While Roy is akin to a kid in a candy or toy shop, I’ve been reading some more in “Ubuntu for Non-Geeks.” The further into it I get, the more I am beginning to think like Roy, “Jump in and start swimming.” With my time constraints, it makes sense to be able to save what I do and not have to repeat it again. However, I will go through the entire book before making the decision.

As so much of what I’ve been reading requires hands on to fully understand the processes, whether using the CD live or installing it, I will summarize what the chapters contain. This way you’ll understand Ubuntu’s capabilities and probably find out that you can do everything you want in this operating system . . . and more!

Chapter Four

Setting Up a High-Speed Connection is the first topic in this chapter. As I have a ADSL connection in my home and the computer is connected to it when I run the live CD I wasn’t concerned about this step. If it turns out, I need to do this, or any other procedures outlined in the chapter, I’ll pay close attention then.

One thing I found interesting was the descriptions of Internet Protocol (IP) and Domain Name Service (DNS). Simply put, DNS takes the language written URL and coverts it to a number that the computer uses to access it. For example, www.yahoo.com , which you use regularly, becomes http://216.109.118.68. For fun, link to yahoo through this IP.

Once again, as my computer has a wireless card that I can use on those occasions when I’m in an area with my computer where free WiFi is available, I didn’t read about Setting Up a Wireless Connection . The chapter also addresses Setting Up A Dial-Up Connection.

Of particular interest is learning about installing Firefox Extensions, which I will follow once Ubuntu is on the hard drive. Evolution is Unbuntu’s e-mail program, a fancier version of Microsoft Outlook. Most of us have gmail. Gaim is its Internet Messenger. Hosts of other Internet Applications come installed with the operating system, either when you use the live CD or install it.

Chapter Five

Advanced Package Tool (APT) allows one to easily download, install, update and remover software packaged in DEB archives, or packages. Apparently APT “is a rather foolproof way of installing programs.”

It points out that APT is a command-driven application but “Ubuntu has two different graphical front ends for APT which allows you to bypass the command line and make everything about as easy as you could hope it would be.” These are GNOME App. Install and Synaptic Package Manager.

This chapter wants the reader to practice first with Synaptic. It explains how to add new repositories to it. For fun, it asks the reader to install a game called Monkey Bubble. It covers Installing the Flash Player Plugin for FireFox, Removing Applications via Synaptic and Upgrading Applications using it.

Next it addresses Installing Applications via GNOME APP Install. It’s also graphically based. In order to use it, Synaptic has to be closed. Both applications can’t be run at the same time. A note warns the reader not to uncheck any of the already checked applications in GNOME App Install because when doing another exercise, those would be removed. The chapter lastly explains how to download and install selected applications and to perform System Upgrades using the System Update Panel Applet.

Chapter Six

This deals with filing. The File Manager is called Nautilus, which has a lot of interesting features; most of these appear in a side pane at the left of the window. By the way, you can hide the side panel. In Nautilus one can create, name, rename, move and copy files and folders. It offers tabbed (look like buttons) browsing. You can bookmark a folder to which you have navigated. Nautilus can also be used as a Network Browser.

At the head of a path the smb means Samba, software used in order to interact with Windows networks. For those with websites, Nautilus may be used as an FTP Client. I’m hoping this will make updating my website easier.

If you have files you don’t want people who use your computer to see, like your holiday gift list, you can restrict permission within Nautilus: can’ ;t, read, can’t write and can’t read or write. You can change permissions. The book suggests limiting permission for accessing your “ home folder,” which is in the folder called home where all users’ home folders including yours, are stored.

It covers reading and burning CDs and DVDs with data or images. Duplicating Data CDs and Burning Multisession CDs, and subsequent sessions are explained. To remove a CD or DVD from the drive, “just close its Nautilus window, right-click the desktop icon for that disk, and in the popup menu, select Eject. It also has a section on Dealing with CD-RW Disks.

Creating and extracting Compressed Files or zip files in Windows and “tarball” in Ubuntu, wraps up the chapter. “The Linux name . . . comes from the application that is used to create the archive for such files, Tar.”

Chapter Seven

This chapter deals with customizing your system. Topics include Creating a New User Account, Logging into it, switching user accounts and logging into another account in a separate window. Your Desktop environment may be altered to fit your needs. Not only can you create folders, you can add emblems to them. Some icons are so much alike that you change them to know exactly which folder you’re accessing.

You also can change the background of the white Nautilus window, the side pane and desktop. You can add images so you can have a different wallpaper than that which is provided, and hide the bottom panel if you like. The chapter tells one how to download and install the Art Manager or GNOME Art, change window borders, control and Icon sets, and install additional window borders, controls and Icons. Getting and installing needed files is possible with Art Manager.

You can place hard disk and trash icons on the Desktop for easy access, and it’s possible to change the login screen. You can also “tinker” with the Splash Screen by installing a new one, enabling automatic login, and selecting and activating multiple Splash Screens. A Splash Screen is the screen that appears when GNOME is starting up right after logging in and before the desktop appears.

While screensavers are no longer necessary, according to this book, you can choose one as well as different Firefox Themes.

Chapter Eight

For those fearful of Command Lines, this chapter introduces the Linux Command Terminal application. It explains “Shells,” which are programs that interpret the commands typed into the Terminal and delivers them. Bash or Bourne Again Shell, comes with the Ubuntu distro. A long list of commands includes how to use them. I will discuss them more fully after I play with them and a game called Briscola, a traditional Italian card game that helps to reinforce the skills. If you are so inclined, you can customize the Terminal and set up tabbed shell sessions in it.

At least you have learned a few new phrases and how versatile Ubuntu is. It looks like I’m about half way through the book; after Chapter Nine, half way through the chapters not counting appendices of sorts.