GOS Gadgets Operating System Preview- Video Tip

GOS stands for Good Operating System and was the operating system of choice for WalMart’s $199 Everex computer last year that they couldn’t keep in stock. GOS is a customized version of Ubuntu Linux and like most Linux operating systems is free to use and works on almost any laptop or desktop built since 2000 or so. In this week’s video, I give you a quick overview of some of the features of GOS 3 Gadgets....

Use Alt+Tab or Command(Apple)+Tab to quickly chang...

Thanks to long time listener and web visitor, Daniel, for suggesting this week’s tip. I have been using this technique for more than ten years, but in order to learn it, you really must see it in action. Thus, it was a natural for our Video Tips, which are now almost 18 months old! For Ubuntu and Windows users, you can quickly switch between open programs by pushing Alt+Tab on your keyboard. Macintosh users have a key...

Start programs automatically in Ubuntu – Vid...

Windows user can use this tip to start programs automatically when they boot up their computers. This week I learned how to do the same thing with Ubuntu Linux (and its derivatives). Since my goal for this site is to impart all the knowledge I have in my brain to you, here is how to start programs on boot up in Ubuntu Linux: 1. Click System –> Preferences –> Sessions from the menus 2. Click the Add button in the...

Ubuntu Keyboard Shortcuts

A show listener asked about keyboard shortcuts for Ubuntu Linux…ask and you shall receive, click here.

How to Create PDFs in Ubuntu

For those looking for a way to create PDFs in Ubuntu – this seems to be the most popular solution.

OpenOffice Tip for Ubuntu, Mac & Windows User...

With Microsoft putting out less-and-less usable software and better-and-better options becoming available online, there is no reason to shell out hard earned money for Microsoft Office. If you aren’t quite ready to move your data and applications online (search our site for Web 2.0), then OpenOffice.org’s free office software is a wonderful option. If you are an Open Office user or plan on becoming one, you still...

Ubuntu Take 2 – Follow up

Yesterday, I talked about my woes in getting a Linksys WMP54GS PCI wireless card to work on an almost 10 year old computer that I successfully installed Xubuntu (Ubuntu Light) on for a customer. The “official” instructions on how to accomplish the task are lengthy and require many commands typed into a terminal windows (think DOS prompt). After many dry runs and dead ends, I found this gem buried in the Ubuntu...

Drag and Drop in Ubuntu Linux – Video Tip

Interestingly, because of the security setup in Ubuntu, drag and drop file management (ability to drag files from one folder to another) doesn’t work without a little tweaking. I’m still learning the ins and outs of how Ubuntu is put together and how the all powerful “root” user corresponds to some commands or programs we want to run in Ubuntu. Opening programs as the “root” user has the...

Easy WiFi with Ubuntu Linux – Video Tip

This week’s tip addresses a rough area with Ubuntu Linux…using wi-fi (wireless) Internet. I have had some of the same problems utilizing wireless Internet as other people, so I set out to learn more about it and find as straight forward a solution as I could. What I found was called WiFi Radar. I wrote about it in Day 3 of my 14 day Ubuntu only series. In today’s tip, I submit to you the video version of...

Backup in Ubuntu – Video Tip

Since I’m in Day 4 of my Ubuntu 14 day trial, I had to do this week’s tip as another Ubuntu tip. I’m learning much about the Ubuntu…some things I like, some I don’t, but overall it’s working pretty well. One visitor this week asked about backup in Ubuntu and since that is one of my favorite soap box topics, I researched it for Ubuntu. I found a program called “Simple Backup”. It...

Ubuntu – Day 3

One knock that I read about Ubuntu is the poor wireless support for laptops/wireless Internet. I took this laptop (a Compaq Presario 2100) on a short family vacation in June and had no problems connecting to wireless networks all along the way. I will say that the procedure wasn’t as smooth as the wireless utility built into Windows XP (which I also like better than Vista’s utility). It did work, however. ...

Ubuntu – Day 2

I’m still smarting from not having my great spam filter on my PC, but I’m giving the spam filter in Evolution a chance to work. It turns out that in order to get the spam filter working properly in Ubuntu’s Evolution, you have to do the following: Close Evolution  Click System from your task panel Click Administration Click Synaptic Package manager Find SpamAssasin in the list RIGHT click it and then...

Quick access to useful tools and most used program...

Two of my favorite tips (tricks) to teach Windows users is the use of the Quick Launch bar. See: Create a new toolbar in Windows – Video Tip Create a docked Quick Launch bar in Windows Vista – Video Tip As I make my way into the Ubuntu world, which I think has the potential to whole heartedly change the computing landscape as we know it, I learn how to duplicate skills with it that I learned and utilized with...

Basic Ubuntu Navigation – Video Tip

One more day left in our first annual "Ubuntu Week", and I have another great tip for all of us Ubuntu beginners. In Ubuntu, there is no "Start" button like Windows. Instead, I think the Ubuntu creators came up with a more elegant and intuitive format for accessing programs we use, navigating our saved files, networks and operating system options and preferences. Watch the video below for a video and...

Automatic Update in Ubuntu Linux – Video Tip

In our ongoing "Ubuntu Week" series of articles, today's tip focuses on computer safety. No matter what operating system you may use, the most important skills you can learn for your computer's safety is updating the operating system. All operating systems, Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Solaris, BeOS, etc. offer security and system updates from time-to-time. These updates fix problems found in the software and...