Re: new to linux...

On 07/12/2011 06:27 AM, Cam Howard wrote:
> I have never had linux before and no one I know is computer savvy. any 
> way to explain the install process in even more lamens terms than on 
> the website?
> _______________________________________________
> rhythmbox-devel mailing list
> [email protected]
> http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/rhythmbox-devel
>
Hi Cam and thanks for trying out GNU/Linux! I assume that you are 
already using one of the many popular Linux distributions out there 
(Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSUSE or something like that), correct? If so, your 
distribution might already have Rhythmbox installed. If not, you can 
install it easily with your distribution's "package manager". The 
package manager is basically a program that lets you manage where 
programs and libraries are installed on your computer by using "package 
files", which are sort of like archive files but with more metadata. 
Most distributions download the software for you and store it in a 
"software repository" (or "repo" for short), which is basically one 
large database of packages you can search and download from to find and 
install new software quickly and easily. Think of it kind of like an 
"app store", but more open.

The download instructions on the Rhythmbox website, as well as most 
Linux software projects, are meant for people who want to build the 
software themselves or install it without a package manager. Your 
distribution uses these instructions and makes a package for it, ready 
to be uploaded to the distribution's software repository. This is not 
the case with all software, though. Some programs that you cannot find 
in a repository (SpiderOak, some Google programs, etc.) have the package 
files on their web pages (like .deb, .rpm, .tgz, etc.), so you can 
download and install the files manually.

If you don't think you already have Rhythmbox (if I'm not mistaken, 
Ubuntu includes Banshee, not Rhythmbox, by default), then look around 
for something in the applications menu called "Software Center", 
"Add/Remove Software", or something along those lines. After that, you 
can browse by category to find Rhythmbox or you can search its name 
directly. There should be an install button and/or a checkmark by the 
application name or somewhere around there. After you click it, you may 
have to enter your administrative password to continue. When it's 
finished downloading, you should have Rhythmbox ready to use!

I hope I have helped you with regards to installing software on a Linux 
distribution! If you have any more questions, feel free to read the help 
documentation on whatever distribution you use; it can be very helpful 
sometimes! Don't forget to ask around on forums if you can't understand 
how to do something and the documentation (and Google) haven't given you 
any answers. :)