unique password for "update" and "synaptic" and "apt-get"
 

When I want to run update-manager or application center or synaptic or apt-get, I rely on sudo or gksu or similar for authorization. Q1: Can someone help me administer this differently?

I want two end-user logins on each of several laptops -- one for me as system admin; one for every other end-user (my case makes it ok to share login details). If I'm the logged-in user, I'll use sudo like always. If the other end-user is logged-in, I still want to be able to launch synaptic or whatever, but to use a unique password for authorization.

I know that I can "switch user" to my own login and away from the standard end-user login. Q2: Is this the better way to accomplish things or can I somehow config a unique password to run the various package install applications?

Merci d'avance.
~~~ 0;-Dan

I think you should be able to use visudo to give 'sudo' permissions to a user for a specific application rather than general sudo access. You could then have this 'extra' account that you are logging in as have access to the desired functions.

I am not sure if that is exactly what you are looking for, but it may be a workable solution.