So I installed the Ubuntu Linux distro that Mark linked to in another thread it took a couple of tries but it's going now.

I have the microsoft trackball explorer mouse and would like to know if there is some way to be able to use the extra buttons. It works like a normal two button mouse with scroll wheel but in windows I have the extra buttons set for forward and back in firefox which is handy.

I did get mouse gestures to work inspite of the fact that mozilla says it shouldn't so I suppose I could use that but the buttons would be better.

You'll have to do a little config work, and xmodmap magic. Not too difficult, though. See here.

For the part editing the xorg.conf file how do I find what parameters to use there ? The ones he lists are for different logitech models. Or does it not matter and I can just use one of those ?

I'd say, use the config for the one that has the same number of buttons as yours and everything should be fine. I think.

Oh, and use the correct protocol, of course. Basically, mess around with what they talk about on that page until it works the way you want.

I found another page that said something about you are supposed to use the number of buttons you have plus 2 because the scroll wheel counts as two (one for up and one for down) I don't know if the scroll wheel click counts as a button.

I will just have to mess with it I think.

All I had to do to get it to work with firefox anyway was edit the xorg.conf file with the parameters I found
here

Thanks for the info I would have had no idea what to even look for otherwise

I havent had a chance to install it yet. Whats your first impression so far??

EDIT: Nevermind I just installed it, man was it easy and fast! Love apt-get just want something apt-get install package and walla done Never got apache php and mysql up so fast in my life

Ok so here's a dumb question. I keep reading about apt-get but I don't know how to use it.

Is this a command line thing ?

Yes, but synaptic is a graphical frontend for it.

Ahh ok I did find the synaptic thing thanks. (still can't get the damn mp3 codec to work though)

Make sure you've got synaptic installed (as opposed to kynaptic and other poor clones of it). Then, under the Settings menu you should find a Repositories entry. Go there, and Check all of the Binary checkboxes. Then exit from the menu and click on the Reload icon.

The available packages should now be greatly expanded from before, and there will be lots of .mp3 and dvd codecs and the like. Use the Search tool to find mp3 in Name and Description for starters.

-ml