GUI apt-get

[Joseph Sinclair]

Linspire is not quite compatible with Debian, you have to use their repositories, and that means you have to use their GUI tool (they call it "CNR technology", and it should be on the desktop).
If you want more freedom (or just don't want to pay their annual support fee), you should do what Hans does, just install Debian (unless you're running an Athlon64, in that case try Ubuntu).

OpenOffice.org 1.1 is the only thing widely supported in repositories, for the betas, you'll need to go to the OpenOffice.org site, download their source, and load it manually.  Alternatively, is an unofficial .deb build at (ftp://ftp.linux.cz/pub/localization/OpenOffice.org/devel/680/SRC680_m125/Build-1/OOo_SRC680_m125_en-US_native_LinuxIntel_install_deb.tar.gz).
Again, if you're running an Athlon64, don't use these, they're highly likely to crash your system if you have a 64-bit version of Linux loaded.

Firefox extensions are installed through Firefox.  Any other method is highly discouraged, since it'll be broken as soon as Firefox 1.5 comes out in a few months.

You seem to have the right idea for the long-distance setup with VMWare.  Just make sure to set up SSH to protect the VMWare session.
You should also be sure to lock down the firewall to only allow SSH connections from a limited set of IP addresses (basically, your IP addresses), since SSH daemons are a popular target lately.


Bryan.ONeal at asu.edu wrote:
> Ok, I purchased a cheep desktop for my dad, and it comes with LindSiper pre
> installed.  I need to get some stuff on thier, like OpenOffice.or 2.0 (Ok 1.9+
> Beta), the latest firefox with a bunch of plugins, VMWare, etc.  
> 
> What I need is 
> 1) how do I set the apt-get repositories in LindSpire
> 2) where can I get a GUI front end?
> 3) any sugestions on configuring a machine for a first time linux user who lives
> 1000 miles away?
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