I did not know this until recently — it is possible to configure the java engine used by Ubuntu by running this command:

sudo update-alternatives –config java

You will be asked to select from a list of available java engines. Simply type in the number of your choice and hit enter.

Choosing the java engine on Ubuntu 8.10

I recently had a problem with Ubuntu 8.10 where my Add/Remove… software window was empty.

My empty Add/Remove… software list

Synaptic and apt-get via the terminal worked great, but Add/Remove… was broken. A bit of searching turned up this little gem that did the trick of restoring the list. Just run these two commands in your terminal:

sudo apt-get remove gnome-app-install
sudo apt-get install gnome-app-install apturl ubufox ubuntu-desktop

I needed to install some extra fonts in Ubuntu. Drawing from my OS X experience I figured I could just copy the new fonts to a font folder somewhere and sure enough Ubuntu has system-wide and user-level font folders.

System-wide fonts are located at

/usr/share/fonts/

User specific fonts are located at

~/.fonts

To install a font just copy it to either the system font folder or the user font folder. To remove a font just remove it from these folders.

Now you need to let the system know that it has new fonts available. After installing/removing your fonts you will want to update the system font cache by running this command in your terminal:

fc-cache -v -f

The following is an embedded Google Doc where I have kept track of changes made to my Ubuntu 8.10 Linux system as I have configured it with a custom root folder from which Apache2 serves web sites a virtual host that points to the root web folder.

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One of the great benefits of Linux is the wealth of great opensource software. Prior to this experiment I thought all this software could only run on Linux, but recently I discovered that this is not true. Much of my favorite software on Ubuntu Linux can be run on OS X :)

Geany running on OS X

Read the rest of this entry »

This is a simple, yet effective tip to get the fastest/closest repository server automatically using Synaptic. It amounts to simply selecting a new “Download from:” server and choosing “Other” Then click the “Select Best Server” button. Go here for a quick overview with screenshots.

I upgraded my 13″ MacBook and 24″ iMac from Ubuntu 8.04 to Ubuntu 8.10 (still in beta) this past week. My favorite part of Ubuntu 8.10: the tabbed file browser! The upgrade to 8.10 is remarkably simple :) just open your terminal and type:

update-manager -d

There should now be an “Upgrade” button in the Update Manager window. Press it and let it run…the process was long, but painless.

On my 13″ MacBook everything upgraded well and it works better than before. On my 24″ iMac I was pleasantly surprised to find its wireless internet now works (it never did in Ubuntu 8.04). But the sound is now off and I cannot figure out how to get it working again.

I like dark themes, so I tried the new dark theme that came with 8.10. It works well, but I am really liking the Intrepid Ibex theme based on Willwill’s mockup. Here is a screenshot of my 24″ iMac and 23″ Cinema Display running Ubuntu 8.10 and willwill’s dark theme.

Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex with willwill100's custom theme running on a dual-head 24" iMac and 23" Cinema Display

If Ubuntu Linux had not won me over yet then it certainly has now. Ubuntu Netbook Remix is a fantastic set of tools for running Linux on small screens and boosting productivity in a limited workspace. The official description of the project says:

Ubuntu Netbook Remix is a ‘remix’ of the standard Ubuntu Desktop 8.04 release to enable it to work better on devices with small screens, such as Netbooks (sub-notebooks), although these packages will work on any 8.04 installation.

The Remix instantly captured my attention because of its focus on small screens. I have a 13″ MacBook laptop. Its 1280 x 800 screen can feel cramped sometimes, especially compared to my dual-scren iMac setup at work.

Given that my entire Ubuntu experiment is about productivity I had to give it a go. I have grown fond of how easy Linux makes experimentation. I knew that I could very easily install the Remix, test it, and just as easily uninstall it when I was done. But I’m keeping it. Here’s why. Read the rest of this entry »

I have really grown attached to Picasa as a photo manager. Since I have been using it more frequently I have been seeking ways to better integrate Picasa into the Ubuntu desktop.

Nautilus as Picasa’s default file manager

I found a great tip at the Ubuntu communities Picasa page demonstrating how to use the Nautilus file manager as Picasa’s default. Read the rest of this entry »

You’d better hurry—I’m not sure how long this offer will last!

I found an awesome deal this weekend. The book entitled “Ubuntu Unleashed, 2008 Edition” from Sams comes with a free upgrade to Ubuntu 8.10! I found this at the local Barnes & Noble.

But don’t fret if there’s no Barnes & Noble in your area. The listing at Amazon states that it “Includes a DVD with a full Ubuntu Linux distribution, plus a free upgrade to Ubuntu Linux 8.10 once it is released.”

Simply amazing…can you believe there just givin’ this stuff away?

Really...is this necessary? A "Free Upgrade to Ubuntu 8.10" sticker on the book "Ubuntu Unleashed, 2008 Edition" from Sams.

The "Free Upgrade to Ubuntu 8.10" sticker