Great Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Ubuntu LinuxGreat Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Ubuntu Linux

I come across lots of "X Number Of Things You Should Know About Linux" articles. This one has a rare and special quality: It's actually useful.This week, MaximumPC published its guide to 20 Essential Tips Every Ubuntu User Should Know. I was delighted to find that all of the tips listed really are essential, and new Ubuntu users are unlikely already to know about quite a few of them.

If you want to skip around and hit the highlights, try:

- Booting and installing Ubuntu from a USB stick (a dirt-cheap 1 or 2GB model is enough to put a Linux desktop in your pocket).

- Finding and installing proprietary hardware drivers for certain devices, such as Nvidia graphics cards and Broadcom Wi-Fi adapters. If you're used to hunting down these drivers the Windows Way, be prepared for a pleasant surprise.

- Using Ubuntu's Recovery Mode to deal with problems such as repairing broken software packages (it's rare, but it happens) or testing flaky RAM modules.

Other tips deal with customizing a new Ubuntu install, importing Windows documents on a dual-boot setup, configuring NTFS drives, and much more.