Newb's New Ubuntu Box Questions

[MithShrike]

I traded off an Athlon 64 3200+ S754 for a whole Ubuntu box. I am a complete newb to Linux and I guess Ubuntu is pretty easy to get around in. I just ordered a whole bunch of Ubuntu CDs as they are free and just about everyone I know is pretty tech savvy.

Now, I'm looking to install it fresh as I have not installed Ubuntu yet and would like to give it a go-round. The only previous Linux experience I have is installing Mandrake 9 to play Tux Racer and Frozen Bubble. I looked over the hardware compatibility list and it seems like everything in the box should be good to go. The main purpose of this box is going to be watching anime and web surfing. Also, I'm going to use the box to do a miniscule amount of programming. What packages or install options (whatever you wanna call 'em) should I install when going over? Also, what is the easiest GUI to work with and try to learn the console simultaneously?

All input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all.

 

[SleepWalkerX]

what packages should you install? whatever you want to use, i guess lol. check out this windows and linux equivalent software chart. like if you enjoy using winamp in windows, definantly check out xmms.

http://linuxshop.ru/linuxbegin/win-lin-soft-en/table.shtml

kde and gnome are equally easy to use i think, but i find kde more attractive personally. however, i use fluxbox on my laptop and it doesn't have a file browser so i find myself using the console a lot. i dunno, just stick with the default gnome and if you don't like it, then you should try another one.

 

[sourceninja]

I would just install the tipical ubuntu install. And go from there. Their default setup is perty well put together. Then after you get used to it, try to find replacement programs for the things you find clunky.

 

[Cerb]

First: search. Ubuntu's forums, and ubuntuguide.org, are must-bookmarks!

Ubuntu will come with Gnome. XFCE can be installed and run without any hassle. You can switch between them, no sweat. Synaptic is the easiest way to deal with packages. If you turn on its terminal output, you will get the same stuff apt-get gives you. For an initial updating, go to a command line, and run:
apt-get dist-upgrade

Oh, yeah: beware of Kubuntu! It's not that Kubuntu is bad (it's kind of a sister distro), and get it if you want KDE, but it replaces your menu items, making it annoying to go back to Gnome or XFCE. If you won't have any critical, non-backed-up files on this box, then just play around--a reinstall will take an hour or less on broadband, including updates.

You may wish to find how to pick and choose what you can run in a given GUI, though (keyword for command line use: sux). Konquerer is the closest to Explorer, and Nautilus uses the stupid new Gnome browsing by default.

For learning the command line stuff...you just...do it. Remember that over 90% of the time, any Debian-based how-to will work for Ubuntu.

Lastly, I reiterate:
http://ubuntuguide.org/
Keep that handy.

 

[Megatomic]

I recently found ubuntuguide myself, there is a ton of knowledge there. And I am really loving Ubuntu. I'm gonna start tricking it out now that I have the basics down.

 

[drag]

Yes... Definately check out the FAQs pages you can find.

They exist because they address common concernes and questions and may give you a idea on what to do ahead of time if you run into some issues.

Especially during install any dialog information that it asks, or anything that pops up during installing packages or whatnot be sure to take the timeto read them. Usually they only bother you with that sort of thing when they think it's important.

Also the base of Ubuntu's OS is a snapshot of Debian Unstable. They change quite a few things around, but for the most part anything that applies to Debian applies to Ubuntu more or less.

 

[imported_vdorta]

 

[imported_vdorta]

Sorry for the blank post.

Ubuntu is great but so is Kubuntu. I tried both and I think I will stay with Kubuntu for particular reasons that may not apply to you (KDE has a global setting for accents on foreign words), but Ubuntu's implementation of Gnome is the first I really like.