DaytonDailyNews.com

By Don Balduf

So you need a computer.

You've looked at the newest Dell XPS, maybe a spiffy HP Pavillion. You've surfed over to Apple's Web store to drool over the powerful, stylish machines of Steve Jobs.

But there's a problem: You're broke. You just don't have — or shouldn't be spending— the $600 to more than $2,000 you'd have to pay for one of those new digital hotrods.

There's still hope if you have the do-it-yourself daring to combine the free, open-source operating system Ubuntu Linux with an inexpensive used personal computer.

Linux, a community-developed operating system, comes in many flavors, including Red Hat, Yellow Dog and Xandros. The Ubuntu version is one of the most popular among folks seeking computing power for home and office tasks such as word processing, Web browsing and working with spreadsheets. The topic here is Ubuntu, not the dozens of other perfectly wonderful Linux distributions that would be enough for a fat book.

Oh, and here's fair warning: This article assumes familiarity with computers, the terms used in computing and the skills to use the Web, download files and to burn them to a CD.

Find a used computer

One of the best things about Linux is its ability to run well even on rather elderly PCs that are not powerful enough to run Windows XP, never mind the newer resource hog, Microsoft Vista. As businesses and individuals upgrade to newer systems, the older systems become available at bargain prices.

You'll be looking for a personal computer based on an Intel or AMD microprocessor. Ubuntu will run acceptably quickly even on chips as slow as a 600 MHz Pentium II.

The computer must have an optical drive that can read CDs because you will be installing Ubuntu from a CD. The hard drive doesn't have to be huge because Ubuntu takes up only about 2 gigabytes. You'll be fine with a drive as small as 10 gigabytes.

With a little searching, you should be able to find a computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse for $200 or less. (See the list "Find a PC.")

Get Ubuntu Linux

If you have access to a computer with an optical drive that can burn CDs, download the whole operating system from www.ubuntu.com. You'll burn the file you download to a CD, which you will use to install Ubuntu. The download is almost 700 megabytes, so you'll need fast Internet access such as cable or DSL, not a telephone modem.

If you don't have a way to download Ubuntu, you can get free installation CDs through the mail from Canonical, the distributor of Ubuntu. Go to www.ubuntu.com and click on the "Get Ubuntu" link. Fill out the form and submit it. You might have to wait several weeks, but it's free. Really. There's not even a charge for shipping.

Install your Ubuntu system

Once you have the Ubuntu CD either downloaded and burned to disc or mailed to you, you're ready to install the operating system.

Start your computer, then push the button to open the CD tray. Drop in the Ubuntu installation CD, then close the tray. Your computer should start up using the Ubuntu system on the CD. If you were slow getting the CD into the tray, it might start from whatever system is installed on the hard drive. If that happens, simply restart the system and it should start from the CD.

Starting from a CD is slow, so be patient. When startup is complete, you should see an Ubuntu desktop like the images on this page.

With the computer running on the CD, you can familiarize yourself with Ubuntu. If you like what you see, begin the installation by double-clicking on the "Install Ubuntu" icon on the desktop. If you don't like what you see, stop now.

Ubuntu will walk you through the installation. If you are uncertain about the choices it presents, use whatever Ubuntu presents as the default choice.

While it is possible to create a computer system with separate installations of Linux, Windows and other operating systems, let's leave that to the experts for now. You'll want to use your entire hard drive for the Ubuntu system, which will wipe out whatever system might be on the drive and the files it contained.

Contact this writer at (937) 225-2134 or dbalduf@DaytonDailyNews.com.

——————————

More information

www.ubuntu.com: The official site of Ubuntu and its distributor, Canonical Ltd.

www.psychocats.net/ubuntu: The author, who is unaffiliated with Ubuntu, has built a good reference for Ubuntu users.

——————————

Find a PC

Here is a list of places to search for a good used PC:

www.beredaindustries.com: This Beavercreek-based company often has inexpensive used PCs and other systems. Owner Chris Bereda even delivers in the Dayton area.

www.DaytonDailyNews.com: Click on Classifieds, search for "computer" or "PC."

www.geeks.com: This online retailer has a variety of desktop and laptop systems. Availability changes constantly.

Thrift stores: Operations such as Valley Thrift, 1717 Woodman Drive in Dayton, sometimes have used computers, monitors, printers and accessories at very low prices, such as $9.99 for a 17-inch CRT monitor.

Ask your employer: As businesses purchase new hardware, disposal of the older gear becomes a problem. Your employer may be willing to give or sell you an older PC, perhaps even an old CRT monitor, rather than pay to dispose of them as electronic waste. You can purchase a new keyboard and mouse for less than $50 to complete your system.