• Windows7
• Ubuntu Netbook

Share files online

Dropbox provides 2G online storage for free. When installing Dropbox you get a folder called Dropbox on your computer; the content of this folder can be used on any other computer you use, regardless of operating system. You can also access your Dropbox-files from Internet. Installing it to Linux is straightforward, i.e. a couple of clicks.
https://www.dropbox.com/ .

 

An alternative to Dropbox is to use Ubuntu One which also gives you 2 GB storage. You can access your files on the Internet but you can only use the Ubuntu One folders on computers with Ubuntu. You start an Ubuntu One account in the menu in the upper right corner.

 

 

Downloading programs

Under Favorites you can find Ubuntu Software Center, this is where you will get most programs.

 

 

Finding and installing software is self explanatory (except for Java, see the section about Java to the left).

 

Mathematics

Search for the bold words in Ubuntu Software Center in order to install the program.

Numerical Computations

Octave is an Open Source alternative to MatLab. QtOctave provides a graphical user interface to Octave.

Computer Algebra System (CAS)

Maxima is a computer algebra system. wxMaxima provides a graphical user interface to Maxima. Unless you want to do complex computations, Wolfram Alpha is easier to use.

Writing mathematics

LaTeX is a document processor used to write text containing mathematics. LyX provides a graphical user interface to LaTeX.

Fonts

Search for stix. Mathematical formulas on the Internet will not look good unless you have the STIX-fonts.

Links

Get help using OpenOffice (a Swedish site containing both Swedish and English documentation)

Links for doing maths

Choose WebStart!
GeoGebra

 

Try out
WolframAlpha

Links for reading about maths

The MacTutor History of Mathematics archive

 

Euclid's Elements

 

For kids
Math Is Fun - Maths Resources

Install Ubuntu Netbook Edition

Follow the instructions on http://www.ubuntu.com/netbook/get-ubuntu/download to download Ubuntu and create an USB stick (or borrow an USB stick from the maths department).

Install it from the USB stick following the instructions on the homepage.

Restart the computer and connect a network cable. Go to System and pick Update Manager.

Update the computer. Restart the computer when prompted to do so.

Pick Hardware Drivers. Activate the Broadcom STA wireless Driver (you still need the network cable plugged in since it will download it).

Unplug the network cable. Left-click on the network icon to find a wireless network.

Installing Java from Sun on Ubuntu

Java is needed to run GeoGebra (and other Java-based programs), to view applets on the internet and to run programs using Java Webstart.

When using Ubuntu, most programs needed can be found at the Ubuntu Software Center. When it comes to Java however, the program offered with Ubuntu 10.04 is OpenJDK which is another version of Java, the original version is the program developed by Sun. The OpenJDK version does not work as well as the Sun version of Java, it is significantly slower. If you want to program Java yourself using NetBeans, OpenJDK does not work as intended (according to rumours it does not work at all). Hence, you should install the Sun version of Java.

You will not find Sun's Java version in Ubuntu Software Center if you use Ubuntu 10.04. In order to install it from within the Software Center, you must add a package. Go to System->Administration->Software Sources.

Pick the second tab Other Software and check http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu lucid partner

Go to Ubuntu Software Center and search for sun java jre. Install both the "architecture independent" and the "architecture independent" files. (jre stands for Java Runtime Environment, this is what you need in order to run Java programs; if you want to program Java yourself you must install Java Development Kit abbreviated JDK)

In order to view applets you must also install the Sun Java Plugin, search for sun java plugin.

 

2010
Malin Christersson