I have an ASUS mini EEE 900. Linux OS. this is the first time I have dealt with Linux, and I am completely lost......how do install ANYTHING onto my Mini ?? I was wanting to update Firefox to the newest Linux version but I haven't a clue....any help out there ? Also, My mini has a web cam and is there a messeneger app that I can install so I can chat and use the webcam ??

Which Linux distribution is installed?

The package manager is meant for the purpose.

Ok... as I said I AM A NEWBIE to Linux...where do I find out what "distribtion" is installed.

And as I said... I knwo virtually nothing about Linux...could you please tell me or point me in the right direction where I can learnt o install apps that Linux will take ?

Your machine is called an "E P C" by the ePC community.

If running Linux, it has a modified version of Xandros on it.

Xandros is based on Debian, so uses Debian repositories. (Repositories are free software collections
typically accessible over the internet.)

Debian's utility for installing new software (and therefore Xandros' too) is through a program called
'apt'. On the ePC you can install, configure and use a GUI called 'synaptic' to download from repositories
containing software that is tested and works on the ePC and Xandros.

You should go to http://wiki.eeeuser.com/ for more info. eeeuser.com is a treasure trove of information
on your machine.

My advice is keep notes of everything you install, and how you installed it. (In case you want to restore
and start over.} Restoring to the "factory installed" OS is simple and quick (at last on my Eee PC 8G)
and is built into the machine.

Have fun. It's an amazing little machine.

I advise visiting http://forum.eeeuser.com/ where all they talk about is Asus EEE machines.

What you when you buy a Netbook with Linux on it is NOT the same experience you get if you download a Linux distro (e.g. Ubuntu) and install it on your PC. In that scenario there is a huge amount of software available via the repositories which can be very easily installed. With something like the EEE PC that's not the case.

It is important to understand that Netbooks shipped with Linux on are not set up with you doing stuff like installing extra software them in mind. They are set up to work as appliances. You turn it on, you use what's already on there. As such doing things like installing extra software tends towards the somewhat cumbersome.


My EEE PC offered me several updates the first time I put it on line. Amongst them was an update from the included Firefox 2 to Firefox 3.