Virginia Tech Linux & UNIX Users’ Group

Lots of VTLUUG users are dedicated Ubuntu fans, and recently the latest version of Ubuntu was released!

The Latest and Greatest

• Firefox 3 (Beta 5) included by default
• PDF support for Inkscape
• PulseAudio integration
• Enhanced CD Burning with Brasero
• GVFS!

Of course, all the Ubuntu editions have been upgraded, incl., Xubuntu, Kubuntu. If you prefer KDE check out Kubuntu, it’s got the latest KDE4.

For an excellent preview to the Hardy Heron (including sweet sceenshots) check out the Lifehacker article covering the release.

Want to upgrade your current Ubuntu system? Upgrading Instructions

Phew! We are back online! So what happened? Due to the economic downturn we were unable to pay the hamster that runs the wheel that turns the server his normal wage. He was unrelenting in his demands, and when we couldn’t deliver, he stormed out.

We decided to take the time and invest in some quality sever propulsion systems (good ‘ol SPSs) and spruce up our image a little bit. We’ve updated to a fancy Wordpress v2.5 and migrated our forums from yesterdays-news-phpBB to the bleeding edge SMF. Our wiki is still the trusty behemoth MediaWiki.

We apologize for the inconvenience.. overall this site should have a much more reliable uptime. All user accounts should be migrated for the Wiki and the Forums. If you experience any difficulties please contact us ASAP.

Even though we are nearing the end of yet another semester here at Virginia Tech, we have saved some of the best presentations for last. To start with, the Linux & UNIX Users’ Group will be proud to host Professor Bukvic of the Music department here to do a presentation on Linux Audio (in a professional multimedia environment). The event details are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, November 13th, starting at 7:30 PM
Location: Downtown Studio (directions)
Primary Topics: Linux Audio, JACK, DISIS

It should be a great presentation, so we hope to see you there.

Additionally, we are fortunate enough to have another guest speaker to do another presentation for us at the end of November. We will be hosting Dr. Harry Foxwell of Sun Microsystems to discuss Sun’s OpenSolaris project, on Tuesday, November 27th, starting at 7:30 PM in the Graduate Life Center (formerly Donaldson Brown Hotel & Conference Center) Auditorium. More details will be forthcoming as we get closer to the date of the presentation, but this is quite possibly the largest Linux & UNIX Users’ Group event in quite a few years. We look forward to having a large turnout, so please be sure to let anyone interested in Solaris, OpenSolaris, or any of the amazing technologies Sun has created (such as DTrace and ZFS) about the presentation, and come on out yourselves. We hope to see you all there.

I am sure most of you know by now that the latest release of Ubuntu was released.

So you might be asking what’s new?

Well here is the low-down.

• Compiz-Fusion will be shipped, and enabled by default.
• A GUI app titled “Screen & Graphics” to configure the X11 server. (Found under System/Preferences)
• Dual Screen users rejoice!
• Fast user switching
• Tracker (beagle/google desktop alternative) enabled by default.
• Various Security Tool enhancements (AppArmor)
• Automatic Printer Detection/Handling

If you do not have Ubuntu 7.04 installed (Feisty Fawn) then check out this decent installation guide. If you already have it installed Ubuntu has some pretty good upgrade advice, check out their Gutsy Upgrades page. Also if you are having any problems or want to see requirements for the installation check out the Release Notes.

Of course the VTLUUG will be available to help anyone in the New River Valley area through the process of installation and upgrading. Stop by our forums, and make a request for help!

Update: Wired Review - Ubuntu’s New ‘Gutsy Gibbon’ Brings Linux Out of the Jungle

Hey everyone,

Thanks to all who came out for the Crash Course tonight, along with my apologies for not being able to present everything within the given time frame. That said, the slides from tonight’s presentation are available in both PDF and PowerPoint form at:

http://www.vtluug.org.vt.edu/files/users/elbles

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone who couldn’t make it tonight tomorrow night!