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First Ubuntu Linux Lesson at AIS

SaigonNezumi (Kevin) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:20:29 +0000

Finally, all laptops and netbooks have a variant of Ubuntu Linux running. Our first lesson focused on using the command line and apt-get for updates.

(Ubuntu eee on the projector)

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Ubuntu Linux Install Week at AIS Picture Gallery

SaigonNezumi (Kevin) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:52:20 +0000

It all started at the beginning of last week. I wanted my American International School 11th and 12th Grade ICT students to start using Ubuntu Linux on their laptops/netbooks at the beginning of the second quarter. I knew it would take me nearly two weeks to get them working Ubuntu Linux systems on their laptops or netbooks. Tommy (11A), Michael (11A), Cindy (11B), Tyler (11B) and Wade (12) were instrumental in helping me get all the Linux systems running.

My students had four options to run Ubuntu Linux on their laptops or netbooks. They could:

Use VirtualBox running an Ubuntu Linux virtual machine,
Install Ubuntu Linux in Windows with the Wubi Installer,
Install Ubuntu Linux through a dual boot with Windows, or
They could purchase a netbook and install Ubuntu eee.

Only a couple students used the VirtualBox option. Most of my students were using Windows Vista wished had some issues running VirtualBox. Others were running different versions of Windows XP which, due to hardware issues, was not fast enough to run VirtualBox on. It took forever for them to install and eventually boot Ubuntu Linux. Kids these days are quite impatient so I decided to give them other options.

For most, install Ubuntu Linux with Wubi proved the easiest and most successful way to install Linux. I had no idea it was that easy to use. They just installed it and never asked me any questions. After the initial installation, my students rebooted and Ubuntu loaded up and finished the installation itself including the partition. The Ubuntu Developers should be patted on their back for this one. Finally, they gave something back to the Linux community worthy of praise.

So Remember, USE Wubi to install Ubuntu Linux for Window users. It will save you time and headache. Dual partitions can be a pain, even with the Ubuntu Installer. I think I would have saved a couple of days if I had chosen Wubi initially. The Install CD is great but even the partition graphic user interface can confuse the advanced Linus users.

At least one of my students accidentally loss her entire Windows partition when she installed Ubuntu right over it (she was the only one that did not ask for help. Yes, my instructions were clear, BACK UP everything!!!). Several laptops had errors during the installation yet they were able to get a successful install when using Wubi. Interesting….

Finally, the last group of students had netbooks already, mainly Eee PC 1000s, Asus Aspire Ones, and MSI Winds. My new bright student, Katherine, installed Ubuntu 8.10 herself without even asking me. Yeah, that makes an IT teacher proud. The rest used Ubuntu eee with my LiveUSB.

Several students have not finsihed installing yet. They know by next week, they had to have Ubuntu Linux installed or I would deduct points from their grade. My first lesson will focus on using the command line to update their systems.

This should be an interesting year. Below are many pictures from this week. This is my first time seeing many Ubuntu Linux systems in one room at a time outside of a Linux User Group meeting. I get a chuckle out of this one since I am not a fan of Ubuntu Linux myself

Picture Gallery and Previous American International School Linux posts below:

(Ubuntu eee on Eee PC 1000)

(Ubuntu 8.10 on Sony laptop)

(More Ubuntu laptops – This was lost it’s Window’s partition)

(Ubuntu 8.10 on an AMD64 Asus laptop – Had some problems)

(Nice Ubuntu Install Picture)

(Another Eee PC 1000 Ubuntu eee install)

(Taking turns using the Ubuntu Install LiveCD)

(Finally got the Ubuntu LiveCD to run on an unknown brand laptop)

(My Korean student, Jinn, got Ubuntu running in Korean)

(Joanna installed Ubuntu herself using Wubi)

(Another Wubi Ubuntu installation in progress)

(Three new Ubuntu users in the back, they are first time users of Linux)

(Eagerly waiting for the Ubuntu Linux installations to finish)

(Fresh Ubuntu install with Wubi)

(Gwen installing Ubuntu herself, thanks Wubi)

(One Ubuntu installation finishing, another one close behind)

(My last Ubuntu eee install of the day)

Previous Using Ubuntu Linux at AIS entries:

AIS Linux Related Articles:

Ubuntu Grading today Well, today was the day. It was time to start...
First Ubuntu Linux Lesson at AIS Finally, all laptops and netbooks have a variant of Ubuntu...
IT class update, more Vietnamese Linux users :-) Well, I just completed week 3 at the American International...

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Acer Aspire One

SaigonNezumi (Kevin) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:26:33 +0000

I am currently at Java Cafe playing around with my Acer Aspire One netbook. I am really quite impressed with it. In the past, I was not a fan of netbooks but after having Rich‘s Aspire One for nearly 2 weeks, my opinions have changed. Rich needed to have Windows XP Lite and Ubuntu eee installed on his Aspire One. Since I did not have time, I gave it to my student, Tommy, from AIS to do it.

Tommy returned to me this week. I spent a couple days playing with Ubuntu eee on Rich’s Aspire One. Wow, I really love it. The Ubuntu eee Developers did a great job on the desktop GUI.

Yesterday I purchased my own brown Acer Aspire One yesterday from Long Binh Computers. It came with a licensed version of Windows XP Home, not the Lite version. I was asked if I wanted a cracked version of Office 2007 but I declined.

When I got home, I tested Windows XP Home out. Yeah, it is still slow. I then downloaded unetbootin and created a Ubuntu eee LiveUSB. I installed Ubuntu eee relatively easily and booted into Ubuntu. Wow, I am still impressed with the nice Gnome desktop environment.

I managed to update the system but it took most of the night due the poor bandwidth here.

I will test it out at Barcamp Saigon tomorrow hopefully with some pictures of the event. A review of both Barcamp Saigon and the Acer Aspire One will come within the week.

So far, I am impressed………..with the Aspire One. My colleague plans to get one as well.

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My Vietnamese student using the Asus Eee PC

SaigonNezumi (Kevin) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:37:47 +0000

Back in September, American International School, where I teach ICT part-time, required students from the 9-11 Grades to purchase the Asus Eee PC 1000. Due to strong resistance from students, parents, and faculty, this requirement was dropped. Some students still opted to purchase the Eee PC themselves at the school discount.

One of the biggest complaints they had about the Eee PC was the GUI. You could not do much with it. It short, it was too boring. Some were successful in getting the Full KDE Desktop environment to work but others decided to just install Windows XP Lite.

On Friday, I was so surprised to see one of my 8th Grade Students, Candy, using the simplified desktop with her Eee PC. She was even using StarOffice, the propriety version of OpenOffice, with little difficulty. Linux is difficult, eh? Well, I doubt she really could tell the difference between Windows and Linux anyway

I am considering asking my students in the 8th Grade to purchase the Eee PC, with both Windows and Linux, for the remaining school year.

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