MSN for ubuntu

You can either use the pre installed pidgin messenger or use something like meebo.  If you really missed the interface of MSN live for windows. You can install the AMSN.  It looks and functions like windows msn with little differences.

Install it by keying this in the terminal 

sudo apt-get install amsn

or 

search for AMSN in the package manager

Browser add ons

1) Installing flash player so that you can view youtube content and other flash sites.

Macromedia has already made it very simple for linux users to install flash plugin now, compared to previously where you will need to extract the file and manually put them into the usr\lib\firefox, folder. You just need to do as what you do in windows, and choose the Deb package and the flash player will be installed. Just remember to close your browsers before installing.

However, if using that method don't work for some reason or another you can always key in this command in the terminal

sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree flashplayer-nonfree

2) Installing Java runtime

You can either, go to a java based website and click on the get plugin icon. And allow the browser to search for required plug-ins or simply click on tools, add ons and search for java. Click on apply plugin to install that.

Simple enough. Similar to windows.

Writing chinese

You can write Chinese in ubuntu, however you need to start a notepad and write in the notepad. Copy and paste into the program you want the chinese characters.

1) Go to Applications > Add/Remove... In the left panel choose System Tools, in the show option, make sure you choose all available application, and try to search for Language Support.


2) Now you can go to System > Administration > Language Support, In the Language selection panel, tick the Chinese language.

3) Start a notepad and right click anywhere on the notepad. Choose SCIM input.
Notice that a keyboard icon has appeared beside the updates icon or network icon at the top right hand corner. Click on it and choose simplified or traditional. Choose entry mode, example 智能拼音.

Opening RAR archives

The archive manager does not support winrar files by default. Installing 7zip or winrar via wine is an option. You can also get ubuntu to extract rar files by running this in terminal

sudo apt-get install unrar-free

or

sudo apt-get install unrar



Playing DVDs in totem movie player

By default, the plugin is not installed. You can easily download codecs of mp3 or other file types when the player is unable to play. But for a DVD video disc, you will need to do some special terminal commands .

Start the terminal

sudo apt-get install totem-xine libxine1-ffmpeg libdvdread3

Wait for it to download...

Then the second command

sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/install-css.sh

Restart and you can load the DVD disc off the movie player now.

Installing windows programs in linux

If you really have to use a windows application in linux, you will need to make use of this program called " wine ". You can install it using the add/remove programs menu.A restart is required after installing.


Before you can execute or install any windows programs, You will need to put an entry in the wine config page.
Click on add application.
Once done, you will be able to right click on the file and run with wine program loader

Useful information when using ubuntu

1) export HISTSIZE=0

Everything you typed in the terminal is recorded. You can press the up arrow key to repeat the commands. This command clears all the past history. The capital letters are required

2) CD [ followed by pathname]

It is quite different from dos commands when you try to navigate from point to point. One easy way to copy the address that is displayed on the places address bar. Type a CD in terminal and followed by a space. Right click and paste the destination in like this, And you will jump direct to the folder

3) If you put your mouse over a music file, hold it there, ubuntu will play the song, a direct instant preview

4) If a particular software or program fails to run as it should after installing, Do a restart and try again. One thing about ubuntu is that it does not prompt for a restart.

5) When prompted for password in terminal. Just key in your password. The cursor will not move. It is still registering your entry.

6) Whenever you are installing something that requires a CD, you cannot eject the Disc and switch like windows.  You will need to unmount the device,  and mount it again.

sudo mount /media/cdrom0/ -o unhide

sudo umount /media/cdrom0/