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Things I have done to install my boxes with Ubuntu 10.04.

1. Installation

The installation steps for Ubuntu have been greatly and nicely improved and simplified over the years. Furthermore, its AMD64 version is very reliable and user-friendly too, so use it whenever possible.

• Base Ubuntu System. Download the Ubuntu CD image and prepare it on a CD or a USB stick. Install it. Check this [www.ubuntu.com] for details.
• Xfce. Xfce promises very responsive desktop experience. From the Ubuntu Software Center, install 'default Settings for Xubuntu' (xubuntu-default-settings), 'Meta-package for the Xfce Lightweight Desktop Environment' (xfce4), 'enhancements for the Xfce4 Desktop Environment' (xfce4-goodies).
• Better web experience with Adobe Flash and Java Applets. From the Ubuntu Software Center, install 'Adobe Flash plugin' and 'Standard Java or Java compatible Runtime' (default-jre).
• Google Chrome Browser. From the Ubuntu Software Center, install 'Chromium Web Browser'. If you hunger for the latest version (probably unstable), you can check this [ubuntuupdates.org] or this [code.google.com].
• Python. From the Ubuntu Software Center, install 'Python (v3.1)'.
• Wine for running Windows applications. Follow the instructions here [www.winehq.org].
• Complete Chinese support -- More Fonts and Input Methods. Chinese characters can be displayed correctly with the default installation. But you may need more fonts and input methods. Use System -> Language Support to do it. Supports for other languages can be installed similarly.
  
  • Support of Chinese PDF files. From the Ubuntu Software Center, install 'Encoding data for the poppler PDF rendering library' (poppler-data), 'Portable Document Format (PDF) suite -- simplified Chinese language support' (xpdf-chinese-simplified), and 'Portable Document Format (PDF) suite -- traditional Chinese language support' (xpdf-chinese-traditional).
• VirtualBox. Follow the instructions here [www.virtualbox.org] to add the repository and to install the package.
• Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Filesystem Defragmentation, System Crash Monitor/Analyzer/Recovery. Don't have them as you don't need them!
  
  • If you want to protect other platforms from virus infection, use ClamAV.
• Other useful applications: Medibuntu, VirtualBox, GNU Emacs, Gimp, build-essential, manpages-dev, conky, mc, k3b, geeqie, etc.

2. Customization

• Add scanner and printer driver. Switch on your scanner and printer, and the system can detect most models successfully and install the drivers automatically.
  
  • Fuji Xerox WorkCentre PE220 and Samsung SCX-4500 Series
• Use static IP if possible. It is faster than dynamic IP.
• Configure how removable media should be handled. Settings -> Settings Manager -> Removable Drives and Media.