Asus Eee pc - Linux problem

[Cloven]

Hi all

Just been given an Asus Eee PC900 for XMas which runs the Linux OS. No problem with installed programmes but never having used Linux before I can't find out how to install new programmes. The manual gives no guidance whatsoever other than downloading programmes from the ASUS site which are very limited.

It currently runs Firefox as the web browser and I want to update to the latest version. I have downloaded the Linux version of Firefox but I can't find out how to get it to run.

Also, because I want to use this on the boat, I want to install a GRIB programme. I have found that ZyGrib do a Linux version but again, how do I get it to run.

Any help very gratefully received.

 

[RAI]

It depends a little on which distribution of Linux you are using. I moved my Linux to the Ubuntu netbook version as the Xantra version was in Dutch and they didn't allow a language change. Ubuntu is somewhat friendlier, has a greater range of easily loaded applications and good support sites.

In any case, the price of a free operating system is the need to learn its different ways. Linux has six or seven ways to load a new program, Windoze only one. So Linux is not really for dummies like me. I have been struggling to learn it for years now and still have problems getting programs to work.

This machine has both Vista and Ubuntu Linux on it, dual boot, as there are always things that one can do that the other cannot.

You will probably save time and frustration (but not money) by replacing the Linux with Windoze on your eeePC.

 

[elton]

Sorry to say, you've probably got a steep learning curve ahead.

However. there are some excellent sources of info on the eeePC, in particular eeeuser.com.

I've installed zyGrib installed on my Asus 701 by following Cy's Blog, as well as JTides and SeaClear.

 

[prv]

Afraid I can't help with the specifics, as Linux comes in a variety of different flavours (known as "distributions") and the details of installing new software is one of the things that tends to differ between them. Some concepts are common to most though.

Most software (except the rare commercial application or obscure program) is obtained via the maker of the distribution, not directly from the people who produce the application you want. The distro maker maintains a set of update servers, and when you tell your computer to install package xyz, it goes off and fetches it from there, together with any other packages it might need. This approach of packages depending on other packages is more common on Linux than elsewhere, but because of the automated install systems these days it doesn't cause any problem.

So ideally, your netbook distro will have been set up with some kind of "Install new software", "Add/remove packages", or "Find new programs" graphical tool. If so, and if the program you want is in the distro's list, just go in there and select it and all will be done for you automatically. Firefox certainly will be; a quick check seems to suggest that Zygrib is in Ubuntu, which is a common distro, so you should be in luck.

In general, the approach of finding some website and downloading a file and then running it is not what you want. It is a valid way of installing things (for example, obscure little things that haven't been adopted into the distro) but it's not the mainstream way. You start at the other end, with your machine's software package manager, and let it go and get things for you.

If you can find out which distribution of Linux you have, that would help.

Pete

 

[Fantasie 19]

Life is too short... my advice would be to install Windows in any flavour you like...

 

[prv]

Life is too short... my advice would be to install Windows in any flavour you like...

Life's too short to mess about with Windows

Get a Mac

Pete

 

[theoldsalt]

DaveWarbuton,

I too recommend removing Linux and installing either Windows XP or 7.

Before doing so, however :-

Firstly ensure you have the means to reinstate Linux (install facility and instructions should come with the laptop) should you wish to.

Secondly ensure you can download drivers (graphics, sound etc) for your laptop from the internet.
see http://support.asus.com/Download.aspx?SLanguage=en&m=Eee PC 900/XP&p=20&os=

 

[BAtoo]

Life is too short... my advice would be to install Windows in any flavour you like...

+1

(32-bit flavour)

 

[Heckler]

+1

(32-bit flavour)

Ive got one, i put xp home on it instead of the linux, it was dead easy, i copied an xp disk on to an sd card, booted from that and away it went, the drivers were easy to find and it works well.
Stu

 

[cozzykim]

http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/11/06/eee-pc-tips-a-crash-course-in-linux/

 

[st599]

Hi all

Just been given an Asus Eee PC900 for XMas which runs the Linux OS. No problem with installed programmes but never having used Linux before I can't find out how to install new programmes. The manual gives no guidance whatsoever other than downloading programmes from the ASUS site which are very limited.

It currently runs Firefox as the web browser and I want to update to the latest version. I have downloaded the Linux version of Firefox but I can't find out how to get it to run.

Also, because I want to use this on the boat, I want to install a GRIB programme. I have found that ZyGrib do a Linux version but again, how do I get it to run.

Any help very gratefully received.

It will have a software manager. Fire it up, search for the software you want, it will install it, and all the other bits that you need to run it.

There may be an option to include more repositories of software in the settings somewhere (you usually need to manually select anything which risks infringing patents).

For software that isn't in a repository, you'll need either a deb or rpm file (depends on your linux variant). Double click and the software manager will install it.

Any software installed by the software manager will automatically update when a new version becomes available.

 

[CreakyDecks]

I bought my 13 year old daughter an Asus eee for Christmas. That had Windows 7 installed on it and after setting up accounts, installing an antivirus program, making a backup and registering for the Windows Spyware that lets me see what she's been up to and kicks her off at night I haven't been bothered by her once. That's how computing should be, if she bugs me or I have to look anything up it's a **** system!