Translations by Lars Christian Jensen

Ubuntu can also connect using mobile broadband, \acronym{VPN}s, or \acronym{DSL}s, however, these methods are beyond the scope of this guide.

If the network is unprotected (\ie, the network signal meter does not display a padlock), a connection should be established within a few seconds. The NetworkManager icon in the top panel will animate as Ubuntu attempts to establish a connection, and if it connects successfully will then change to display signal meter. A notification message in the upper right of your screen will also appear, informing you that a connection was established.

To connect to a wireless network, select the desired network's name from the list. This will be the name that was set up when the wireless router or access point was installed. If you are in a workplace or a location with a publicly accessible wireless network, the network name will usually make it easy to identify.

\marginnote{To improve speed and reliability of your connection, try to move closer to your access point.}

Ubuntu is usually able to detect any wireless networks that are available within range of your wireless card. To see a list of wireless networks, click on the NetworkManager icon. Under the ``Wireless Networks'' heading, you should see a list of available wireless networks. Each network will be shown with a name on the left, and a signal meter on the right. A signal meter looks like a series of bars \dash the more bars that are filled in, the stronger the connection will be.

Ubuntu will log in to your primary account automatically when you start up the computer so you won't have to enter your username and password. This makes your login experience quicker and more convenient, however, if privacy or security are important to you, this option is not recommended. Anyone who can physically access your computer will be able to turn it on and also access your files.

Now you need to decide on your computer's name. Again, this will be filled in for you automatically using the login name you entered above (it will say something like ``john-desktop'' or ``john-laptop.''), however, it can be changed if you prefer. Your computer name will mainly be used for identifying your computer if you are on a home or office network with multiple other computers. To learn more about setting up a network, refer to \chaplink{ch:default-applications}.

When a new version of Ubuntu is released, sometimes the \glspl{server} can get clogged up with large numbers of people downloading or upgrading at the same time. If you are familiar with using torrents, you may wish to download the torrent file by clicking ``Alternative download options,'' and obtain your copy of the \acronym{CD} image this way instead. You may see significant improvements to your download speed, and will also be helping to spread Ubuntu to other users worldwide. Again, if you are unsure how to use torrents, you can use the default download options on the website.

The easiest and most common method for getting Ubuntu is to download the Ubuntu \emph{\acronym{CD} image} directly from \url{http://www.ubuntu.com}. Head to the website and click the ``Download Ubuntu'' link at the top. Select the nearest download location to you in the drop-down box (to ensure maximum download speed), then click ``Begin Download.''

Before you can get started with Ubuntu, you will need to obtain a copy of the Ubuntu installation \acronym{CD}. Some options for doing this are outlined below.

You may notice the words ``Ubuntu Desktop 10.04 (32-bit)'' underneath the default download button on the website. If you are unsure what 32-bit means, don't worry. 32-bit will work on most computers, so if in doubt, simply proceed with the download. However, if you know that your computer is capable of using 64-bit software, you may wish to try the 64-bit version instead. To do this click on ``Alternative download options'' and make your selection.

\textbf{Many commercial games will not run on Ubuntu.} If you are a heavy gamer, then Ubuntu may not be for you. Game developers usually design games for the largest market, where they can make the most profit. Since Ubuntu's market share is not as substantial as Microsoft's Windows or Apple's Mac \acronym{OS~X}, most game developers will not allocate resources towards making their games compatible with Ubuntu. If you just like to play a game every now and then, there is active game development within the community, and many high quality games can be easily installed through \application{Ubuntu Software Center}. Additionally, some games developed for Windows will also work in Ubuntu with \application{Wine}.

Ubuntu is built on the foundation of Linux, which is a member of the Unix family. Unix is one of the oldest types of operating systems and has provided reliability and security in professional applications for almost half a century. Many servers around the world that store data for popular websites (such as YouTube and Google) run some variant of a Unix system.

Linux was designed from the ground up with security and hardware compatibility in mind, and is currently one of the most popular Unix-based operating system. One of the benefits of Linux is that it is incredibly flexible and can be configured to run on almost any device\dash from the smallest micro-computers and cellphones to larger super-computers. Initially, Unix was entirely command line-based until Graphical User Interfaces (\glspl{GUI}) began to emerge in the early 1990s.

While large organizations often find it useful to pay for support services, Shuttleworth has promised that the Ubuntu desktop system will always be free. As of 2010, Ubuntu desktop is installed on nearly 2\% of the world's computers. This equates to millions of users worldwide, and is growing each year.

Ubuntu core applications are all free and open source. We want you to use free and open source software, improve it, and pass it on.

Ubuntu was conceived in 2004 by Mark Shuttleworth, a successful South African entrepreneur, and his company \gls{Canonical}. Shuttleworth recognized the power of Linux and Open Source, but was also aware of weaknesses that prevented mainstream use.

If you are after more detail, there are excellent resources available at \url{http://help.ubuntu.com}. Ubuntu's built-in system documentation is also very useful for accessing help on specific topics, and can be found by clicking \menu{System\then Help and Support} in Ubuntu. If something isn't covered here, chances are you will find the information you are looking for in one of those locations. We will try our best to include links to more detailed help wherever we can.

Our goal is to cover the basics of Ubuntu (such as installation and working with the desktop) as well as guide you through some of the most popular applications. We designed this guide to be simple to follow with step-by-step instructions and plenty of screenshots, allowing you to discover the potential of your new Ubuntu system even if you are a novice computer user or are migrating from another operating system for the first time.

\emph{Getting Started with Ubuntu 10.04} is not intended to be a comprehensive Ubuntu instruction manual. It is more like a quick-start guide that will get you doing the things you need to do with your computer quickly and easily, without getting bogged down in technical details.

\newglossaryentry{ISP}{name={\acronym{ISP}}, description={\acronym{ISP} stands for \emph{Internet Service Provider}, an \acronym{ISP} is a company that provides you with your internet connection.}}

A \gls{wireless connection} is when your computer is connected to the Internet via a wireless radio network, also known as Wi-Fi. Laptop computers commonly use Wi-Fi due to their portability, making it easy to access the Internet from different rooms in the house or when traveling. In order to connect to wireless connection, you must have a working wireless network. You will usually need to purchase and install a \emph{wireless router} or \emph{access point}, although some locations will already have a wireless network established.

\marginnote{If you are unsure whether your computer has a wireless card, check with your manufacturer.}

In order to connect to the Internet in Ubuntu, you need to use the \application{NetworkManager} utility. NetworkManager allows you to turn all networking on or off, and helps you manage your wired, wireless, and other connections.

\screenshot{03-enable-networking.png}{ss:networking-right-click}{This is the menu when you right click the networking icon.}

Ubuntu, just like other operating systems, has a built-in help reference, called the \application{Ubuntu Help Center}. To access it, click on the help icon in the top panel. You can also access it by clicking \menu{Help and Support} in the \menu{System} menu.

If you can't find an answer to your question in this manual or in the \application{Ubuntu Help Center}, you can contact the Ubuntu community through the Ubuntu Forums (\url{http://ubuntuforums.org}). Many Ubuntu users open an account on the forums to receive help, and in turn provide support to others as they gain more knowledge. Another useful resource is the Ubuntu Wiki (\url{https://wiki.ubuntu.com}), a website maintained by the Ubuntu community.

This margin note is confusing to me - are you saying that to connect to a network (ie access files from my home computer with my laptop) I do the same thing as connecting to the internet? This is not the case and will probably confuse people so have removed it for now. \marginnote{In this guide we will limit our discussion to connecting to the Internet, however, connecting to a home or office network is usually performed in a similar manner.}

\marginnote{We encourage you to check any information you find on other websites with multiple sources when possible, but only follow directions if you understand them completely.}

To save energy, you can put your computer into sleep mode, which will save its current condition and allow you to start more quickly while remaining on but using very little energy. Suspending the computer spins down the hard disk and saves your session to memory, so it is very quick to suspend and resume from suspension.

From the session menu, you can also select \menu{Lock Screen} to require a password before using the computer again \dash this is useful if you need to leave your computer for some duration. You can also use the session menu to set up a guest session for a friend to try Ubuntu, or to \emph{switch users} to log into another user account without closing your applications.

\marginnote{You can lock your screen quickly by using the keyboard shortcut \keystroke{Ctrl+Alt+L}. Locking your screen is recommended if you move away from your computer for a short amount of time.}

\marginnote{You can also change the background by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting \button{Change Desktop Background} from the pop-up menu.} Click the \button{Background} tab in the Appearance Preferences window to change the desktop background. Here you will see Ubuntu's default selection of backgrounds, however, if you have your own pictures stored on your computer you can use these as well. To change the background simply click the picture you would like to use from the list in front of you. To use your own, click the \button{Add\ldots} button, and navigate to the image you want. Double-click it, and the change will take effect immediately. This image will also then be added to your list of available backgrounds.

Make sure that the \button{Activate screensaver when computer is idle} option is selected if you want to enable the screensaver. The slider can be adjusted to set the idle time. If the screensaver starts after the designated period of inactivity, you can resume working on your computer by pressing any key or moving your mouse. For added security, you can also select the \button{Lock screen when screensaver is active} option. In this case, Ubuntu will ask you for your login password when you return to the computer.

You can also change the fonts used throughout your desktop through the Appearance Preferences window by clicking on the \button{Fonts} tab. You can individually set the font style and size for applications, documents, desktop items, window titles, and for anything using fixed width fonts. The Rendering section at the bottom of the Fonts window gives you four options for changing the way that fonts are drawn on your screen. Changing these may improve the appearance of text on different types of monitors.

\application{Orca} is another useful tool for persons with visual impairments, and comes pre-installed on Ubuntu. To run \application{Orca}, press \keystroke{Alt+F2} and type \userinput{orca} into the command text field. Click \button{Run} when you are done. Orca's voice synthesizer will activate and assist you through the various options such as voice type, voice language, Braille, and screen magnification. Once you have finished selecting your settings, you will need to log out of the computer (Orca will offer to do this for you). When you log back in, the Orca settings you chose will automatically run every time you use your computer.

The \window{Appearance Preferences} window will initially display the \button{Theme} tab when it opens. Here you can select a theme that will control the appearance of your windows, buttons, scroll bars, panels, icons, and other parts of the desktop. The theme called ``Ambiance'' is enabled by default, however, you will see there are seven other default themes to choose from in the list. Just click once on the theme you want to try, and the changes will take effect immediately.

Ubuntu provides a selection of applets that can be added to any panel. Applets ranges from the informative to the fun, and can also provide quick access to some tasks. To add an applet, right-click on a panel then select \button{Add to Panel\ldots} from the popup menu. A window will appear with a list of available applets, which can then be dragged to an empty space on a panel. You may want to spend some time exploring the different ones available\dash they can easily be removed from your panel by right-clicking on the applet and selecting \button{Remove From Panel}. To reposition an existing applet, right-click on it and select \button{Move}. Move your mouse cursor to the desired location (this can even be a different panel) and the applet will follow, then left-click to drop it into place.

The \application{Add to Panel\ldots} window can also be used to add additional application launchers to your panel, similar to the \application{Firefox} launcher that sits to the right of the \button{System} menu. To add a new one, double-click on \button{Application Launcher\ldots} near the top of the window. Here you can navigate through your applications and drag them to your panel to create a new launcher, just as you did to add an applet previously. Program launchers can also be removed and repositioned through their right-click menu. \marginnote{You can also add program launchers to a panel by dragging them directly from the \menu{Applications} menu, in the left of the top panel.}

To modify your workspaces, right-click on the \emph{workspace switcher} applet (by default this is on the right side of the bottom panel, just to the left of the Trash applet) and select \button{Preferences}. In the window that appears you can choose how many workspaces you want in total, and whether these will be displayed on the panel in one or more rows. You can also rename each workspace, and have the names displayed in the panel applet. If you prefer, you can also choose to just have the workspace you are currently using displayed in the panel. In this case you can still change between workspaces by moving the mouse over the workspace switcher, and scrolling the mouse wheel.

An alternative way of hiding the panel is to do so manually. Clicking on \button{Show hide buttons} will add a button to each side of the panel that can be used to hide it from view. By default these buttons will display directional arrows, however, you can select the \button{Arrows on hide buttons} option to remove the arrows and just have plain buttons. Clicking one of these \emph{hide buttons} on the panel will slide it across the screen and out of view, leaving just the opposite hide button in sight which you can click to bring it back. \marginnote{By default, Ubuntu requires that you maintain at least one panel on the desktop. If you prefer a Microsoft Windows feel, a panel at the bottom of the desktop can be set to start programs as well as select between open windows. Alternatively, if you prefer a Mac \acronym{OS~X} look you can keep a panel at the top and add an applications dock such as \application{Docky}, \application{Avant Window Navigator} (\acronym{AWN}), or \application{Cairo-Dock}. These are all available in the \application{Ubuntu Software Center}, which is discussed further in \chaplink{ch:software-management}.} The \button{Background} tab in the Panel Properties window allows you to change the appearance of the panel. By default, this is set to \button{None (use system theme)}, meaning that your desktop theme will dictate the appearance of the panel (we will look at how to change your desktop theme below). If you prefer, you can choose your own panel color by selecting the \button{Solid color} button, then opening the color select window. You can also set the panel transparency using the slider. Alternatively, you can click the \button{Background image} button if you have an image or pattern stored on your computer that you would like to use as your panel background. Use the file selector to locate the background image in your computer, then click \button{Open} to apply the change.

To further modify the look and feel of your desktop such as the background, fonts, and window theme, you can do so through \application{Appearance Preferences}. To access this, navigate to \menu{System \then Preferences \then Appearance} in the top panel.

Opening multiple \application{Nautilus} windows can be useful for dragging files and folders between locations. The option of \emph{tabs} is also available in \application{Nautilus}, as well as the use of {panes}.\marginnote{When dragging items between \application{Nautilus} windows, tabs or panes, a small symbol will appear over the mouse cursor to let you know which action will be performed when you release the mouse button. A plus sign (+) indicates you are about to copy the item, whereas a small arrow means the item will be moved. The default action will depend on the locations you are using.} When browsing a folder in \application{Nautilus}, to open a second window select \menu{New Window} from the \menu{File} menu. This will open a new window, allowing you to drag files and folders between two locations. To open a new tab, click \menu{File \then New Tab}. A new row will appear above the space used for browsing your files containing two tabs\dash both will display the directory you were originally browsing. You can click these tabs to switch between them, and click and drag files or folders between tabs the same as you would between windows. You can also open a second pane in Nautilus so you can see two locations at once without having to switch between tabs or windows. To open a second pane, click \menu{View \then Extra Pane}, or alternatively press \keystroke{F3} on your keyboard. Again, dragging files and folders between panes is a quick way to move or copy items.

\marginnote{Search for files quickly by pressing \keystroke{Ctrl+F} in \application{Nautilus} and then typing what you want to find.}

\marginnote{\emph{Instant messaging} (\acronym{IM}) is a means of text-based communication where you can hold a conversation with someone over the Internet, instantly.} The \menu{Internet} sub-menu is where you will find the \application{Firefox} web browser, the \application{Empathy} Instant Messenger client to allow you to talk to your friends and family, and \application{Ubuntu One}, a program that allows you to sync and backup your files across many different computers.

\marginnote{To add a new applet to a panel, right click in a clear area on the panel and select \button{Add to Panel.}}

On the right side of this panel you will find the \emph{notification area}, which is similar in function to the ``system tray'' in Windows, or the ``menu extras'' area on the Mac \acronym{OS~X} menubar. Next to this is the \gls{MeMenu}, which will display your username (the name you entered during installation) and is used to update social network sites like Twitter and Facebook as well as set your Instant Messaging status in \application{Empathy}. Finally, on the far right of the panel is the session menu, which provides menu options for locking your computer, logging out, restarting, or shutting down completely.

Left-clicking icons in the notification area will bring up a list of options, and in some cases right-clicking an icon will also perform an action related to that program. For example, to adjust the volume, simply left-click once on the volume icon and a volume slider will appear. Click the date and time applet to open a small calendar, and then click a specific date to add a reminder to your calendar through \application{Evolution} (see \chaplink{ch:default-applications} for more information on \application{Evolution}).

Ubuntu runs well on most computer systems. If you are unsure whether it will work on your computer, the Live \acronym{CD} is a great way to test things out first. For the more technically minded, below is a list of hardware specifications that your computer should ideally meet as a minimum requirement. \marginnote{The majority of computers in use today will meet the requirements listed here, however, refer to your computer's documentation or speak to the manufacturer if you would like more information.}

When you first log in to Ubuntu after installing it to your hard drive, you will see the \acronym{GNOME} desktop. Ubuntu is highly customizable, as is the \acronym{GNOME} desktop, but for now let's just explore the default layout that is in front of you.