Text 52433, 69 rader
Skriven 2009-01-06 19:26:58 av Alan Zisman (1:123/789.0)
  Kommentar till text 52420 av JAY EMRIE (1:123/140)
Ärende: Google Earth- Ubuntu
============================
JAY EMRIE -> ALAN ZISMAN wrote:



 AZ>> For a long time, I felt like software installations was the real factor
 AZ>> limiting wide acceptance of Linux on the desktop... the Google Earth
 JE> example is
 AZ>> MUCH easier than it used to be-- it actually has a usable installer--
 JE> once you
 AZ>> can figure out how to run it-- and installs a menu item along with a
 JE> desktop
 AZ>> shortcut.

 AZ>> Now, though- at least for the major distributions, most things are even
 AZ>> easier... and in most cases-- though NOT Google Earth, easier (as
 JE> well as more
 AZ>> secure) than for Windows. Most software that a typical user might
 JE> want to add
 AZ>> (with a few exceptions like G. Earth) are listed in repositories
 JE> maintained by
 AZ>> the distribution... that means they're certified to work with the
 JE> distribution,
 AZ>> and certified to not be a security issue.

 AZ>> So while Windows users get their software from a wide variety of
 JE> sources-- some
 AZ>> trustworthy, some not so much-- Ubuntu users mostly get their
 JE> software from
 AZ>> Canonical (the company that controls Ubuntu) repositories... in most
 JE> cases, its
 AZ>> a matter of opening an Add/Remove utility, finding what looks
 JE> interesting,
 AZ>> clicking install, and waiting a few moments while it downloads and
 JE> installs. To
 AZ>> remove it, open the same Add/Remove item, uncheck, and wait a moment
 JE> or two.

 AZ>> A huge improvement over only a few years ago-- and as I said,
 JE> actually easier
 AZ>> and safer than the situation in Windows. Except when it isn't.

 JE> And just when is it "isn't" and how does one tell? VBG

Step 1: If the program shows up in Ubuntu's Add/Remove Programs list, it's
REALLY easy to install. If not:

Step 2: Open the Synaptic Package Manager (In System: Administration); search
for the program there... if it IS, it's pretty easy to install. If not:

Step 3: Go to Synaptic's Settings: Repositories menu item, and make sure that
the various optional repositories are enabled... if you're adding repositories,
wait for Synaptic to reload its software lists, and try Step 1 or Step 2 again.
If none of this works...

Step 4: Go to the software developer's site: earth.google.com or mozilla.org or
openoffice.org or wherever, and look for a downloadable Linux version- ideally
one optimized for Ubuntu or Debian Linux distributions. In this case, you may
have to go through the sort of rigamarole that I previously described for
Google Earth.

But much or most of the time, it IS straightforward and easy.
-- 
==================================
- email: alan (at) zisman (dot) ca
- website: http://www.zisman.ca
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