the way things are done can be drastically different; you need to learn these differences to be able to use Linux effectively, and to avoid trying to force Windows metaphors onto a Linux system that doesn’t accept them.

Here is a list of five tips that beginner Linux users should know:

Drives don’t have letters, they have mountpoints

The first thing that usually trips up people who come from Windows to Linux is that filesystems aren’t assigned letters the way they are in Windows. Instead, there is a single root filesystem whose path is “/”. If you must use the Windows analogy to help you conceptualize it, you can think of this as the C:\ drive; it’s the top of the filesystem.

The Disk Analyzer Shows your Filesystem Usage and Layout

This makes more sense

There is no registry

Linux doesn’t use a single database of configuration options, the way Windows does with its registry. Instead, there are many individual configuration files, typically in a simple text format (but increasingly in XML), that can be edited by hand using a text editor if need-be. You’ll find the system-wide configuration files in the /etc directory; your user-specific configuration files will typically be located in hidden directories in your home folder.

This is better than Windows because it means that there is no single point of failure for system configuration. If one configuration file becomes corrupt, only that function breaks and everything else works fine. It also makes it easy to backup configuration files — it’s the same as copying all other files — and to troubleshoot problems: often if you ask for help on the internet, the first thing people will ask for is a copy of your configuration files.

Software comes from the repos, not CDs or websites

In the Windows world, if you need to find a program to perform a task you’ll typically have to Google for it and install it using its own installer. Or, you can go to the store and browse the CDs in the software aisle. You wind up hoping that it uninstalls correctly later, and that you don’t pick up viruses from some unknown program you found on an obscure website. Popular Linux distributions, by contrast, have done away with this “hunt and peck” style of software installation, and replaced it with the concept of “software repositories.” These are centralized locations where any maintained software package is kept, and it allows you (by way of the operating system) to maintain tighter control over what exactly is present on your system by giving you a single place to manage all the programs on your machine.

Add/Remove Programs in Fedora

Don’t login as root

It’s common practice for Windows users to login as the system administrator all the time. This is one of the major reasons why Windows computers are so easily infected with viruses and malware; you are always playing God, and any program can do anything it wants. In Linux, the administrator is called “root”, and you should use root access only when you absolutely need it. Modern distributions and interfaces will prompt you for the root password when it’s required, such as when you try to install programs or modify system settings. Aside from this, you should always log in as a regular user. You’ll find that you don’t need to be an administrator user all the time, and that your system survives much longer because of it!

Help is available — and it’s free!

Changing to Linux can be fun and educational — but it can also be frustrating when you find something that doesn’t work quite right, or when you can’t figure out how to do something you need to get done. One of the best parts about switching to Linux is that there are plenty of people who have done it before, and who were once in the same place you are now, and they are more than happy to help you out. Don’t hesistate to ask for help — see my article on eight ways to get help with linux for tips on where to ask and how to get your questions answered.

What do you think?

What were some of the biggest challenges you had when switching to Linux? What are some things you know now that you wish you’d known then? Put your words of wisdom in the comments below!

Ubuntu as Mom’s Operating System

Jonathan DePrizio — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 01:30:38 +0000

A lot of tech-savvy indivuals face the same dilema: their parents, who aren’t so tech-savvy, count on them to provide constant technical support for their Mom & Dad PC. This can become an incredible burden in a Windows world, where the dangers of spyware, viruses, and total system meltdown loom large. I’ve found that the best solution to the problem is not to load up the parents’ PC with antivirus or malware protection, but to ditch Windows altogether and go with a clean Ubuntu approach.

Here are seven reasons why an Ubuntu-based machine makes the best Mom & Dad PC:

1. The software is free

Instead of having to pay for an additional copy of Windows, Ubuntu is a free download. Additionally, Ubuntu’s software center has lots of free applications that are of a high enough quality to meet the needs of mom and dad. Using an Ubuntu solution with Open Office easily saves several hundred dollars worth of software licenses when compared to an equivelant Microsoft solution.

2. The hardware is low-cost

On top of the free software, the system requirements for Ubuntu are minimal. I setup my parents on a low-cost Atom-based nettop which cost about $300 to build, complete with a solid 1.6GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 300GB hard disk. Obviously this system is going to win any gaming competitions, but for the solitare that mom likes to play, and the news sites that dad likes to surf, it’s got plenty of power.

3. It’s low maintenance

A Windows-based machine would require monthly patching and rebooting, virus protection, malware scanners, and a host of other meta-applications, just to keep the system running smoothly. With Ubuntu, I simply setup automatic updates to run once a week, and I’ve completely forgotten about it since then. Every once and a while I’ll login to the system and run a quick “apt-get dist-upgrade” just to make sure I haven’t missed anything important. And I don’t have to worry about viruses or malware at all.

4. Remote Assistance

In the case that something does go wrong, it’s a lot easier to troubleshoot the problem when I can just SSH in remotely (using X11 forwarding if necessary), find the problem, and fix it; no talking Mom through how to readjust the screen resolution when I can do it myself in a fraction of the time. And SSH means that I can solve any technical problems from anywhere.

5. They can’t mess anything up — too badly

Although it is possible for me to fix things remotely, I almost never have to. That’s because Mom and Dad have their own, non-privilaged user account. It is an easy way to rest assured that they can’t mess anything up too badly — even if they somehow manage to destroy their individual account, the reset switch is as easy as creating a new user (I’ve never had to do this). Compare this to Windows, where the norm is to run as Administrator, and the reset swith is a format and clean install.

6. It gets the job done

If you have a mother that plays WOW or does CAD, maybe an Ubuntu-based PC isn’t right for them. But if that’s the case, they probably know enough about computers that you don’t need to hold their hand through all their minor technology troubles. But, if your parents, like mine, simply want to check their email, play card games, and surf the net, then Ubuntu will get the job done without getting in the way. Whereas any Windows machine is guaranteed to become loaded up with all sorts of extensions, additional programs, and malware just by the act of putting Dad on the internet, you can be sure this won’t happen with Ubuntu.

7. It’s easier for YOU!

And ultimately, that’s why Ubuntu makes for the best parent PC. Because the parents don’t really care what their OS is, as long as they can do the things they want to do with it, whether it be Linux, Windows, or Mac. But by chosing Ubuntu, you’ve simplified your own life by removing the need to provide constant technical support. And, if something eventually does happen, you know it will be less of a headache to resolve the problem than if you had gone with an alternative solution.

What do you think?

Do you provide tech support for your parents? What OS are they running, and how often do they need to you to solve their technical problems? Leave your responses in the comments below!

10 Steps to Convert a Windows User to Linux

Jonathan DePrizio — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:24:21 +0000

Introduction

With Linux becoming more popular and easier to use, more and more people are adopting it as their primary operating system. But the transformation from Windows user to Linux user can be a tough road to take. Most new users become long-term users because they have friends that introduce Linux to them, and help them through the first few weeks of rough-patches. Here are ten steps to help you introduce Linux to a would-be convert.

1. Select your mark

Let’s face it – Linux isn’t for everyone. Your grandmas, your uber-gamers, your technophobes; all of these are bad candidates for Linux conversion. You want someone that’s interested in computing, and someone that is decently tech-literate. The ideal candidate is one that has heard of Linux, but for whatever reason believes it would be too complex for him or her to use. Another important quality in a mark is someone who’s willing to take some time and work through the initial phase of changing to a new operating system. If a candidate doesn’t have these qualities, it might be best to look somewhere else.

2. Introduce the mark to free software on Windows

Once you’ve selected your potential convert, introduce him or her to free software on the Windows platform. It’s likely that he or she is already using Firefox (if it’s an IE user, you might want to pick someone else to convert), but there’s a chance that he or she doesn’t realize that it’s free software. Drop a hint about how Firefox was written the same way Linux is written; by a community of developers, rather than by a giant corporation. Explain why you think this is better: more eyeballs equals fewer bugs, more features, and more developers. For a full list of free software that runs on Windows, check out this page.

3. Show off your Linux desktop

One of the reasons that people get the “gotta have it” syndrome over Linux is the eye-candy of the Compiz-enabled desktop. Sure, it’s superficial, and we all know that there’s more to Linux than just a rotating cube and windows that minimize in a ball of fire, but it’s a great way to quickly grab someone’s attention and get them asking questions. “What is that?” “How did you do that?” “How can I get that?” Your answers for all of these questions will be points towards Linux.

4. Give your mark a LiveCD

You don’t want your to-be-convert to rush into things and get frustrated. This is a quick and easy way for them to go running back to Windows. Instead, give them a LiveCD; it’s a great way for them to become familiar with the Linux desktop, the interface, and the features included in the installation. Think of it as a toy that they can play with in their spare time. Don’t push it on them, just say “if you want to check it out, you can boot off this CD without making any modifications to your hard drive.” It’s a great way for the mark to get their feet wet.

5. The initial install

Hopefully, your mark has been impressed with what he’s seen on the LiveCD, and is ready to take the initial plunge. Great for him! Encourage him that it’s really no big deal. Walk him through the installation, and explain that he can keep his Windows partition and duel-boot with Linux, picking whichever he prefers to use at the moment. This is a great way for people to slowly become accustomed a new operating system. It’s imperative that you be around to help out the new user. The most important thing about Linux is that it has great community support – by sticking around and being a helpful hand, you’re encouraging your mark to use community channels to find solutions to problems.

6. The first boot

Again, you must, must, must remain helpful even after the operating system is installed, but let the new-convert try to figure things out on her own. Let her find her way around the desktop, check out the included programs, browse the web, and do the things she wants to do with her computer. Your job now is to sit back and just remain available when she has questions. Show her how to add and remove software; recommend programs when she asks, “what program do I use to do ?” But throughout all of this, let the new user do her own thing.

7. The first few days

If all goes well, the newly-converted user will be enjoying her first Linux experience. But of course, there will be problems. Remain available to help work her through the tough times and the initial shock of a completely new desktop experience, but don’t force your advice when you aren’t asked.

8. Week two

This is a good time to start explaining other ways of getting help with Linux. The idea here is to make the user self-sufficient in trouble-shooting and problem solving, but still try to be the most valuable resource you can possibly be.

9. The first month and beyond

If your convert is still using her new Linux desktop at this point, it’s probably safe to declare success! Congratulations! You’ve turned someone on to a free-software operating system. By this time, her desktop should probably be well-configured, and all the programs she needs should be installed and working properly. By this time, you’ll probably be starting to get more advanced questions than before; things like, “How do I customize function [x]?” or “What does it mean when the update manager does [something]?” If you’re lucky, you’ll know all the answers; otherwise, use these valuable resources to find out some solutions! It’s always important to learn more yourself, so that you can proceed to step 10:

10. Repeat step 1 through 9

If you’ve been lucky enough to successfully convert a Windows user to Linux, you should definitely try it again with someone else! Use what you’ve learned with your previous experience and adapt it to fit your style and your mark. If all goes well, you should have your own personal army of Linux converts in no time at all!

8 Ways to Get Help with Ubuntu Linux

Jonathan DePrizio — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:51:10 +0000

No matter what operating system you use, be it Windows, Mac OS, or Linux, you’re inevitably going to run into some problems. But, especially with Ubuntu Linux, there’s a wealth of information to help get you through your crisis. Below are eight ways to get help when you have a problem with Ubuntu.

1. Google
By far the easiest, most common method of fixing any problem. Google will search most of the items listed below, including user guides, wikis, forums, and newsgroups. But it’s not always the easiest way to find the solution to an obscure problem, so here are some alternatives:

2. Ubuntuguide.org – The Ubuntu User Manual
This User Guide covers all the major aspects of Ubuntu, from installation to video driver support. It’s a must-read for those new to Ubuntu, and especially for those just beginning in Linux. Roughly equivalent to the printed manual you’d get in a shrink-wrapped product, the guide comes in the form of a Wiki that can answer most of your basic questions.

3. Ubuntuforums.org – Help in 60 Seconds
The Ubuntu Forums are a great place to go when you have a question not listed in the User Guide. But follow rule #1 and always Google first – chances are, someone has already answered your question and google has indexed it. People here are friendly, and help is quick; you’ll usually get a response within a few minutes. You will have to register, though, as with all forums.

4. IRC Channels – Help in 60 Seconds, Redux
If you don’t feel like registering on Ubuntuforums, or if you just have a quick question and want some live-feedback, consider the Ubuntu IRC channel. Like the forums, people are friendly, knowledgeable, and courteous, and will do their best to answer your question. The easiest way to do this under Ubuntu is to install X-chat, and connect to the Ubuntu Servers (irc://irc.ubuntu.com); it will automatically take you into the #ubuntu channel, where you can get help quick. Most questions are answered here in just a few minutes time. Don’t forget to thank the people that help you!

5. Linux User Groups
Linux User Groups, or LUGs, have been an important part of Linux support for a long time. A LUG is where users meet to discuss various topics, help each other out with problems, and eat pizza, coffee, and/or donuts. You can find a LUG near you on Google; lots of universities have them, also.

6. Application Documentation, Wikis, and Forums
Most individual applications have their own documentation, including FAQ lists, troubleshooting sections, user manuals, and sometimes Wikis. This is always a good place to look if you’re having a specific problem with a specific application.

7. Ask the developer
If you’re using a smaller, lesser-known application, there might not be very extensive documentation available; or worse, there might not be any documentation available at all. But most of the time, developers will put their email addresses, or some other way to contact them, on their project page – use it but don’t abuse it! Small open source developers want to know that their programs are being used and enjoyed by others, and they want to help out when they can; but don’t deluge them with an onslaught of questions that could have been solved by step number one – Google.

8. If all else fails – submit a bug report
Not exactly an instant solution, but if you’re having a problem that doesn’t seem to have an answer, it won’t be fixed unless you let the developers know about it!