Seven Essential Tips For Using Ubuntu Feisty Fawn

Ed Albro writes "Matthew Newton, a columnist at PC World, has a great article up on seven things you'll want to change as soon as you start using Feisty Fawn. Some are as simple as making sure the Alt key works right, another gives you step-by-step instructions for turning on the impressive Beryl interface. 'I could spend a whole 'nother column telling you about all the great packages that are not installed by default, but for now I'll just leave you with this bonus tip: If you're running Ubuntu on a laptop and your Wi-Fi card is not detected or supported, try installing the Ndisgtk package (listed as such in Synaptic, but as 'Wireless Windows Drivers' in Add/Remove Applications). Then select the new System, Administration, Windows Wireless Drivers entry in Ubuntu's menu bar.'"

Comments

Re:Automatix? Ugh

[Anonymous Coward]

I agree - I cringed when I read that - irresponsible!

I've used EasyUbuntu and the MediUbuntu repositories to get all the same jobs done safely - I would recommend those options instead of Automatix

if you are running a laptop you should not upgrade

[Anonymous Coward]

there is a show stopper bug in either the kernel or driver for the ata2 interface.

it's confirmed now that on many laptops the kernel has to restart the ata2 interface intermittently and thereby lock up your system for up to 30 seconds at a time essentially rendering your laptop useless.

stay on lts or edgy for the time being until this bug is fixed:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-so urce-2.6.20/+bug/107271

Re:Automatix? Ugh

[physicsnick]

Exactly. The only reason 90% of people use Automatix is to install codecs, but it's actually easier to install codecs directly than it is to install Automatix. Here's where you should go to install codecs:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormat s

Here's the important part:

Click Applications Add/Remove. In the top right, change the setting to "All available applications". Then select Other in the left panel and then select the Ubuntu restricted extras package. Click OK.
To play most DVDs you'll need the libdvdcss2 package. This package is available using Medibuntu. This is a third party package, and not supported by Canonical. Here's a direct link to libdvdcss2:
i386: http://medibuntu.sos-sts.com/repo/pool/feisty/free /i386/libdvdcss2_1.2.9-2medibuntu2+build1_i386.deb
amd64: http://medibuntu.sos-sts.com/repo/pool/feisty/free /amd64/libdvdcss2_1.2.9-2medibuntu2+build1_amd64.d eb

Save it to your desktop, then right click and hit Install. That's all you need to do to get codecs for everything. Please, people, avoid Automatix.

Re:Upgrade From Edgy?

[physicsnick]

Here is the official guide from ubuntu.com: http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/upgrading

First make sure your computer is fully up to date (with Edgy). Then follow these instructions:

1. Open System -> Administration -> Update Manager
2. A button on the top of the window will appear, informing you of the availability of the new release
3. Click Upgrade
4. Follow the on-screen instructions

That page also has a link on how to upgrade manually from a command-line, but it's not recommended.

Re:Automatix? Ugh

[Knuckles]

Given that Feisty will automatically prompt you to install all codecs you will ever need, and the minimal rest (mainly dvd decryption and w32codecs if you prefer xine/mplayer over gstreamer) is in medibuntu, Automatix seems superfluous to me.