4 Best Linux PDF Viewers – And Adobe Reader Is Just One Of Them [Linux]

When it comes to distributing forms and other information over the Internet, the file type of choice tends to be PDF. This file type is popular because it has decent compression rates, can prevent editing, allows for interesting visual elements, and allows interactivity (especially when it comes to filling out forms on the computer).
Thankfully, there are plenty of applications all over the web which can read these files. However, they all have different feature sets as well as other pros and cons. So, what are the best Linux PDF viewers?

Evince

Evince is the default PDF viewer which comes with the Gnome desktop environment. Therefore, it is automatically included with distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, and openSUSE when Gnome is chosen over KDE. This PDF viewer excels in being extremely lightweight and quick to load. It is also very easy to navigate around in, as there is just a left panel which shows small snapshots of each page of the PDF or a small index listing of all sections in the PDF (if it has been formatted correctly to do so), and then the rest of the window goes towards displaying the actual document.
Besides very small features like bookmarks, it only has view control functions such as zoom and fit to window.

Okular

On the other side of the spectrum is Okular, the default PDF viewer for the KDE desktop environment. It is included in distributions which come with KDE, such as Kubuntu, Fedora’s KDE spin, and openSUSE when KDE is chosen over Gnome. While Evince may have specialized in being lightweight, Okular is much heavier but includes a good number of useful features.

Okular also boasts support for a number of other file types, including Postscript, DjVu, CHM, XPS, ePub, TIFF, DIV, FictionBook, ComicBook, and others.

Adobe Reader

If you want to use a PDF viewer which comes from the developers who defined the PDF format in the first place, then you should take a look at Adobe Reader. It is essentially what you’ve come to expect from the Windows version: feature-filled, but not as lightweight as the other available solutions. However, you do get plenty of features that you’ll definitely not see in other PDF viewers, such as the ability to sign and configure security preferences, have it read out loud, and more.
There are also some useful features which are included in some applications like FoxItReader (see below), such as automatic scrolling.

FoxIt Reader

Last but definitely not least of all Linux PDF viewers is FoxItReader. This PDF viewer is known for being quick, fairly feature-filled, and cross platform. It’s also the PDF viewer of choice for those who like to have portable apps on their flash drives. Thankfully there multiple options available for Linux, downloadable in a DEB, RPM, and Bz2 package, so it can be installed on most distributions.

Conclusion

You’re never out of options when it comes to PDF viewers. Of course, there are still others which you can choose from, but from Linux’s smaller list of viewers (when compared to Windows), these are definitely the most popular and outstanding choices available. Of course, it all depends on your own preferences as to which one is best for you, but you can’t go wrong with using any of these solutions.
What Linux PDF viewer do you use, and why do you like it the most? Let us know in the comments!

Kill Windows Viruses With An Ubuntu Live CD

Today’s anti-virus solutions are pretty reliable, protecting you from most of the common threats out there in the world. With safe browsing habits, there’s a rare chance that you’d ever get infected with malware. However, there’s never a guarantee that you’ll be completely safe if you are simply careful and run your anti-virus software.
Especially when it comes to zero-day threats, sometimes things just happen to you that you can’t blame on yourself. No matter if it’s your fault or not that your Windows system gets infected, you’ll need a plan to get rid of it before it renders your system completely unusable without serious recovery methods.
If the malware you’ve caught prevents you from touching any sort of tool that might have a chance in removing it, you should probably take a look at using an Ubuntu Live CD.

Anti-Virus on Linux?

While there are a handful of anti-virus solutions available for Linux, they aren’t made to combat Linux viruses. As there are barely any Linux viruses in existence (let alone in circulation), these tools still detect Windows viruses. Essentially, the only difference is that it runs in a Linux environment instead of a Windows environment.

How It Works

The great thing about an Ubuntu Live CD is that you can do anything you want on it, including installing programs, even though it’s just running temporarily in your RAM. Therefore, this means that you can run an Ubuntu Live CD, install an anti-virus solution, and then run a scan on your Windows files. It should then be able to detect and deal with any threats that it finds, without an infected Windows environment running in the background that could possibly block such measures from being taken.

Steps

As I summarized above, the process is quite simple. You’ll first need to download a copy of Ubuntu by going to their website. You’ll have the choice between downloading via your browser, or by using a torrent client. The torrent way is usually faster, but not all networks allow them to be used because many illegal software downloads occur using the protocol. However, it is completely fine for legal downloads such as Ubuntu.
You’ll then want to either burn it to a CD or write it onto a USB flash drive. To burn it to a CD, you’ll simply need to right-click on the .iso file that you downloaded, and choose the Windows Disc Image Burner application. It should then do the rest for you automatically. To write the ISO file onto a USB drive, you can use UNetbootin. If you would like, you may also follow Ubuntu’s easy instructions on their website for burning a DVD or writing to a USB drive, which I recommend at least taking a look at.
Next, boot up your system from the newly created media. You can accomplish this by entering your system’s BIOS by hitting buttons like F11, Escape, or Delete repeatedly – literally as soon as you turn on your computer. You’ll then want to head over to your boot tab and choose the DVD or USB drive as your primary boot device. Then hit F10 to save your settings and restart. If you wish, you may again follow Ubuntu’s instructions on how to do this.

Once loaded, you’ll want to head over to the Ubuntu Software Center and search for “clamtk“. When it appears, go ahead and install it. Clamtk is a graphical user interface for the Clam Antivirus software, the most popular open-source antivirus solution in existence.

Although Clamtk has a mechanism to update virus definitions, it only does so once a day, and cannot be initiated manually without going through a setup wizard. Either go through the wizard by going to Advanced –> Rerun antivirus setup wizard, then choosing Manual instead of Automatic. Then click on Help –> Check for Updates to install the latest definitions  – if you’ve never used Ubuntu before, the menus are located in the top panel while the antivirus application is in focus, similar to a Mac. You may also avoid the wizard and simply open a terminal and run:
sudo freshclam

Once the definitions are updated, head over to Scan –> Recursive Scan, and then choose your Windows partition. Wait a while for it to scan all your files and remove any threats, and you should be good to go! Just restart your computer with the Linux media removed, and you should be back in a virus-free Windows.
If you don’t want to use this particular antivirus for any reason, other popular choices include avast! and AVG. In fact, check out the anti-virus section on MakeUseOf’s Best Linux Software page for all recommended anti-virus programs.

Conclusion

Viruses and other malware can become quite a pest because of how difficult they are to remove. However, knowing some very useful tips like this one can help you save a lot of time and get on with using your computer. In case all techniques fail, you can always use the Ubuntu Live CD to back up your files before you restore your system. Also, there’s never a bad idea to taking a look at Linux to see if it could become your new main operating system!
How do you deal with viruses? Do you use Linux for virus removal or backup/recovery tasks? Let us know in the comments!

How To Install & Run ChromiumOS Inside Ubuntu [Linux]

Try out ChromiumOS inside Ubuntu. Whether you want to start a separate Chromium session or run Google’s netbook operating system inside a window, a new third-party package makes the process simple.
If you mostly use your computer to access the web, ChromeOS might be right for you. For the unfamiliar, ChromeOS is Google’s operating system for Chromebooks. It’s an entire operating system built around the browser and it’s focused on running web apps. ChromiumOS is the open-source version of that operating system, meaning it’s freely available. I’ve shown you how to install ChromiumOS on your netbook with Lime, but hardware supported is limited.
Ubuntu, meanwhile, works on basically any computer. So if you want to try ChromeOS on your existing system, Ubuntu is your best bet.
As of this writing the ChromiumOS package only works on 64-bit processors. Sorry about that.

Launching ChromiumOS In Ubuntu

Once you’ve installed ChromiumOS you have two options – run the command “chromeos” from the Ubuntu desktop or log out of Ubuntu and log into ChromeOS directly.
To launch ChromeOS in its own window simply press “Alt” and “F2″. You’ll see a dash-like window for entering commands; type chromeos and hit enter. You’ll see the full Chrome desktop in its own window:

To launch ChromeOS on its own, without the Ubuntu desktop, log out of Ubuntu. When logging in, click the Ubuntu logo beside the login field. You’ll see a list of options:



Pick Chromium OS, then log in the way you usually would. You’ll be presented with Chrome’s login screen:

You’ll need a Google account to log in (it’s your Gmail login, if you’re not sure what I’m talking about). If you don’t have a Google account, get one – ChromeOS isn’t terribly useful without it.
You’ll see a fancy first-time window once you log in:

Follow the tutorials if you want, or explore the new system. You’ll see a taskbar at bottom; use the App Button to launch your Chrome apps; you can pin your favorite apps to the taskbar. There’s even a built-in file manager.

The heart of the operating system – Chrome itself – works pretty much as you’d expect (though seemingly speedier, at least if you launch a seperate session). If you already use Chrome your bookmarks, history and apps will sync over, meaning you’ll feel right at home quickly.

Explore and enjoy. It’s a different way to use your computer, and it’s not for everyone, but you might like it.

Working/Not Working

While Chrome/ChromiumOS are not new, the package that gets it running in Ubuntu is. The developers point out what is and isn’t working in the documentation. Here’s what is working:

• Login directly from LightDM (at login screen)
• Sync, apps, bookmarks
• Flash (install google-chrome-stable)
• Talk (install google-talkplugin)
• Java (icedtea-plugin)
• Simple development for ChromeOS specific plugins/extensions(~/chrome-os/user)
• HW acceleration
• Tablet mode

And here’s what’s not:

• System controls, data is ignored and replaced with fake data ?
• Guest login (missing cros subsystem)
• Special “KIOSK” mode (switch still exists)
• Auto-updates

Note that they’re working on it, and things may be different by the time you read this, so check the documentation to be sure.

Install ChromiumOS In Ubuntu

Ready to install? Head to the LightDM Login ChromeOS page on github. You’ll find a 64 bit package for Ubuntu. Users of Ubuntu’s x86 version will be able to install this, but it won’t work. You’ve been warned.
If nothing else this gives Ubuntu a lightweight, browser only desktop that’s tightly integrated with Google’s ecosystem. To me this is a good thing, but I want to know what you think: will you be installing ChromiumOS in Ubuntu? Let me know in the comments below, along with any alternative browser-based desktops for Ubuntu.
Not sure how to install or use Ubuntu? Check out Ubuntu For Absolute Beginners, our manual outlining Ubuntu. It will get you started.

Ubuntu 12.10 - Intro & Download

Get Ubuntu 12.10

Meet Ubuntu

Fast, free and incredibly easy to use, the Ubuntu operating system powers millions of desktop PCs, laptops and servers around the world. Ubuntu will work with your existing PC files, printers, cameras, music players and smartphones - and it comes with thousands of free apps.
Take the tour

Why use Ubuntu?

It couldn’t be easier to use

Ubuntu does everything you need it to and more. It'll work with music, videos, photos and files that you use on your current PC. And it works just as well with printers, cameras and all common smartphones.
Explore features

Why is it free?

It’s hard to believe that such a polished, professional and popular product can be free. But Ubuntu is free to anyone who wants to use it. Here’s why.

1. It’s open source.

   Our global community is made up of thousands of people who want to help build the best open-source operating system in the world. They share their time and skills to make sure that Ubuntu keeps getting better and better. From IBM to Google, Firefox to Wikipedia — some of today's best software is based on an open-source model. Shared efforts. Shared principles. No cost.
   Find out more about open source

   “#iuseubuntubecause I stand for freedom, but require a working desktop environment. Ubuntu has the best of both.”
   Jeffrey Bouter, via Twitter

2. 

   It’s managed and funded by Canonical.

   Canonical is the number-one Ubuntu services provider. Companies can choose to receive expert training, support or consultancy for a fee that goes towards the continued development of Ubuntu.
   Canonical and Ubuntu
   

Install Ubuntu 12.10

1. Using a DVD?

   It’s easy to install Ubuntu from a DVD. Here’s what you need to do:
   Put the Ubuntu DVD into the DVD-drive
   Restart your computer. You should see a welcome screen prompting you to choose your language and giving you the option to install Ubuntu or try it from the DVD.
   If you don’t get this menu, read the booting from the DVD guide for more information.
   

   Using a USB drive?

   Most newer computers can boot from USB. You should see a welcome screen prompting you to choose your language and giving you the option to install Ubuntu or try it from the CD.
   If your computer doesn’t automatically do so, you might need to press the F12 key to bring up the boot menu, but be careful not to hold it down - that can cause an error message.
   
2. 2

   Prepare to install Ubuntu

   • We recommend you plug your computer into a power source
   • You should also make sure you have enough space on your computer to install Ubuntu
   • We advise you to select Download updates while installing and Install this third-party software now
   • You should also stay connected to the internet so you can get the latest updates while you install Ubuntu
   • If you’re not connected to the internet, we’ll help you set up wireless at the next step

   
3. 3

   Set up wireless

   If you are not connected to the internet, you will be asked to select a wireless network, if available. We advise you to connect during the installation so we can ensure your machine is up to date. So, if you set up your wireless network at this point, it’s worth then clicking the Back button to go back to the last screen (Preparing to install Ubuntu) and ticking the box marked ’Download updates while installing’.
   
   
   
4. 4

   Allocate drive space

   Use the checkboxes to choose whether you’d like to Install Ubuntu alongside another operating system, delete your existing operating system and replace it with Ubuntu, or – if you’re an advanced user – choose the ’Something else’ option
   
5. 5

   Begin the installation

   Depending on your previous selections, you can now verify that you have chosen the way in which you would like to install Ubuntu. The installation process will begin when you click the Install Now button.
   Ubuntu needs about 4.5 GB to install, so add a few extra GB to allow for your files.
   Not sure about this step? Windows users can use the Windows installer, which will install and uninstall Ubuntu in the same way as any other Windows application. It’s simpler and completely safe.
   
6. 6

   Select your location

   If you are connected to the internet, this should be done automatically. Check your location is correct and click ’Forward’ to proceed. If you’re unsure of your time zone, type the name of the town you’re in or click on the map and we’ll help you find it.
   

   TIP: If you’re having problems connecting to the Internet, use the menu in the top-right-hand corner to select a network.

   
7. 7

   Select your preferred keyboard layout

   Click on the language option you need. If you’re not sure, click the ’Detect Keyboard Layout’ button for help.
   
8. 8

   Enter your login and password details

   
9. 9

   Learn more about Ubuntu while the system installs…

   …or make a cup of tea!
   
10. 10

    That’s it.

    All that’s left is to restart your computer and start enjoying Ubuntu!