What is this page for?

This page is a resource for people who have gotten a computer from FREE GEEK. It is updated with resources for FreekBox users. If you have email, you are welcome and encouraged to share your questions and answers with the rest of the FreekBox community on the FreekBox email list.

If you have favorite web resources that you feel would be helpful for other FreekBox users, let us know and maybe we'll put them on this page. How do you go about solving your FreekBox questions?

Added 05/21/05
Michael

The package manager is responsible for adding and deleting "packages", that is programs and other material which can be downloaded and installed on your computer. It is basically a front-end to apt, which does the real work. A "broken" package is one which is not installed properly and so does not work.

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Added 03/30/05
laurel

We're always improving the computers we give out: a little more RAM one week, a new application added the next. But just as the FreekBox 2 was an evolutionary leap past the original FreekBox, some of the changes are more abrupt.

This month, we started sending out FreekBox 3 computers: some of you reading this may have one! We're pretty excited about some of the changes, though some of the more basic ones are too technical for normal people to get excited about. One of the main noticeable differences is the switch from IceWM+KDE as the desktop to plain KDE. Some of you FreekBox 2 owners may have made this switch on your own, using the "Session Type" field on the login screen. You'll find more ways to modify the look and feel of your computer, and other tools for configuration.

The FreekBox 3 also has: more games! Yep. Matthew would want you to try Battle for Wesnoth, though i'm not quite sure why, being more of a Frozen Bubble person myself. Find your own favorite!

Another useful tool on the FreekBox 3 is synaptic, a graphical (rather than command-line) tool for updating and installing software. Those who bravely explore their computer will find other fun and useful tools that will help you discover the wide world of Free and Open Source Software.

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Added 03/03/05
laurel

Maybe you live in a house with a lot of people and only one phone line - or maybe you have a downloading addiction and figure the extra money is worth it. Either way, you've decided you need an always-on and high speed internet connection that won't tie up the phone.

Your options for this are either cable or DSL: either one will work. The network cable will plug into the network card (looks like a modem with one wider port). Then you have to tell the computer to bring up the connection.

If you want the computer to automatically bring up a network connection when it's turned on (and why else would you have broadband?!), here's what to do:

• Open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + t)
• Type su to switch to root. Type your root password when prompted, and press Enter. If it worked, the next line will end with a #.
• Type nano /etc/network/interfaces - this will open a program called nano (a text editor), editing a file named interfaces. Be sure it's all spelled correctly, with the spaes and slashes in the right place.
• Move your cursor to the line that reads #auto eth0, and delete the #. That symbol made the line into a "comment", which the computer didn't read. Removing it makes the computer automatically bring up the ethernet interface when it starts.
• To save the change you made, type Ctrl + o. To exit nano, type Ctrl + x.
• Back on the command line, you can type ifup eth0 to bring up the network interface, or you can wait until the next time you turn the computer on.

Once /etc/network/interfaces is edited, you won't have to bring up the network connection - it'll be on when you log in, unless you bring it back down. Now, don't forget to get some sleep!

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Added 09/16/04

As of Tuesday, September 21, there will be three support times for FreekBox owners. The new schedule is:

You may call or drop in during those times for support. If you need help with your FreekBox outside of those times, you can send an email description of your problem to support (at) freegeek (dot) org or call and leave a clear description of the problem along with your name and phone number. Free Geek support will get back to you during the next support time.

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Added 06/17/04
Nancy Baiter

You know when you go to a Web site and you get a little puzzle piece instead of a picture? - that means you don't have Java on your machine.

Because the native language of the Internet is HTML, which is only text (click on 'page info' some time to see what it really looks like) adding pictures is done by other programs that get inserted by the sender and interpreted, like a foreign language, by your computer. That's why the same Web page can look very different if opened by two different browsers. (You have three on your FreekBox - Galeon, the default, Konqueror, for file browsing, and Mozilla. Open all of them and plug the same URL into each, then look at them.)

OK, so what does this have to do with puzzle pieces? One of the languages that inserts pictures into Web pages and makes the pictures move is called Java, owned by Sun Microsystems. They don't charge for this software, but each user must sign a license agreeing to their terms. Free Geek can't commit you to this, so we can't put Java on any of our products. (Note that Microsoft, which is fighting with Java, doesn't include it in its latest version of Windows, either.) Each one of you must do it for him/herself.

http://www.togaware.com/linux/survivor/Install_Sun.shtml tells you how, in technical language. You must open a terminal window (control-alt-t), su to root, then type as he says.

This set of directions is even hairier. You must, as root in a terminal window edit (using nano or mcedit) a file named /etc/sources.list to include any one of the lines beginning with 'deb'.

If you are unfamiliar with using the command line (keyboard) to control your computer drop in to the support sessions and I'll show you how, and how to use the editor.

I'm really sorry, but that's the best we can offer. Since Java is not freely available (free as in 'liberty' not 'free lunch') we can't give it to you. And that is the last word Support is going to say on the subject until the situation changes.

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Added 05/12/04
support group

Free Geek will support you in your efforts to use your FreekBox, with certain limits. For the first year after adoption you are welcome to phone in or drop in with questions during Technical Support hours or join the FreekBox e-mail list (http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/freekbox) and write in questions.

Free Geek promises that the hardware and software on this system will work properly for one year after adoption if:

1. the system has not been modified (except by Free Geek) and
2. it has been used as intended regularly since adoption and
3. it is used by the original Adopter or someone else who has taken the Adoption class at Free Geek.

Free Geek will attempt to correct problems over the telephone, if requested, but the adopter should be prepared to bring the machine back to Free Geek. Free Geek will solve the problem by either repairing or replacing the system or any of its components, including reinstallation of our software if necessary. Replacements will be similar to or better than the original equipment. Every reasonable effort will be made to solve the problem quickly, but because of Free Geek's volunteer nature the machine may need to be left with us for some days.

While Free Geek will make an effort to protect user data including screen savers and other personalizations this cannot be guaranteed. It is often not possible. Adopters should keep backups of their important data.

Third party software (software not provided by Free Geek) is not covered by this agreement. We will help you, or point you to sources of help, if possible, but don't have the resources to keep up with changing conditions.

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Added 04/28/04
laurel

The Internet has grown into its own little world; i'm sure you're noticed that Internet people and businesses have their own way of communicating. These develop in response to the ways in which internet communications (email, chat, web pages, newsgroups) differ from ways that people already know how to communicate. For instance, we know how to answer a phone - but that's a learned bit of knowledge. They teach letterwriting in elementary schools; perhaps soon they'll teach about email.

There are more and more people getting online every day - those new to the technology are called "newbies". Before you get insulted, remember - everyone was a newbie once. Paying close attention to proper "netiquette" can help you quickly transition to being an old hand. And even if you don't learn everything immediately, being polite and following the customs of the online culture you've joined will make people more willing to help you.

There are many online works about netiquette that you may be interested to read, even if you've been online for a while: here are a couple.

• Netiquette Guidelines by Sally Hambridge is concise and simple
• Netiquette 101 is a less technically-worded and more amusing

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