[wplug] Sharing Devices and Files between users - Ubuntu 8.10

[Greg Simkins]

I normally don't create multiple user accounts on a Linux computer, but I lent my Dell Mini 9 Netbook to a young student here in Kyushu.  Since I don't know much Japanese and she doesn't know much English, I created a user account for her, which I configured with japanese menus.  I have found that she is not able to access files and devices (2GB SD card or USB flash drive) or files in my admin user space.  I googled expecting a quick answer, but it seems a bit complicated.  I found this file that says it ain't easy: http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/3916/, but this article is two years old.  I can't believe that there is no simple setting that just makes it happen.  I checked off every checkbox on user privileges.  Am I overlooking something?  

Can somebody refer me to a good reference on how to share files between local users?  Would it help to update ubuntu 8.10 to a more current version?  

This Dell Mini came installed with the long term support edition of ubuntu 8.10.  This NetBook is all solid state with an 8GB SSD drive and 2 GB RAM.  I purchased a 4GB SD card to provide extra storage space for Maria.  I had a powerpoint file that I wanted her to open in Open Office Presentation, but I couldn't open it from her account on either external device or from my desktop.  I am able to access these devices from my user account.  

Thanks, 

Greg
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.wplug.org/pipermail/wplug/attachments/20100404/1b0b3014/attachment.html