To provide education and support for open source software on desktop computers in and around Richmond, Indiana. Ask a question.

Support for Linux and Open Source in Richmond, Indiana

Open Source

We provide support for Richmond, Indiana area users of open source through our Google Group. Please visit our Google Group to browse the archives or sign up to ask a new question.

Try Open Source

Linux | Open Source

To try Linux, I recommend trying the Ubuntu LiveCD.

Linux LiveCDs allow you to try a fully functional Linux desktop. All you have to do boot from the CD drive. No software will be installed or modified on your hard drive as part of this. You can download a LiveCD with broadband internet. You can alsoget a LiveCD of the Ubuntu distribution mailed to you for free if you just ask for one. Finally, it's quite likely someone local has one they
would be willing to loan or give away. contact us to find out.

Mark Stosberg's picture

Learn

Perhaps the best way to learn about open source software is to try it.

Here are some other pages to on this site to start your learning experience:

Recommended pages from other websites include:

If you have questions along the way, feel free to contact us.

About ROSCo

RoscoThe Richmond Open Source Community is a project to provide education and support for Open Source Software on desktops in and around Richmond, Indiana.

Please join us in our Google Group or contact us for more information.

Recommend Linux Distributions for Older Hardware

Hardware

The following Linux distributions are made especially for old hardware, and have been tested or used locally.

Xubuntu is recommended as a first choice for a light desktop, although perhaps it requires a little more resources than the other options listed here. Mark finds it very polished and pleasant to use. As part of the Ubuntu project, access to lots of other Ubuntu software programs and documentation are available if you need it. If already have Ubuntu installed and want to try Xubuntu, you can install the xubuntu-desktop package, making both the Gnome and Xubuntu packages installed. On the login screen, select "XFCE" as the session type. If Xubuntu is still too slow on your computer, read on...

Performance Tips for Linux

Hardware | Linux | Ubuntu

Here are some easy tips to make your Linux desktop run even faster.

  • Give up the wallpaper Try right clicking on the desktop and selecting the "Configure Desktop" to find an option to use a plain color instead of a photo wall paper. Ubuntuclips.org has a video walk through of this task.
  • Disable File Previews UbuntuClips shows you how to do this for Ubuntu.
  • Avoid OpenOffice OpenOffice is powerful and easy to use. It's also a memory hog. Consider Abiword for basic word processing and Gnumeric for spreadsheets. You could still install OpenOffice, but only launch it if you need it. In Ubuntu, the abiword-plugins package adds support for more file formats, making it easier to work with Word and OpenOffice files.

Printers recommended for use with Linux

Printing

For a list of printers recommended for use with Linux, see LinuxPrinting.org's page of suggested printers.

LinuxPrinting.org also has a service to check the a compatibility of a particular printer model.

Why get a laptop

Hardware

Even if you don't need the portability of laptop, consider the following. Laptops include LCD screens, which are easy to read and can show more "screen real estate" than conventional monitors. A 15" laptop screen can contain as much detail as a 17" old school model.

If you don't like using a laptop on your lap, it's easy to prop it on a stand to put the screen at eye level, and plug in an conventional keyboard and mouse if you like.

Laptops can be silent. Laptops can quickly suspend and resume, making them totally quiet, while providing a much faster alternative to shutting down and booting up again.