Upgrade to Linux

[Dan]

It's still a giant PITA if your computer is hosed. Reinstalling how many applications?

Nah, that's why I like Ubuntu.  I only have to install it once per laptop or hard drive.  It takes care of installing the rest of the stuff as I decide I need it again.

I'm eyeing UbuntuStudio edition.

[SethCohn]

It's still a giant PITA if your computer is hosed. Reinstalling how many applications?

Actually, for windows, that is why I'm now a big advocate of 'portable' apps, requiring no installation at all.  Merely copy the folder (or unpack the archive, or stick in the usb stick, or plug in the ipod/portable drive, etc), and you are up and running again.

[Dan]

Or just boot the ubuntu cd, and stick in the usb drive for data.  The CD comes with, er, 700+ "portable" applications installed.  The DVD has thousands. 

[Fragilityh14]

there was an ubuntustudio computer where I used to work, amazing, amazing application suite, I just dont do any of the things which it is used for.


do they have ubuntustudio 7.10 yet?

[Dan]

It was released today.

[PowerPenguin]

I put 7.10 64 bit on here the other day. It works well, but Enigmail doesn't work for 64 bit Swiftdove (cpu optimized thunderbird) and Flash doesn't work in Firefox. Any ideas for resolving these two issues, Arc?

[Dan]

64bit flash is a huge PITA.  TRy gnash.  But then, youtube and google recently broke gnash support for videos.

There is a way to run firefox in 32bit mode while on a 64bit install.

These are answered not only in the forum, but in the on-disk help documentation.  Even the docs on ubuntu don't suck.

[error]

I run 32-bit Firefox on my 64-bit Fedora 7 system.

[Dan]

Enabling interview is Friday.  Can't come fast enough.

BTW:  mozilla-plugin-gnash on Gutsy Gibbon works with youtube again!

Just did another fresh install of gutsy.

Here is the first thing I do after saying "Yes, please just install all
the restricted binary video stuff"


sudo synaptic
  Goto settings repositories, turn on universe, multiverse, main,
security.  Turn off source code.  Exit.

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install \
   gstreamer0.10-plugins-{good,bad,ugly} \
   mozilla-firefox-adblock \
   flashplugin-nonfree \
   msttcorefonts \
   sun-java5-{plugin,fonts} \
   openssh-server

( The msttforefonts needs you to hit 'enter' at some point.  Shame. )

[PowerPenguin]

I found a how-to in ubuntuforums.org to fix flash. It didn't actually work, but I fixed the problem by deleting flashplayernonfree.so or whatever from ~/.mozilla and reinstalling the package. A couple posts to the enigmail list got the developers to put out an update that works just great. With the lightning calendar plugin for thunderbird (get it?) I'm going full throttle now!

[dalebert]

When I upgraded to gutsy gibbon, my drawing pad stopped working.  It took quite a bit of work to get it working right. Is there a relatively simple way to downgrade back to feisty fawn or do I just have to do a fresh install? I don't mind it so much because I wanted to partition my drive in order to do encryption anyway, but I was putting off that task for now and I don't want to stop drawing until I can get around to doing that.

[Dan]

NOTE: Test your hardware with the Ubuntu LiveCD. 

Is your drawing pad a wacom?  What's the model number?

[PowerPenguin]

Woo! Now the JVM doesn't work in Firefox. I'll have to debug that now

[dalebert]

Is your drawing pad a wacom?  What's the model number?

No, it's a Genius. It's fine for what I'm doing but if I ever actually start making some kind of reasonable income from my cartoons, I might upgrade to a Wacom. This one was just $50 and it works fine for the most part for just doing simple cartoons. It does take a little tweaking to get it to work. I downgraded back to Feisty Fawn and it's working again. However, I just turned off pressure sensitivity in Inkscape. That just seems to create some bizarre behavior which may have to do with calibration. At some point I may tinker around with it to get it calibrated right.

[Dan]

The help docs on the inkscape wiki say that it is a CERTAINTY that if you turn on tilt and pressure sensitivity without calibration Inkscape will eat your lunch when you are not looking.