The Acer Aspire One netbook is out to prove that Linux is something even Grandma can use (as long as she has little fingers and superb eyesight). It has a very simple application launcher, with all the basics. But as soon as you want to add new software, it often requires a trip to the command line. Sorry, Grandma.
Here’s my quick guide to setting up a new Linux-based Aspire One.
First, download and install Skype and Firefox 3 from the Acer support site. Once the download is complete, select the file and click the ‘Extract’ button. If you use the default directory (/tmp) for extracting, you need to launch the file viewer (‘My Files’ on the home screen), and type /tmp in the address bar. You will then see the directory that has your installation file. Double click on the .sh file in the directory, and let it churn away. (Um, Acer, it can’t be that hard to make your installs automatic. How is Grandma supposed to know where the /tmp directory is?)
Next, I used some of the tips from The Register article: “Ten tweaks for a new Acer Aspire One“. Specific tips I used:
- (Tip #1): Ran Live Update to update the system software.
- (Tip #3): Enabled the Advanced Menu so a right-click would give me access to Linux behind the scenes (including a Terminal for command-line geeking).
- (Tip #9): Improved SSD (Solid State Disk) performance by changing a line in a configuration file.
If you want to add other software that isn’t available at the Acer support site, the macles* blog has great instructions. I installed Thunderbird, but didn’t bother with a better media player (VLC), or version 3 of OpenOffice. Most people agree it isn’t worth installing a different flavor of Linux, such as Ubuntu, because of the usual hardware device issues. Now I’ve got my Aspire One the way I like it. I’m happy using it for travel, coffee shops, around the house…anywhere I don’t feel like dragging my heavy and expensive (but wonderful) MacBook Pro.
I’m considering the tweaks that make the fan run less often, but so far I’ve been too chicken to turn up the heat on my Aspire One for the sake of a little peace and quiet.
Could this finally be the fabled Year of the Linux Desktop? The good news is that everything works out of the box. That’s no small accomplishment. But to keep people from running back into the arms of Redmond, Grandma has to be able to install new software without touching a freakin’ command line.