Installing Google Chrome on Xubuntu

Firefox is the default web browser on Xubuntu. You can install an additional browser, such as Google Chrome. This document can help you download Chrome and then install it on your Xubuntu PC.

Note: The procedures in this document specifically apply to Xubuntu 12.04, and generally apply to all Xubuntu releases.

Downloading Chrome - To download Chrome for your Xubuntu PC, do the following:

1. Click the Applications Menu (white mouse), select Internet, and then click Firefox Web Browser to display its Ubuntu Start Page.
2. In the Google search field, type google chrome, and then press Enter to search for and display links to Google Chrome.
3. Click Chrome Browser - Google, click Download Chrome, select 32 bit .deb (For Debian/Ubuntu), and then click Accept and Install.
4. Select Save File, and then click OK to download Chrome.
5. Close Firefox, and then install Chrome according to procedure below.
   
    
   
   
   

Installing Chrome - To install Chrome on your Xubuntu PC, do the following:

1. Download Chrome according to the procedure above.
2. Double-click your Home folder, click Download, right-click the google-chrome-stable-current file, and then click Open With Ubuntu Software Center.
3. After the Ubuntu Software Center window displays google-chrome-stable, click Install, type your password, and then click Authenticate.
4. Close the Ubuntu Software Center window, click Applications Menu (white mouse), select Internet, click Google Chrome, make it your default browser (optional), and then click Start Google Chrome. (If prompted to Choose password for new keyring, click Cancel).
    
   
    
   

Setting up Xubuntu

Xubuntu is a community-developed Linux distribution based on Ubuntu core components and the Xfce Linux desktop environment. As I show in Getting started with Xubuntu, it works very well immediately after you install it. However, you can set up (customize, configure) Xubuntu according to your needs or preferences.

After studying and/or trying example set-up procedures for Xubuntu, you can more easily perform its other setup procedures. This document contains the following example procedures:

• Displaying the Settings window
• Customizing the date and time display
• Customizing windows
• Setting up the mouse

Notes:

• The example procedures in this document specifically apply to Xubuntu 12.04, and generally apply to all Xubuntu releases.
• My example settings show only how I have set up my Xubuntu PC. Of course, despite my sophisticated taste, you must set up your PC according to your preferences. :-)

Displaying the Settings window - The Settings window contains icons through which you can set up almost all Xubuntu features. To display your Settings window, do the following:

1. Move your mouse pointer to the bottom of the screen to display its bottom panel, which contains several application icons.
2. Place your mouse pointer over the Settings Manager icon to display its name and description.
3. Click the Settings Manager icon to display the Settings window.

Customizing the date and time display - To customize the date and time display in the top panel on your Xubuntu screen, do the following:

1. Display the Settings window according to the procedure above, click Panel to display its window, and then select Panel 1 (if not already selected). Note: Panel 1 is at the top of the screen, Panel 2 at the bottom.
2. In the Measurements section, use the Size (pixels) slider to change the panel size to 35 pixels. Note: Increasing the height of Panel 1 makes your date and time easier to read.
3. Close the Panel window.
4. Right-click the current date and time to display the Datetime properties menu.
5. Click Properties to display its window.
6. In the Layout section, set Format to Date, then time.
7. In the Date section, click the current font, set its style to Bold, set the Format to mm/dd/yy, and then click OK.
8. In the Time section, set the font style to Bold, set the Format to 23:59:59, and then click OK.

 

Customizing windows - To customize all windows that display on your Xubuntu desktop, do the following:

1. Display the Settings window according to the procedure in the Displaying the Settings window section above.
2. Click Window Manager to display its window.
3. In the Theme section, scroll to and select Wallis.
4. In the Title font section, increase the font size to 11 pt.
5. In the Button layout section, click and drag buttons to place Close, Maximize, and Hide buttons on the left; and the Menu button on the right.
6. Close the Window Manager window.

 Setting up the mouse - To set up your mouse (or touchpad), do the following:

1. Display the Settings window according to the procedure in the Displaying the Settings window section above.
2. Click Mouse and Touchpad to display its window.
3. Make adjustments according to your preferences. For example, in the Pointer Speed section, you can increase Acceleration to 5.0.
4. Close the Mouse and Touchpad window.

Getting started with Xubuntu

This document introduces the basic features of Xubuntu, which is a lean and fast operating system that runs well on almost all PCs, including those that are old and/or slow. Xubuntu is community-developed Linux distribution based on Ubuntu core components and the Xfce Linux desktop environment.

Every operating system differs from all others. Therefore, Xubuntu does not have the same user interface as Windows, or even Ubuntu. This can be frustrating, especially if you are new to Linux. However, be patient, Xubuntu is only different, not complex.

After you have installed Xubuntu according to Installing Xubuntu, this document can help you learn to use basic Xubuntu components, including:

• Desktop interfaces
• Folders and files
• Applications

Note: The examples in this document specifically apply to Xubuntu 12.04, and generally apply to all Xubuntu releases.

Desktop interfaces

Xubuntu desktop interfaces include a top panel, desktop icons, and a bottom panel.

Top panel - The panel at top of screen contains, from left to right, icons for the following:

• Applications Menu (the white-mouse icon)
• Open-window shortcuts (highlighting the active window)
• Open-application icons
• Messaging menu
• Volume-control menu
• Networking menu
• Date and time display
• Workspace switcher (two workspaces)
• Shutdown menu (with your user name)

Desktop icons - The initial desktop icons (at top left of screen) include Home, File System, and Trash. You can add more desktop icons as you need them. For example, while working on a project, you can place various temporary folders and files on your desktop.

Bottom panel - The panel at the bottom of the screen contains icons through which you can launch primary Xubuntu applications. To display the bottom panel, move your mouse pointer to the bottom of the screen. To add icons, copy them to the bottom panel. For example, after you install a favorite application, you can use drag and drop to copy its icon from the Application Menu to the bottom panel.

Managing Folders and Files

Xubuntu lets you manage your folders, subfolders, and files through its File Manager. To open the File Manager, either double-click the Home desktop icon (top left of screen) or click the blue folder in the bottom panel (at the right) and then click Open Folder.

Note: Each time you start or restart Xubuntu, and first open File Manager, it might open very slowly. This bug has been reported. (Somehow, this problem no longer occurs on my Xubuntu PC.)

Launching Applications

Xubuntu lets you launch applications through the Applications Menu (white-mouse icon) on the top panel, or the application icons or Application Finder icon on the bottom panel. For example, to launch the GIMP image editor, do any of the following:

• Click the Applications Menu (white mouse) icon in the top panel, select Graphics, and then click GIMP Image Editor.
• Click the GIMP icon in the bottom panel.
• Click the Application Finder (magnifying glass) icon in the bottom panel, select Graphics, select GIMP Image Editor, and then click Launch. 

Installing Applications

Xubuntu lets you install new applications through either of two existing applications:

• Ubuntu Software Center (under Applications Manager)
• Synaptic Package Manager (under Applications Manager and System)