1. Enabling all the repositories

Repositories represent software archives were thousands of programs for Ubuntu are stored. Repositories make it very easy to install new software onto Ubuntu using an Internet connection. In addition to that they provide a high level of security, as each program available in the repositories is thoroughly tested and built specifically for each version of Ubuntu. Thus enabling all the repositories you ensure the access to the bigger amount of applications.

It should be mentioned that Ubuntu software repositories are organized into 4 separate components, according to the level of support offered by Ubuntu. Here is the list of those components:

• Main – Officially supported software.

• Restricted – Supported software that is not available under a completely free license.

• Universe – Community maintained software, i.e. not officially supported software.

• Multiverse – Software that is not free.

There are two ways to enable/disable repositories:

a) System > Administration > Software Sources

b) System > Administration > Synaptic >> Settings >> Repositories

Here is the window you get, which gives you the opportunity to choose the repositories you need:

As soon as you’ve done which choosing enabling/disabling of repositories (we suggest you to enable all of them), click “Close” button to save your changes. A dialog box should appear, asking whether you’d like to update the list of repositories. Select “Reload” to update the list. Make sure that you click “Reload” button, because repository information will not be updated until the “Reload” is selected.

IMPORTANT: In case you use Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty) all the repositories are enabled by default, so you can skip this step.

The last thing to mention about repositories is that you can use command line instead of graphical interface to manage them. Here you get more info about this method.

2. Installing the system components

a) Adding the fonts

When you first start Ubuntu there are no decent fonts to work with, but this problem can be easily solved. Open the Terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and enter the following command:

sudo apt-get install msttcorefonts ttf-larabie-straight ttf-larabie-deco mplayer-fonts xfonts-terminus xfonts-terminus-oblique xfonts-mona tv-fonts ttf-tuffy ttf-sjfonts ttf-sil-padauk ttf-sil-ezra ttf-paktype ttf-georgewilliams ttf-fifthhorseman-dkg-handwriting ttf-farsiweb ttf-nafees ttf-mgopen ttf-freefont ttf-dustin ttf-devanagari-fonts ttf-dejavu-extra ttf-dejavu-core ttf-dejavu ttf-bpg-georgian-fonts ttf-bitstream-vera ttf-alee

b) Installing different archivers

sudo aptitude install rar unrar zip unzip p7zip-full p7zip-rar cabextract

c) Installing themes

If you don’t like the default look of the system, you can easily install a lot of different themes. First of all you should run the following command in the Terminal:

sudo apt-get install gnome-themes-extras metacity-themes ubuntume-themes community-themes gnome-art

Of course those themes are not the only ones you can get. Probably you saw a great deal of cool themes on the screenshots of Ubuntu. Here are the things you should do to get much more themes.

Visit Gnome Look and download from GTK 2.x the themes you want. After that go to System > Preferences > Appearance > Theme and simply drag and drop the theme file you downloaded.

d) Installing CompizConfig Settings Manager to add effects

Given application brings 3D desktop visual effects that improve usability of the system and provide increased productivity. To install run the following command:

sudo apt-get install compiz compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-fusion-plugins-extra emerald librsvg2-common

e) Installing file managers

In fact standard file manager is pretty decent and the majority of the users, at least at the beginning, will hardly feel the necessity to use another application instead. However you can try to install default file managers for Xfce and KDE desktop environments, just to check if they are more convenient for you. Here are the commands you need to run in order to install them:

sudo apt-get install dolphin

After installation you can find this file manager by going Applications > System Tools > Dolphin

sudo apt-get install thunar

To find this program go to Applications > Accessories > Thunar File Manager

If you like two pane design you can install EmelFM2:

sudo apt-get install emelfm2

This application as Dolphin can be found in System Tools.

Of course there are much more file manager to choose from. So check Synaptic Package Manager and install the ones you like.

f) Installing VirtualBox

VirtualBox is a free x86 virtualization solution allowing a wide range of x86 operating systems such as Windows, DOS, BSD or Linux to run on a Linux system. What for do you need it? It’s up to you. Maybe just to install Ubuntu for testing purposes. Here is the command you need to run:

sudo apt-get install virtualbox-ose virtualbox-ose-source

Related posts:

1. Multimedia in Ubuntu
2. Ubuntu Notebook

Though some Windows users may think that on Linux there are not so many IM clients to choose from, in reality the amount of counterparts is very significant. In the given review we are going to discuss the major Linux alternatives to Windows IM clients in order to demonstrate that there is no need to worry about the possibility of losing functionality of the IM client you prefer.

IM Protocols and Clients

ICQ

ICQ is a popular instant messaging service, the first version of which was released in November 1996. Since that time ICQ became one of the most popular instant messaging clients (at the moment it’s used by over 38 million users worldwide). The name ICQ is a homophone for the phrase “I seek you”. ICQ uses OSCAR (stands for Open System for CommunicAtion in Realtime) protocol that is a flagship instant messaging protocol of America Online (AOL). OSCAR protocol is used in AIM as well; as a result ICQ and AIM users are able to add each other to their contact list without the need for any external clients.

The latest version of ICQ (ICQ6) launched in April 2007 has the following most important features: sending text messages, offline support, multi-users chats, free SMS from ICQ to mobile, multiplayer games, animated icons, greeting cards, voice and video communication.

ICQ users are identified by numbers called UIN (meaning either Universal Internet Number or Unified Identification Number) which represent names assigned to each ICQ user. Moreover since ICQ6 appeared users have the opportunity to log in using their email addresses.

Although ICQ is very popular among the users there are some really important issues for which it has been heavily criticized. Here are the most important ones:

Spam – many users have to install antispam-bots, because ICQ is often used for distribution of spam and unwanted advertisement

Message delivery – proper message delivery is not guaranteed

Aggressive policy regarding alternative clients – American Online implements a lot of different changes to stop unauthorized ICQ clients working

Privacy and copyright – the acceptance of ICQ Terms of Service means that ICQ may publish or distribute any messages which were sent through the system that could be meant to be private

As far as the programs for Linux are concerned I would like to emphasize that the great majority of them support the most popular protocols giving users the opportunity to communicate everyone they want. Here are the most popular ICQ clients which run on Linux OS:

• Kopete supports AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, XMPP, Google Talk, IRC, Gadu-Gadu, Novell GroupWise Messenger and others, for Unix-like;
• Licq supports ICQ, AIM and MSN, for Unix-like;
• Pidgin (formerly Gaim) supports ICQ, Yahoo!, AIM, Gtalk, MSN, IRC, XMPP, Gadu-Gadu, SILC, Meanwhile (IBM Lotus Sametime) and others;
• qutIM Qt-based, cross-platform;
• Sim-IM supports ICQ, Yahoo!, AIM, MSN, XMPP, for Windows and Unix-like and others.

Related posts:

1. Ubuntu Starter Kit