What to do if your Ubuntu updates are slow. Involves pinging servers from within
Synaptic and is not hard to do.
nocostsoftware.blogspot.com/.../what-to-do-if-your-ubuntu-updates-and\
.html

Awhile ago someone asked for an Ubuntu book. Here is a review of one:
www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/.../book_review_practical_guide_to_ubun\
tu_linux