I have recently started using Ubuntu Linux (alright it was yesterday). It is a Debian-based Linux system.

I have 2 questions really:

1. How many other Debian-based Linux distros are there?
2. What is the best place to go to get GUI packages for:
2.1 DVD players,
2.2 DVD/CD writing tools,
2.3 MP3 player,
2.4 WMV player,
2.5 Quicktime Player
2.6 Leadtek TV2000XP / WinFast PVR

Where possible, I would prefer not to have to compile the programs myself but if there is no other way so be it.

Disregard the Mandrake in the profile.

To install programs use apt.

(as root) apt-get install name-of-ap

Since you use Ubuntu, use:

sudo apt-get install name-of-ap

This will download and install programs--much like Mandrake's urpmi.

Regarding Debian distros: Mepis and Xandros are Debian-based, I *think*.

There are lots of debian based distro's :

Knoppix, Xandrox, Mephis, Munjoy, Gnoppix, Linspire, Libranet, Morphix, Damn Small, Progeny, Userlinux, Hiweed, Alt - to name but a few.

Personally I prefer to use pure debian (sid) as I want to maintain compatabilty with the 16000 plus packages in the Debian unsrable repository.

Still I think Ubuntu is a good choice if you are new to Linux and I guess their package repository is growing at a fairly rapid rate.

Regards

Shmonkey

What is the best place to locate the package repository? (Feels very much like a newbie question)

Ubuntu has it's own repositories, they should be listed in /etc/apt/sources.list. You should already have this file. You can in theory use the official debian packages, but not all of them will work properly with Ubuntu.

This link may help a bit : http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/ap...basico.en.html


For unofficial repositories : http://www1.apt-get.org/search.php

Regards

Shmonkey

ok... people have been a bit vague here.

In debian based distro's packages (*.deb) are handled by dpkg, or one of its *friendly* front ends, apt & dselect.

my first recomendation would be to run the following commands (as root, su, or as a sudo user ):



#apt-setup (a blue screen will appear, choose http or ftp, then testing, then yes/no depending on you, choose a server near to you)
#apt-get update

To search for a package use:

#apt-cache search <package name>

and to install the package

#apt-get install <package name>

to uninstall

#apt-get remove <package name> (--purge (will remove config files too)

The beuty of debian is the way it handles packages.... it does all the hard work for you. If the package you are trying to install has dependencies, rather than crashing out with an 'unmet dependencies' error, apt will tell you what else you need, and ask whether it should get it for you.

best example:

#apt-get install apache php4 mysql-server

A fully working, configured Apache PHP/MySQL server in about 5 minutes.

Another problem is that I am still having difficulty setting up my modem so in the meanwhile I would like to download stuff from Windows until I have that sorted