Ubuntu: How useful?

[AKA_RA]

I just loaded Ubuntu for like the 4th time(differant machines), its updating as i type this. I plan on using it regularly, but i cannot, for the life of me, figure out what programs to install, or how to install them, (Linux n00b -_-)

if anyone can help me find a media player that basically functions like winamp or windows media player, you will be my savior :)

I also need nvidia drivers for my 7900GS, but i tried terminal installation, and it says something about he kernel being screwed up or something. and that was about the most intensive Linux experience ive had so far, and it failed, go figure, lol.

so my second question/request is, how do i get better than a 1024 resolution. i need the nvidia drivers, if anyone can get me those drivers that work for Ubuntu Live thats been full installed you can be my second savior ;)

thanks in advance for any and all help.


EDIT: I got my mp3s playing, wewt!. now onto the nvidia drivers -_-

[Luke122]

Media Player: VLC is pretty good, I'm happy with it.

Nvidia Drivers: Dont know, I have an ATI, and it's unhappy with Ubuntu. I think you can get the linux drivers from Nvidias website though.

Getting programs: Click the little ubuntu logo in the top left, and the bottom of that menu is "add/remove". Go in there, find what you want, click on it, then click apply. It will download and install for you, free. :D

[.Maleficus.]

Programs: Synaptic, or apt-get.

Synaptic - System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager
Apt-get - sudo apt-get install <package_name>

Nvidia Drivers: Please read this wonderful site. (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/Nvidia)

Useful packages? Automatix2, and um, I don't know. Depends on what you need. 3D editing? Blender. Media player? amaroK. Burning software? K3b.

[Kahamri]

Ubuntu is great if you dont know anything about linux.
Apt-get is a great program you open the system prompt $: and type apt-get install (package)

Vlc is a good player, but XMMS looks like winamp.
to get it

Apt-get install xmms

it will download and install.

[SgtM]

Ubuntu is great if you dont know anything about linux.
Apt-get is a great program you open the system prompt $: and type apt-get install (package)

Vlc is a good player, but XMMS looks like winamp.
to get it

Apt-get install xmms

it will download and install.

Be sure you're logged in as root first. To do so, type in su -i then type in your password. After that, you can do apt-get install xmms:

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/sgtm_usmc/install_XMMS.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/sgtm_usmc/install_XMMS2.jpg

[Kahamri]

Be sure you're logged in as root first.


Good catch, i forgot to mention that. I use sudo -s to get root.

[xmastree]

Vlc is a good player, but XMMS looks like winamp.
There's also Beep media player, another winamp lookalike, which for some reason, I prefer. They can also use Winamp classic skins.

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/8024beep.png

To get media playback working, you will need to install the relevant codecs, which for some obscure reason (apparently illegal in the states) aren't included.

There's a lot of useful info here (http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Edgy) and of course, the furums.

[nil8]

VLC will run anything you throw at it. It's what I use.
We have some linux guys here. Very cool.

Here's an ubuntu question that I'm too lazy to find myself.
Does ubuntu support redhat(rpm) packages?

[xmastree]

Does ubuntu support redhat(rpm) packages?Almost. It uses debian (DEB) packages, but there is a program called alien which converts RPM to DEB.
I don't think it's installed by default, so you need to apt-get it

sudo apt-get install alien

[.Maleficus.]

This is pretty helpful. (http://www.cutlersoftware.com/ubuntuinstall/)

[SgtM]

This is pretty helpful. (http://www.cutlersoftware.com/ubuntuinstall/)

That's very useful mal. + rep. Is there a list compiled anywhere of available packages?

[.Maleficus.]

Of Ubuntu specific packages, or every Linux package? For every Ubuntu package, you can just look in the "All" category of Synaptic, but here is a search website for .deb and .rpm packages. (http://www.rpmseek.com/index.html) I don't know about other types though.