IE4Linux Review

Did you know that you can use Internet Explorer in Linux? You can with the help of IE4Linux. It is a script that downloads just the basic files necessary to run IE. I know what your thinking. I tried that with Wine and it didn’t work. This does. There is one downfall. Internet Explorer looks horrible in Linux but if you insist on using it, try IE4Linux. I had no choice but to download IE4Linux because a website for school requires it. I couldn’t get firefox or opera to emulate IE so I finally gave in.

In case you decide to bypass all the legal stuff, let me warn you. You are using Internet Explorer. IE4Linux is not a mockup. So, if you do not own a license (regardless if Microsoft Windows is installed or not) do not download IE4Linux. It doesn’t check or ask for a license but you should have one just in case the big guys pay you a visit someday.

You can download IE4Linux here.

Added comment:  Let me mention that I do not wish to use anything made by or published by Microsoft.  However, I love Flight Simulator and will continue to use it regardless of how much I love PCLinuxOS.  As I mentioned in a previous posting, I am not here to put Microsoft down in any way but just prefer PCLinuxOS over Windows.

Installing Software in PCLinuxOS

Installing Software in PCLinuxOS using Synaptic

wiki – Synaptic is a computer program which is a GTK+ graphical user interface and front-end to the Advanced Packaging Tool for the Debian package management system. Synaptic is usually used on systems based on deb packages but can also be used on systems based on RPM packages. It can be used to install, remove and upgrade software packages and to add repositories. Installing software, using Synaptic, requires root permission. If you do not have access to root, please consult your systems administrator.

Software is stored on several PCLinuxOS repositories. A repository is a place where data is stored and maintained. There are several repositories for PCLinuxOS. An example of a repository would be the Indiana University.

The software available is divided into statuses; All, Installed, Installed (local or obsolete), New In Repository, and Not Installed. These statuses are divided into sections which may include; main, extra, kde, nonfree, and testing. Finally these statuses are then divided or separated by categories such as; accounting, database, development, games etc.

When you open Synaptic, you will be asked for the root password. Again, if you do not have access to root, consult your systems administrator. Once you have access to Synaptic, synaptic will download all the latest software available from the selected repository. It will then divide or separate it categories, statuses and sections. By selecting all you can view all the software available regardless of status or category. See figure 1.1

(figure 1.1)

The items marked in full color such as the items shown in figure 1.1 are already installed. To install a particular program or file, right click the desired program or file and select install. Once you have selected the item to be installed the “box” next to the item will have an arrow through it. See figure 1.2 for legend.

(figure 1.2)

Once you have the desired programs or files that you wish to install, click the button that reads “apply”.

Synaptic will now show you what it will install, just click OK and let Synaptic do the rest.

Distro Reviews

I tried the latest openSUSE today and was highly disappointed. First, it took forever for the livecd to load, then once the familiar KDE desktop appeared, it took forever for me to access the desktop. When I say forever, I am probably exaggerating some but it took longer than I had expected any distro to take. I understand this is a livecd and will probably only take half the time if it was installed directly on the hard drive but let’s face it, we all base our decision on that livecd. Once I could access the desktop it took a very long time to do anything else. Nothing came preconfigured. In fact, the distro recognized my sound card but I had to configure it.

One of the amazing things I continue to like about PCLinuxOS, is it’s ease to navigate, it’s speed and it’s reliability. Thus far, the only device I have not been able to use is my PVR. That’s ok, I plan on giving it to my friend who still primarily uses Windows.

Overall, I was disappointed that it took me 30 minutes or more to download the 4.7 gb live version of openSUSE only to be presented with just another distro. Come on people, there is nothing better than PCLinuxOS and hopefully we can end this distro decision after all.

Got Root?

First, I would not say that I am a PCLinuxOS novice. However, I’m sure I will get scolded for mentioning the following. As user password should be changed frequently, so should the root password. If you have access to root, you should become familiar with changing the password often to prevent outsiders.

Here is a quick tutorial for changing the root password:

1. Open a Terminal
2. Login as root
3. Type: passwd
4. Type the new password
5. Confirm the new password

That’s it! You’re all done. Always remember the password as you may need it later on but never write it down.

This blog is not about…

… Dissing Windows or any product released by Microsoft Corporation.  This I want to make clear before I get to far along in this blog.  We could call these rules and guidelines but I’m sure we are all adults here and therefore, I expect everyone to act like an adult.  Please keep your comments clean and do your best at refraining from talking about the other OS.  If you want to know how to do something in PCLinuxOS that you would normally do in Windows, that is fine but refrain from dissing it.  Thank you in advance.