You've just gotta love Ubuntu; it's an irresistible package of usability, security, and support features. But a power user like you is just itching to teach it some new tricks. Show it how to play nicely with other systems. Develop its multitasking and communication skills. Free its inner video and graphics talents. And make sure that when it ventures into the wild and wooly world of wireless, it keeps its doors locked.

Here's how to do all that and more.

Things you can do with Ubuntu

Step-by-step directions for all this and lots of other fun stuff

• Create an awesome interface
• Fine-tune Firefox
• Expand your desktop across monitors or other computers
• Add VoIP and instant messaging
• Discover the joys of emulators
• Focus on cameras and scanners
• Customize application windows
• Configure wireless networks
• Boost boot-up efficiency
• Tune kernel parameters

About the Author

Neal Krawetz holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University and a Bachelors degree in Computer and Information Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is a computer security professional with experience in computer forensics, profiling, cryptography and cryptanalysis, artificial intelligence, and software solutions. As a hobby, Neal collects operating systems; he currently runs RedHat, Ubuntu, Mac OS X, OpenBSD, Microsoft Windows, OS/2, Solaris, and HP-UX (with dozens of other operating systems ready to go). He has been a Linux user since 1993 and has enjoyed Ubuntu since 2005 (Hoary Hedgehog). Neal has configured Ubuntu on everything from personal workstations to mission critical servers.

Neal has been active in the security community for more than 15 years and has worked with the open source community for more than 20 years. His work experience spans small startup companies, academic and university environments, and large Fortune 100 corporations. Since 2002, Neal has operated Hacker Factor, a computer security and solutions provider. At Hacker Factor, he has developed novel forensic techniques for tracking people online and has identified spammers, phishers, carders, and virus writers. He actively assists many branches of law enforcement.