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General discussion

What are latest programs/hardware for Ubuntu 10.10

Apr 22, 2011 1:03PM PDT

Welcome to this discussion thread. I would like to discuss the latest programs/hardware I have running with Ubuntu 10.10, so far as a computer enthusiast I have tried numerous distros with Linux to find out that Ubuntu was the top of the line for most of them. I know you may disagree and I am sure there are some that are better than Ubuntu. I just want to share with you what hardware/programs I have installed so far on Ubuntu 10.10:

Discussion is locked

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About skype and adobe reader
Apr 22, 2011 8:30PM PDT

I do not like them. They are proprietary. Better use okular or evince instead of adobe reader and pidgin, kopete instead of skype. Wink

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Whats the difference between Skype and Adobe Reader?
Apr 23, 2011 9:00AM PDT

I am just starting to use Linux so I understand that the software I have listed is prioprietary. I see that you have explained alternative software such as okular and evince. Can you explain to the users out there what is the difference between using these instead of adobe reader, are there some key features that okular and evince have that adobe reader doesn't have. Why do think Skype is better than Pidgin please ellaborate to everyone. I will try these out for myself. Thanks for your input.

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more about propietary and not
Apr 23, 2011 5:08PM PDT

Whole point to develop Linux was not just "lets make another OS", but make free OS. Free here means not only in price, but also freedom to do what you want with that software. You do not have to agree to any EULA or anything at all before using it. You can edit program source code for your needs, you can share, redistribute program itself and your modifications too. That is main advantages of free (GNU) software in general.

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About Linux and no need for antivirus
Apr 22, 2011 8:43PM PDT

> and ensure you use a good antivirus such as Clam-A, just because you
think Linux is secure it really is not, maybe thats why security updates
are pushed to you when you enable the updates in the repositories.

Typically Linux users do not run antivirus at all. I did this all time like 5 years and never had any issues with that.

But security updates are important on any OS, just on Linux it is centralized for all software, simplified and because of this more effective.

Also for enhanced security Linux users are able to use powerful, CIA developed software: SELinux.

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There are users that may want antivirus
Apr 27, 2011 11:08AM PDT

I am only speaking to the users that may want security for Linux, whether you need or not I understand your opinion. Now if a user would like to have an antivirus for Ubuntu which program would you use and why? I would like for the posts to concentrate on the name of the software/hardware that can be used on Ubuntu 10.10. I understand and respect everyone opinion and lets focus on this for now. There are other forums that allow you express your views about open source and Linux. These type of opinions should be viewed on the on "Which is better Microsoft or Linux", and you should use this particular post to let users know why Linux is better. This forum user just want to know what programs/hardware that can be used for Ubuntu 10.10, now if you don't recommend an antivirus product please discuss and explain why?

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If you wanted an antivirus for Linux which is the best one?
Apr 27, 2011 11:20AM PDT
Please post a list of antivirus tools for that would work for Ubuntu 10.10, you may include the ISDN and firewalls as well. As for the new users we would prefer the GUI versions of the antivirus programs if available. If its only the source code then please explain how to load the antivirus in the terminal.
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Wait, wait, please tell me.
Apr 27, 2011 11:31AM PDT

Is there a virus making the rounds on Ubuntu?

I came up with none so tell the forum how would you make an antivirus without a virus?
Bob

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So there are no viruses reported against Linux at this time
Apr 27, 2011 11:44AM PDT

According to R.Proffitt there are no viruses that have been reported against Linux so I am assuming that there are no viruses made for Linux or any viruses making rounds against Linux/UNIX platforms. If there has been viruses reported on any other distributions besides Ubuntu please let me know?

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Try again.
Apr 27, 2011 11:52AM PDT

Just because I didn't find one doesn't mean you or someone else didn't.

It's like the virus you hear about on Macosx. After many reported sightings all are ones we install. That's not a virus.

Maybe you should reveal to the forum what's going on in this discussion.

After your initial post and what followed I'm wondering "What's up?"
Bob

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There is no viruses on Linux
Apr 29, 2011 1:58AM PDT

And no need for antivirus.
If you still manage to get antivirus on Linux it will scan for windows viruses and they can work only after they spread (transferred) on windows.

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Clam AntiVirus
Apr 29, 2011 2:04AM PDT

Is the most popular free (GNU) anti-virus program. It should work on Linux too, but as I said its database is only with windows viruses.

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First
Apr 24, 2011 1:57AM PDT

I run Mandriva Linux and we are talking about Applications they are included too and Licensed Proprietary Software like Fluendo that cost 19,99 ? but if you use the Power Pack subscription version you get it with it.

Anyway...
Open Office is a great application that is free and is similar to MS Office, unless you use Google Docs in the cloud.

Gimp is a good photo editor one and sometimes a bit complicated if you are a first time user.

Kino is a good application to download movies from your Camcorder. In my case does not works with my Canon Vixia HG21 due to proprietary format.

About web browsers, Opera, Firefox, Konqueror, Seamonkey, Chromium they all work really good. Except Netflix does not let you watch anything streaming but Hulu does and all other sites.

Virtual BoxOSE great application to test and run 2 OSs at the same time. If you run MS Windows you can see Netflix with Windows running Virtual Box without dual booting.

Skype for now is the best for online communication. Works good with pretty much all the Webcams and does chat and send files too.

Pidgin is just an IM like AOL Instant Messenger and Yahoo IM. But if you want to log in on more than 2 or more Yahoo IM, AOL, GaduGadu, ICQ, etc... all at Once! Use Kopete. In some instances you can even run your webcam on it too. Only problem, does not have the same Frame Ratio as Skype (I think is like 1~2 FPS)

Second Life, if anybody plays this. All you do is download it from their site, unzip/un-archive the packet and run the SH file. That is all you need.

Mail applications. I use Thunderbird makes dual boot a dream. MS and Linux can use the same mail files. KMail is really good or Evolution. They resemble more MS Outlook.

For DVD backups K9Copy is awesome and way too easy to use. The oder is called DVD::RIP and you can take your DVD collection, shrink them to an AVI file so you can view your favorite movies on a Mobile Device. Is a life saver if you have kids and bring a device like a Coby Android Tablet. No need to haul all your DVD collection with you.

TV Tuner Applications. TV Time is really easy to do and almost 0 config, it works or not. KDETV used to be really good, but seems that is somewhat abandoned. I use a Hauppauge WinTV 9500 HD USB Stick and really works with all my local TV Channels.

K Wallet is a place to hold all your passwords so you only have to remember just one. Used it before and is really neat, just that I do not feel good leaving all my eggs on one basket.

System Monitor is like the Task Manager in MS, really easy to do. XKill is a nifty application that once you click on it, you click the application that is hanging and will kill it. Be Careful on that one, once you click on it there is no way to unclick. If you click on the wallpaper it will re-start X and that is your desktop environment. Kind of a quick reboot.

Audacity is a good one if you want to do Audio edit. I make ringtones out of MP3s using that application. It can be used on Linux and MS. Very simple Audio Editor for simple use.

Cinelerra is a great application that I am trying to master. Is a Video Editor and very powerful.

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Here are some recommended programs for Linux Ubuntu 10.10
Apr 27, 2011 11:37AM PDT

Open Office/LibreOffice 3.0
Kino - Download movies from your camcorder
Gimp - Photo editor
Web browsers - Opera, Firefox, Konqueror, Seamonkey, Chromium, Chrome
Hulu Desktop - Online TV Shows/Movies
XBMC Media Center
Virtual BoxOSE - Virtual Software/Test and run 2 OSs at the same time
Skype - Online Communication
Pidgin, Thunderbird, KMail, Evolution - Email Communication
Second Life - Game
TV Time - TV Tuner application (may work see above)
KWallet - password manager
Audacity - Edit Audio
Cinelerra - Video Editior

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Not really
Apr 24, 2011 11:59AM PDT

I can assure you, your wifi adapter is not the only PCI-E adapter that works out-of-the-box on Linux.

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The Antivirus
Apr 25, 2011 3:30AM PDT

For Linux is not for Linux. Since Linux is not affected by them they can be spread to other machines. If you someone sends a malicious code via e-mail software like ClamAV can strip the code without so does not spread to a Windows machine on the network.

The only way a malicious code can be added to Linux is via installation and you need Root's permission to do it. Also a malicious code can be run under your Home directory but is easy to eradicate since is contained on one directory and Linux does not have Register like Windows does. The worst case scenario is that you have to delete your profile folder.

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Wifi adapters for Linux Ubuntu 10.10
Apr 27, 2011 11:14AM PDT

Please explain or let us know which WiFi adapters will work out of the box on Linux. This particular retail store "Micro Center" had most of their WiFi adapters compatible to Windows not Linux. ASUS Wireless Adapter PCI-E 802.11bgn was the only one that I could identify as the Linux adapter to use at the time and was the only one I could find in the store stated above. I have went to Best Buy and other stores and no WiFi PCI adapter was available for Linux but the one stated above. Again, please provide and post to our users if you reply to this forum a good list of compatible WiFi adapters for Ubuntu 10.10, lucky mine was a plug in play initiated.

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You wrote "out of the box."
Apr 27, 2011 11:19AM PDT
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Hardware Compatabilty List
Apr 29, 2011 11:37AM PDT
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Thanks for everyone responses
Apr 29, 2011 2:01PM PDT

I would like to thank everyone for there post contributions regarding Linux Ubuntu 10.10, I decided to upgrade to 11.04 and I will continue to keep you guys posted on what programs and hardware I am using as well. I have learned that antivirus is not needed with Linux and the antivirus programs you download will only identify windows registries. I hope everyone that has participated in my forum will continue to provide some feedback in regards to "What are latest programs/hardware for Ubuntu 10.10" and will be changed from Ubuntu 10.10 to 11.04. If someone can provide a good list of programs that a new user should have for Linux Ubuntu that would be really appreciated. I appreciate all the feedback and hope we can chat again in the future and lets master this Linux operating system together.

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My experience with Ubuntu 11.04
May 21, 2011 4:25AM PDT

Well for starters, I like the unity interface in Ubuntu 11.04, it's just something different then most other Lnux distros I have worked with. There are some programs that don't work with 11.04 since the update. The issue I have is with VLC and it will not run or start at all, all I get is the VLC subtitle on top left corner and when I hit F10 you see on the top left corner where you can minimize or expand it. VLC program will not respond when you click on the x or the square to minimize or expand instead it crashes completely and I have to go to the system properties and cancel the process. The Docky application also freezes as well due to the left sidebar interface. It gets some getting use to but over time you will like that all you do is type what what you are looking for in unity and you get a variety of choices. The Ubuntu Software Center I think sucks because not every program you would like for Ubuntu is not available. The repositories are not working and in addition the Update Center is not working anymore due to some of the repositories are corrupted in Ubuntu 11.04. Well I hope Ubuntu 11.10 provides a better solution then 11.04. We will see next month, keep watching the forum. I will eventually provide more information of my experience with Ubuntu 11.04.

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Still with the *buntus?
May 21, 2011 9:39AM PDT

I just used VLC on Mandriva with my Coby Kyros MID7015 Android Tablet, still not polished like it should but does works.

Give Mandriva a whirl, you might like it better.


Just to let you know, Mandriva is the easiest Linux distro for more than 10 years. Just that *buntu is know more now, does not mean is the best. The same with Windows, got my point?

Anyway, Linux is about choices, so if you feel better with GNOME, run Mandriva with GNOME, is that easy when you follow the Wizard during install.

XBMC Media Center, Google Chrome, Picasa, Google Gadgets, Skype, Dropbox, Adobe Air and Adobe Reader 9, Docky, Wine, XBMC Media Center, Boxee, Google Chrome, Picasa, Google Gadgets, Skype, Dropbox, Adobe Air and Adobe Reader 9, Docky, Wine

Boxee? Why? When you can get it on a XBox, Play Station, Wii and many DVD/Blue Ray players

Docky? I am KDE person, no need for that.

Wine? Why if you can get Cedega?


The Adobe

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Mandravia or Ubuntu
May 25, 2011 9:59AM PDT

So you are saying that Mandrivia is better than Ubuntu. Well I will try out Mandrivia and post my thoughts back on the forum, for me making a sales pitch I am trying out Linux along with everyone else. Again the commmunity forums on Ubuntu don't explain everything like the forum I am writing in now. It seems that I have learned more in this forum, based on your constructive positive comments on this forum. I am not trying to sell anything in fact just want users to start using Linux they just don't know what's missing. I have a question for everyone. Who can tell me when they go to http://www.distowatch.com and see that Ubuntu and Mandravia is not, Why? Right now Ubuntu is rated number 3 and Mandravia is rated number 15 for page hit ranking why is that. Is there a better ranking system or the distributions other than the one on distrowatch.com? Looking forward to hear your response to this one.

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We always wonder about it
May 27, 2011 11:17AM PDT

Distrowatch is not really a very reliable source when comes to ranking distros. You can get a hit on a website but that does not mean that people went with what is there. If I give tons of publicity about some most likely people will hit it often but that is not warranty that are used. That is why Distrowatch is not really a reliable source. Is a good source for info on what distros are what, other than that? I am not even visit the site since I am really happy with Mandriva for more than 10 years. If I a 70+ year old woman (mom in law) learned it on her own that tells you a lot. The funny thing is that she does not even update the system and has been running 2 years nonstop on her Toshiba Laptop. She bought already 2 Win7 Laptops since the 1st one "broke" according to her.

Mandriva is been around before 1998. I have been using it since 1999 and I am a member since 2002 for the paid version (Power Pack) and has a lot of proprietary drivers. Never seen a distro so easy to work to the point that I hardly use the command line at all, is all GUI.

There was few distros like Lycoris that was geared to look and feel like Win Xp, it merged with Mandriva with all the intellectual property among other things. Connectiva from Brazil it was an embedded and banking distro that merged with Mandrake Linux and formed what is now Mandriva Linux.

On the present day, Mandriva was bought by Russian investors. The Russian Gov wants to get rid of MS so there are a lot of money and developers helping with the distro. Due to that, it forked on some called Mageia (Greek for Magic) Linux in the same way PCLOS is a fork of Mandriva. Mageia is new and seems to be promising, is just a sit and wait.

When it loads you have a choice of KDE or GNOME and other desktops.

The only problem with the distro is that is not well advertise, is more like one of the best kept secrets and their market was driven more towards servers. The forum is great, so take the change and give it a whirl. When you finish, I show you how to set the Repos of your choice with Easy URPMI website. There is some called the PLF (Penguin Liberation Front) that has all sorts of CODECs and things that will make your experience more enjoyable.

One of the things that gets me is that is a lot of Myths about the *buntus but there are others to consider.

As a poster here I am trying to tell people to try other distros that perhaps night exceed their expectations.

There are many forums around,
Mandriva Forums http://forum.mandriva.com/en/
Mandriva Users http://mandrivausers.org/

Bjoernvold http://bjoernvold.com/forum/

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Distrowatch is not really a very reliable source for Distros
May 31, 2011 2:01PM PDT

Just wanted to know which source is reliable because if it wasn't for http://www.distrowatch.com, I would not have learned what I know know about Linux and Distrowatch allowed me to become interested in Linux itself and learn the capabilities of each Linux distribution. If you know something better than Distrowatch please let me know. I know Mandriva can be great for you but to the other beginners out there starting and trying Linux for the first time, I would consider Distrowatch to be a one stop shop to search for a Linux distribution of their choosing. The search for distros even breaks it down by beginner, multimedia, advanced, security, etc for someone trying out Linux for the first time I would like someone to explain a related or better Linux distribution search than Distrowatch. If you are a beginner and don't know anything about Linux then Distrowatch is your best place to start. Hope to see a comment that provides something that is better or comparable to Distrowatch.

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Like I said
May 31, 2011 9:57PM PDT

Distrowatch is a good place to read on what Linux distributions are all about but the ratings are based on hits. So if I advertise a distro, of course people will be curious and hit it. If you do not know any better, would be downloaded.

When the *buntus launched it was backed by Mark Shuttleworth that placed and if I am not mistaken it was like 10 Million Dollars on the project giving tons of advertisement and free discs for people to try. One of my biggest rants on the Mandriva forum was that management seems to have a very short mind when it comes to advertisement so seems they missed the boat. When I read about when you have to open a Console to do some on the *buntus I say to myself that is a click here and there with Mandriva.

And yes, I defend the Mandriva distro, is the 1st one for been the most user friendly and still the most user friendly. It gets bashed a lot of times for been dumb down a-la-Windows.

For example, if you need GNOME desktop, you have to choose Ubuntu, you want KDE you need Kubuntu on Mandriva you have both, the default is KDE.

I tried lots of distros and always came back to Mandriva, is all GUI for 100% of the time and the one that loaded most of the times without a hiccup. The only computer that failed was a Dell SX270 and not even any of the *buntus will load.

Played with Ubuntu before and I founded much harder to use and pretty buggy.

Mandriva used to have the 2 cycle releases, even in one point had 3. I was one of the members that voted to 1 release and in a conservative way. What was happening is, having the bleeding edge is not good for 1st time users and Mandriva is giving to the public a very stable distro vs some that has the latest and grates that is half baked. For example, how many people had issues with GRUB 3? Mandriva held to GRUB 2 to play it safe and gave the users some that is stable. Once the bugs are gone from GRUB 3 it will be issued out. But will benefit from GRUB 3 anyway? No the average user I must say. Firefox 4 is not on the repos yet, you can download it and run it, it works, but also is buggy. So is not in the repos if is not stable.

That is one of the reasons some *buntus releases are no so good and need to wait for the next.

Who remember Linspire (aka Lindows), that was the 1st distro that had Click-N-Run that was nothing but an Application Store that you can buy software and the computers were sold at Wal-Mart. Pretty neat concept now use on Mobile Devices. Linspire was a pretty easy distro to use, but again, was not really advertised well, not many people knew about and fell of the map.

The people that have been around Linux for a good while they can tell that Distrowatch is not very accurate when it comes to rankings. As far for distro descriptions and other info is pretty good.

And yes, there is another distro even easier than the *buntus and have been around for more than 10 years.

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Here are some
May 31, 2011 10:27PM PDT
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Good Sources besides Distrowatch
Jun 1, 2011 10:10AM PDT

I appreciate everyones responses reguarding distrowatch and for providing additional links to find distros. This will help the Linux newbees be more informed in the migration to Linux. So far what i seems to get per your comments is that Ubuntu sucks and i should migrate to Mandravia. What are your thoughts about Super OS in the Ubuntu platform. Does Mandravia have something similar to this or even better? I will have to dual boot it with Ubuntu and try it to see how much easier it is.

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I have not
Jun 1, 2011 9:58PM PDT

Used Super OS and for what I am reading is a Ubuntu fork, the same way Mageia and PCLOS are forks of Mandriva. By the way, not a fan of flame war but I did not say that Ubuntu sucks Happy Just that Mandriva is better.

If you wish, go to the Mandriva forum and lurk around to see what is up.

The nature of the Linux OS is the ability to do what you please. On these cases, a group of Developers does not agree on the group of the distro are doing. Read on some sites that one of the reasons are Canonical and Mark Shuttleworth way of commercializing Linux is not the way of Free Open Source Software (FOSS).

Anyway, if you try Mandriva, I can show you how to add the Repos or lead you to the http://easyurpmi.zarb.org/ (call it App Store) so when you look for programs you can search on the Add and Remove Software on the MCC.

If you want to try a distro without the hassle of dual booting, you can use Virtual Box OSE. That way you can test drive all the Linux Distros and Windows version on one Box without even turning the system on or off.

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Repport issues here:
May 22, 2011 9:16PM PDT
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu

But some of your issues like "The repositories are not working" sound like you messed sth up in:
System > Administration - Software Sources
Check you options here.
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Repositories not working really thanks
May 25, 2011 10:04AM PDT

Would be really helpful if you could give a decent description to the bug since you are the expert for Linux. A bug number would be great. I know I messed something up thats why the forums and everyone elses forum should help but instead I get a link that doesn't even solve my problem or provide a bug number that's why I am starting this up for thoes interested in Ubuntu so you are not wasting your time clicking on links that don't provide you any answers to your solution.