£9.99 10/4/08 14:22:02 DVD INSIDE ISSUE THIRTEEN ISSUE source for Linux for source 1 # The Here’s your complete guide to using Linux! using to guide complete your Here’s Want to dump Windows but don’t know how? how? know don’t but Windows dump to Want STARTER PACK STARTER THE LINUX THE THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO ALL THINGSOPEN SOURCE! LXFS13 The Linux Starter Pack Installation Internet apps Word processing Desktop publishing Photo manipulation Spreadsheets BitTorrent Instant messaging Troubleshooting All you need to get started with Linux! LXFS13.cover 1 Brought to you by The #1 source for Linux www.linuxformat.com TuxRadar www.tuxradar.com Introduction Welcome! If you’ve made it this far, you’re clearly among the growing number of people who are curious about Linux. I’m not sure what has led you here – perhaps you’re sick of installing security updates every other day, perhaps you’re tired of Linux Starter Pack rebooting when your computer runs slowly, or maybe you’ve just had EDITORIAL enough of the Blue Screen of Death Editor Paul Hudson Disc editor Mike Saunders – but whatever it was that brought Contributing editor Graham Morrison Operations editor Andrew Gregory you here, I’m glad to welcome you to Art editor Efrain Hernandez-Mendoza Art assistance Stacey Black, Nick Cox, Neil Freestone, the family of Linux users, and hope Martin Parfitt you’ll fi nd that there’s a whole new world of computing here that can really MANAGERIAL & MARKETING Marketing product manager Jennifer Wagner put the fun back into it all again. Acquisitions product manager James Greenwood Publishing director Stuart Anderton This magazine is a one-off publication aimed at newcomers to Linux. Managing director Robert Price That’s you, which means you’ve come to the right place! But Linux is a DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION Production coordinator Craig Broadbridge big world of software, and, while some of it looks and works just like the Trade marketing executive Kate Robson Distributed by Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 East Poultry Windows or Mac software you’re used to, a lot of it will also be new, and Avenue, London EC1A 9PT Tel 020 7429 4000 Overseas distribution by Future Publishing Ltd that’s where this guide comes in – we’ve written it to be a comprehensive Tel +44 (0)1225 442244 pack for new starters to Linux, with the goal of helping you to get the LICENSING most from your computer with the least reading. You’ll also fi nd a DVD Head of international licensing Tim Hudson [email protected] Tel +44 (0)1225 788253 bundled with this magazine that includes a complete, installable version of Linux for you to use. Yes, it’s true that there are lots of versions of Linux Copyright No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from out there, but we’ve written this guide to accompany the software on that our publisher. We assume all letters sent – by email, fax or post – are for publication unless otherwise stated, and reserve the right to edit contributions. All contributions to Linux Format are submitted and accepted on the basis of non-exclusive worldwide licence to DVD, so if you want to get the most from all the tutorials we’ve provided publish or license others to do so unless otherwise agreed in advance in writing. Linux Format recognises all copyrights in this issue. Where possible, we have acknowledged the copyright holder. Contact us if we haven’t credited your copyright and we will always for you, we recommend you use that disc to get started. correct any oversight. We cannot be held responsible for mistakes or misprints. All DVD demos and reader submissions are supplied to us on the assumption they can Now it’s time for the adventure to begin. If you want to dive in straight be incorporated into a future covermounted DVD, unless stated to the contrary. away, turn to p10 for our install guide. If you’d like to read a bit more about Disclaimer All tips in this magazine are used at your own risk. We accept no liability for any loss of data or damage to your computer, peripherals or software through the use of any tips or advice. Linux fi rst – and I’d recommend it! – turn to p6. Printed in the UK by Midway Clark (Holt) and William Gibbons Have fun! © Future Publishing Ltd 2007 Future Publishing Ltd, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2BW Tel 01225 442244 Email [email protected] LINUX is a trademark of Linus Torvalds, GNU/Linux is abbreviated to Linux throughout for brevity. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Future Publishing Ltd is part of Future plc. Future produces carefully targeted special-interest magazines for people who share a passion. We aim to satisfy that passion by creating titles offering value for money, reliable information, smart buying advice and which are a Paul Hudson Editor pleasure to read. Today we publish more than 150 magazines in the UK, US, France and Italy. Over 100 [email protected] international editions of our magazines are also published in 30 other countries across the world. Future plc is a public company quoted on the HINGS OPEN SOURCE! IDE TO ALL T London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR). THE BEGINNER’S GU DVD Non-executive chairman Roger Parry Chief executive Stevie Spring INSIDE Group finance director John Bowman Tel +44 (0)1225 442244 www.futureplc.com LXFS13 The Linu x Star THE LINUX ATLANTA • BATH • LONDON • MILAN • NEW YORK • ter Pack PARIS • SAN DIEGO • SAN FRANCISCO • Install ation STARTER PACKw? Interne t don’t know ho indows bu inux! t a t to dump W g L pps Wan e to usin mplete guid Word processin Here’s your co g Desk top publishing Photo manipulation Spreadshe ets BitTorren t Instant me ssaging Troublesh ooting All you nee d to ge N £9.99 ISSUE THIRTEE t starte d with Linux 4:22:02 ! 10/4/08 1 r Linux The #1 source fo LXFS13.welcome 3 15/4/08 18:03:16 Contents Ready to master Linux? Start your engines and pick your topic… Install guide p10 Disc in hand and ready to go: start here! Helpdesk On your DVD Along with plain vanilla Ubuntu, you’ll find a 64-bit version and a super-sized version with lots more! Solve it! 110 PLUS: OpenOffice.org .....................................30 Got some problems with Your complete new suite of productivity apps. Linux? Want to push your skills a little further but don’t know how? Upgrade your inner Linux master the easy way. 4 Linux starter pack LXFS13.contents 4 15/4/08 18:25:56 Contents The complete listing What’s in this starter pack ........................................6 Compiz desktop effects .........................................68 Read this first to get the most from your magazine. Yes, yes: Linux can make your desktop into a spinning cube with fire effects and more. The point? You tell us, but we love it anyway! Install guide .............................................................. 10 Make this your first stop before you put the disc in the drive. Use media codecs .................................................... 72 Flash? Check. Java? Check. DVDs? Ditto. But not by default, because Your new Linux desktop ..........................................14 they’re nasty proprietary things. But if you want them, turn here… Who? What? When? How? We explain the basics of Linux use. Media ripping ............................................................ 76 On the web ................................................................22 Ditch your CD collection and go all-digital like the cool kids! Surf the web with Firefox, and do even more with its add-ons! Disc burning ..............................................................80 Reading your emails ................................................26 It’s like media ripping, but in reverse: turn your digital data into discs Make to-do lists, create calendars, store your contacts and more. to pass around or sell for fun and profit. OpenOffice.org Writer .............................................30 Create disc inlays .....................................................82 If you’re looking for a capable word processor that looks and works …and if you’ve just followed the disc burning tutorial on p80, you can much like Microsoft Word, this is the place to go. now learn how to make smart disc inlays to finish the product! OpenOffice.org Calc ................................................34 Instant messaging ...................................................86 Spreadsheets might look dull from a distance, but OOo Calc at least Chat to your friends, or even cold-call random strangers if you want, ensures they’re easy to create and play with! but whatever you do instant messaging is great fun! OpenOffice.org Impress .........................................38 BitTorrent downloads ..............................................90 Learn how to make presentations for business, but only if you Get files the fast way, and build a community at the same time. promise never to use letter-by-letter animated fly-ins. Printing documents .................................................92 OpenOffice.org Base ...............................................42 Take Apache further with techniques for hosting pages for other Get your CD collection organised the geeky way: enter it, sort it, print users, set bandwidth and request limits, and rewrite URLs. it, then maybe finally get around to listening to it too… Secure your machine ..............................................96 Make your own stationery ......................................46 Linux is secure, but that’s no reason to rest easy. Make some clipart then turn it into a letterhead – fast. Adding software .................................................... 100 Edit your photos .......................................................50 There are thousands of packages available if you want them, so get Got a digital camera and some photos you want to tart up? Get the hooked up to the internet and get downloading! knowledge you need to make them perfect with Linux! The best of free software .....................................104 Play games and have fun .......................................58 With so much great software to choose from, how do you know what Linux isn’t all serious stuff – we’ve got games galore too! to try? We make it easier by picking out the best just for you.