Tips, Tricks, & Help

Things to do with Linux/Ubuntu

December 4, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Here are a number of cool things you can do with Linux.

To display available memory on Linux/ Ubuntu, you will need to run this command from any computer window. The application works on Ubuntu, Debian and Redhat. Nevertheless, it may work on other applications too but these are the ones which we are going to check out now.

cat /proc/meminfo

The results akin to the below should appear:

MemTotal: 3615716 kB

MemFree: 132528 kB

MemShared: 0 kB

Buffers: 50028 kB

Cached: 1572772 kB

SwapCached: 80716 kB

Active: 580208 kB

Inactive: 1142848 kB

HighTotal: 2752384 kB

HighFree: 8576 kB

LowTotal: 863332 kB

LowFree: 123952 kB

SwapTotal: 2104504 kB

SwapFree: 1064540 kB

There is a lot you can do with Ubuntu: From e-mails to chats, Office Application, Mobilizing your digital lifestyle, Socialize in seconds and many more uses; you can do all these for free.

Ubuntu Evolution for E-mails and Chats are filled with applications for fast and easy communications; one can effortlessly integrate it with Gmail, Yahoo and MSN and Access your Address books, Emails and Calendar with Evolution.

Ubuntu OpenOffice.org is fully loaded and highly compatible with Microsoft Office Applications and contains everything one requires to create professional documents easily. User-friendly and loaded with features and everything that you need, the OpenOffice.org is absolutely free.

Ubuntu One is a free account to Synchronize Bookmarks, files, music and online contacts and across all of your computers. With Ubuntu One you can have access to anything, anywhere and at anytime.

Socializing is the order of the day and can you be left behind? With Ubuntu’s Me Menu; you can have access to all social network sites around the world, right in your living room. With Me Menu, you can gain access, connect to Facebook, Twitter and other social sites without any hassle. With Ubuntu One Music Store, you can get your music in one single place and have the option of browsing, listening or buying new tracks – Easily!

Filed Under: Linux, Tips, Tricks, & Help

Linux: Yellow Dog, Office Sense

October 29, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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The world of business is too often defined by rigid expectations – the rules and tedious regulations. Companies cannot offer thrills. They must instead provide only the essential drudgery, forcing each employee to become a solemn creature; working always toward success but never smiles. And this philosophy extends even to their operating systems. Computers are seen as vital but not convenient. Their capabilities are used only for the practical needs. There is no inspiration. There is not even the understanding that such inspiration can be achieved.

And this is too great of a waste.

Linux, many believe, is a brand purely for the bold. Its open source ideals have marked it creative but seemingly impossible to apply to the every day challenges of industry. This assumption is incorrect, however. While none can deny the ease this platform has provided, none can also deny the efficiency it can potentially offer – just by choosing Yellow Dog.

Developed in 1999, Yellow Dog was not the common operating system. While it still supported the intentions of Linux (with all of its open codes and copyright denials), it was not meant simply for clever children. It was instead to be used by professionals; each who needed far more than the capabilities of Microsoft, Macintosh and other competitors.

Yellow Dog is a kernel platform that can withstand the demands of corporations. With such features as code compliers, video conferencing, Power Architecture capabilities and Bluetooth support, it becomes the ideal reply to all business concerns. This desktop function serves all needs; and its ingenious design allows even for cluster servers and database sharing. It’s for those who require more than the standard software.

Linux is famed for its innovation. Too often, though, that innovation is denied within companies – thought to be too great a distraction and too much a worry. Yellow Dog, however, proves that the notion of open sources can move easily through the towers of paperwork and bureaucracy.

Filed Under: Tips, Tricks, & Help Tagged With: Bluetooth, Linux, Macintosh, Microsoft, Open source, Operating system, Red Hat, Yellow Dog Linux

Customer Support? Who Need It When Linux Community Support Is Available?

October 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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It is funny when people cite lack of support provided by the makers of software applications for Linux as a criticism. Well, most of us have developed the habit of using the internet whenever we need help related to a particular software. More often than not, we contact other users of the software application whenever something goes wrong.

Even if one has licensed software and can access customer support without any difficulty, relying on practical and easy to understand advice of real users is a preferred option. People always want to find out what other users of the software have to say. Hence, average users of programs are not completely averse to the idea of community support.

Secondly, there is nothing stopping the individual from going in for commercially available software programs for Linux operating system. You can download the operating system for free from the internet and can purchase all software applications you install. It is a misconception that all software applications for Linux have to be free.

You can use Linux without spending any money and enjoy commercial support for each and every software application you install. Just go in for paid software. Why would anyone purchase web browsers when applications like Firefox are available is a very pertinent question. Yet, there is nothing stopping you from getting official support if you feel it is important

Linux has much better track record as far as flawless performance of software applications is concerned. The Linus’ law states that chances of bugs being found and removed will be high if a large number of persons assess and analyze any software application. This means that the software will be completely free of problems.

It is not incorrect to say that your need for customer support and third party assistance when using Linux will be very less as compared to Windows.

Filed Under: Tips, Tricks, & Help Tagged With: Companies, Linux, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Operating system, Projects, Technical support, Windows

Too Many Cooks And Spoilt Broth at Not In Case Of Linux

October 7, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Critics of Linux take a lot of glee in pointing out that the large number of so called experts who work on Linux distributions actually make it worse. They often point out that too many cooks spoil the broth and this is one problem that all Linux distributions will face.

Well, critics presume as if there is no structure or hierarchy that determines the contribution of individuals to Linux distribution. It is a common misconception that any and every person can simply download the distribution, make changes to its source code and make it available in its original name.

More often than not, individuals come up with suggestions and other contributors critically analyze each and every suggested change. Remember, those who work on Linux distributions often do it as a part of pro Bono effort. In such a scenario, poor quality distribution is only going to render the efforts of all contributors meaningless.

This means that the quality of analysis of each and every suggested change is very high. In any case, they are not individuals who are simply operating for their monthly salary. Rather, they are individuals who are passionate about software and are very keen on improving Linux distribution as the best one in the market. This is one advantage of relying on geeks to improve the Linux distro. They may not be the most glamorous bunch around but they sure get the job done.

Despite having a huge hierarchy and bureaucracy in charge of quality control, bug free OS is something that commercial and closed source software application makers have not achieved. Hence, the contribution of large number of persons, regulated and streamlined, is obviously helping maintain quality of Linux distributions at high levels.

Before you too join the chorus, just keep in mind that this criticism, like most other criticisms of Linux distributions, is based more on jealousy and cynicism than logic.

Filed Under: Tips, Tricks, & Help Tagged With: Articles, Directories, Distributions, Linux, Linux distribution, Operating system, Proprietary software, Source code

Switching To Linux at Some Specific Points To Consider And Some Traps To Avoid

October 3, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image by myoldpostcards via Flickr

Switching from one operating system to another can become a very complicated task if you do not plan your approach well in advance. It is possible today to get in touch with different individuals who have made the switch with the help of the internet. You can learn from their experiences. Just follow the steps given below to simplify the task.

Understand the basic features of the operating system that you are switching to. There is no sense in switching to Linux if you think all operations are done only through the command line. This might have been true two decades ago. Today, the graphical user interface is available and is a very convenient option for those using Linux. If you make the switch without knowledge that Linux too offers the graphical user interface, then your switch is going to be a very complicated affair.

There should be a specific reason for the switch. Unless you are doing it for satisfying your curiosity, you should have a clear idea of why you are making the switch. It is obvious that your research should cover this point. You should be very clear whether you have anything to gain by switching over from Windows to Linux or the other way round.

This will help you improve your efficiency and productivity. More often than not, this helps individuals manage the initial period where the switch causes many problems and complications.

It is very important to know the drawbacks or deficiencies of the operating system you are switching to. Certain software applications may not work with Linux. You should find out more about these programs and find alternatives in advance. This will help you have a clear idea of the difficulties ahead.

If bulk of your software programs don’t work with Linux, chances are high that you will end up using emulators or programs like Wine at all times. They may or may not work without glitches. You should be prepared for all these possibilities when making the switch.

Filed Under: Tips, Tricks, & Help Tagged With: Command-line interface, Graphical user interface, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Operating system, Projects, Support, Wine

Switch To Linux- To Do Or Not To Do? Do Not Expect The Web To Decide For You

September 25, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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The internet is a very popular source of information about computer operating system, its various pros and cons and features. However, avoid inquiring on the net about whether you should opt for any Linux distribution or not. The question whether you should switch from Windows to Linux distribution is a very controversial one.

Some persons who claim that they have been using Linux for many years now will speak in its favor. On the other hand, others who too will claim the same will state a completely opposite opinion. Each and every opinion seems to have its own logic and rationale.

Of course, to go through all the opinions with a clear and objective mind may be helpful. However, to expect the internet to answer whether you should switch over to Linux or is not wise.

If you are curious about Linux operating system and if you want to give it a try, you should begin by understanding its features and the basics of Linux with the help of the internet. Of course, computer magazines and even those who are more proficient in computers can help. You just need to understand what Linux is and how it is better than other options.

The next step is to select and choose a good quality Linux distribution. Ubuntu is widely recognized as one of the most popular and widely used distribution for beginners. Once you have latched on to a specific distribution, you can proceed further and analyze the features, pros and cons and other aspects of that particular distribution.

You should proceed to use the distribution as early as possible. Nothing helps you decide whether you should opt for a specific distribution or whether you should switch from Windows to Linux than practical day to day usage. Once you install Linux and Windows in the same computer and use it daily, you can easily understand the benefits and risks of your decision. This will help you make the final switch smoother.

Filed Under: Tips, Tricks, & Help Tagged With: Articles, Distributions, Hardware Support, Linux, Linux distribution, Microsoft Windows, Operating system, Ubuntu

Learning How To Use Linux – Why Is This Such A Difficult Thing To Comprehend?

September 21, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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An average human child spends at least a 12-18 months learning how to talk properly. The same child will take 6-12 months to walk properly without facing the risk of toppling over again and again. Individuals spend more than a decade learning social skills. Yet, there is no guarantee that such an individual would have acquired the necessary social skills required even when he or she becomes an adult.

People have no problem in accepting such a learning curve. Students may take more than one year to pass a grade. Yet, people think that there should be absolutely no learning curve when they switch to Linux? Why does the idea of a learning curve seem so difficult to understand?

Linux offers all that the Windows operating system offers and a lot more. If you want to use Linux for day to day activities, then you need not spend even a single second learning how to do the same old things. You will have a learning curve when using Linux only if you try to go beyond what you have done in the past.

If you use Linux to check your mail, write a few letters and surf the internet, you can be rest assured that you can start using the operating system the moment it is installed without any difficulty. The graphical user interface is going to be pretty much the same as Windows.

Apart from minor changes which only improve functionality and performance, there would be no changes whatsoever. There is absolutely no difference, for all practical purposes, between all operating systems you have used.

However, once you decide to make changes to the source code to improve the operating system, welcome to the idea of a learning curve. It is unavoidable irrespective of whether you switch to Mac or Windows Vista.

Do not over exaggerate the importance of the learning curve. We spend a lot of time learning new things and are prepared for the learning curve in each and every aspect of our life. Why should Linux be any different?

Filed Under: Tips, Tricks, & Help Tagged With: Articles, Learning curve, Linux, Mac, Microsoft Windows, Operating system, Projects, Windows Vista

Why Choose Between Linux Distros Immediately? Try It One By One

September 7, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

If you are a beginner who is thinking about switching over to Linux or choosing this operating system to run along with your Windows operating system, nothing can be more irritating than having to choose between the various Linux distributions available in the market. It can be very difficult to make the right choice or feel confident that you have made the right choice when choosing Linux distributions.

One reason is that many distributions are popular amongst beginners and almost all happen to be free, user friendly and have a good quality graphical user interface. Some distributions even have multiple graphic user interface options. This is as good as having multiple desktops on your screen.

In most cases, the confusion is caused by too many choices. The best way to avoid this problem is to start with any Linux distribution that is widely accepted as suitable for beginners. Do not focus on the features or try to analyze the pros and cons in detail. Of course, it goes without saying that you should avoid replacing Windows with any Linux distribution unless you have tried a few and can confidently compare the pros and cons

This process may take a week or may even take a year. There is no hurry as you can use both OS in the same computer. You can always run the computer efficiently by having a multi boot option to choose between Windows and Linux when the computer boots. The best thin about this approach is that it takes the stress out of the decision making process. You can take your own time comparing different options.

If you do not have space in your hard disk and if you cannot afford to uninstall Windows, you can install your Linux distribution on a flash drive or a DVD. You can use it only when you need it. By postponing the process of comparison of distributions, you can get used to the distro at your own leisurely pace.

Filed Under: Tips, Tricks, & Help Tagged With: Graphical user interface, Hard disk drive, Linux, Linux distribution, Microsoft Windows, Operating system, USB flash drive, Windows

Linux For Geeks? Certainly Not. Even Beginners Can Enjoy Great Functionality

September 7, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Popular opinion often indicates that Linux is suitable only for geeks and experts. It is presumed that Linux will work only for those who do not mind typing out complicated commands and interpreting difficult to understand responses by the computer. Well, this is definitely not true.

Linux offers choices and potential areas of changes and improvement only if you are prepared to go to the shell. If you are keen on sticking to the GUI, chances are high that you will see no difference between Linux distro and any other OS.

Of course, Linux offers virtually unlimited scope for improvement if you are an expert who hates sticking to mundane activities of ordinary computer usage. It is very natural for a computer geek to switch from being a user of Linux to becoming a contributor who suggests and implements changes in distros.

Although this may create problems for your daily routine and schedule, there is no doubt that the Linux community benefits from such enthusiasm. Numerous landmark changes in Linux distributions and numerous new ideas have cropped up simply because people recognized the potential of Linux early on and made use of the freedom it offered.

The power of the internet has also made a huge difference. Today, the operating system need not be restricted to one computer alone. It may become possible for operating systems to interact with web servers and even other operating systems through the internet. Linux has the potential of making it possible.

Theoretically, it is possible for the operating system to contact other computers that are using the same hardware to borrow drivers that work better than those already installed.
Linux is all about choice and this rule can be stretched to the maximum. You can make as many changes to the shell as long as you know what you are doing.

Filed Under: Tips, Tricks, & Help Tagged With: Articles, Companies, Hardware, Hardware Support, Linux, Linux distribution, Operating system, Ubuntu

Find PNG Images Larger than Pixels using Linux Shell

May 22, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

There are some good Linux tools to crop and resize your images. To know more about resizing and finding PNG images read on:

Note: PNG images demonstrate the size data when the file command runs on them: for example:

$ file image3.png

gives you

image3.png: PNG image data, 613 x 657, 8-bit/color RGBA, non-interlaced

This is quite efficient since the images that we have are in PNG format and to make things work easier for us, we can add a loop for all of the files in the upload directory, as follows:

$ for f in *.png;do file $f;done

this gives you

image.png: PNG image data, 631 x 185, 8-bit/color RGBA, non-interlaced
image1.png: PNG image data, 631 x 96, 8-bit/color RGBA, non-interlaced
image10.png: PNG image data, 375 x 395, 8-bit/color RGBA, non-interlaced
image11.png: PNG image data, 484 x 241, 8-bit/color RGBA, non-interlaced

To extract data into Excel or similar, we now use the Linux cut command to extract only the width line.

When completing this command, you would find the f5 parameter updating you to remove the fifth column, once you get this command use the d\ with a space as a delimiter. The slash\ is an escape character and it is used instead of the whitespace, like this:

$ for f in *.png;do file $f|cut d\ ;done

631

375

484

For a width that is more than 600 pixels one would require space around either part of the brackets [], see below:

for f in *.png;do if [ `file $f | cut -f5 -d\ ` -gt 600 ] ; then file $f;fi;done

image.png: PNG image data, 631 x 185, 8-bit/color RGBA, non-interlaced
image1.png: PNG image data, 631 x 96, 8-bit/color RGBA, non-interlaced

The list of files more than 600 pixels are available now and one could alter the “file $” to the extreme end to highlight the filenames which are required to be copied or moved somewhere else.

for f in *.png;do if [ `file $f | cut -f5 -d\ ` -gt 600 ] ; then echo $f;fi;done

Filed Under: Tips, Tricks, & Help Tagged With: Portable Network Graphics