So I finally gave in, said Goodbye to my Windows with it’s virus warnings, viruses, anti viruses and security updates and got an Ubuntu.
It is like learning to speak a new language at the age of >30.
Here are some tips for configuring Internet on Ubuntu and Configuring R on Ubuntu
Using R from Ubuntu
Finding All packages
Go to Applications -Accessories-Terminal
Type the following
$apt-cache search r-cran-
To install any package simply
Type
sudo apt-get install r-cran-rcmdr r-cran-xml
After this to get other packages not listed here, invoke R by typing R at the prompt
Load installed packages by Command
>library(packagename)
Configuring Internet (specific to Indian Broadband) on an Ubuntu Laptop
Connect the Internet Wire and Switch on the ADSL modem
Go to Applications -Accesories-Terminal
Type the following at Terminal ( Note the $ sign represents Terminal- so type only ifconfig in following command)
$ ifconfig
Check the IP address from this value ( among a big dump of stuff you get by typing ifconfig)
inet addr:XXX.XX.XX.XX
Go to System- Administration- Network
Click Wired Connection- Unlock ( Use the admin password given to you- same as your machine login password)
Select Wired Connection -Properties
Configuration to Automatic Configuration (DHCP)
Go to Host
Select username-laptop Properties
Change Ip address to one gotten above
Close
(To be continued)
For Enthusiastic Beginners in Ubuntu – Note I use the Ubuntu Long Term version 8.10. The latest version is 9.04 but it is not a Long Term Version Yet. Also recommended is the Cannonical Shop for Ubuntu Merchandise (see a free screenshot in the post)