We already concluded in my previous guide (from April) that we think that Ubuntu might be the greatest OS in the world. But that doesn’t change the fact that the desktop looks very dull out of the box.

But now we are going to change that and I will now let you know how to turn your desktop into this fantastic colourful desktop in no time.

If you like this green desktop, just keep reading, but if you rather like the below dark desktop I have a guide for that as well right here.

Edit: Several steps in this guide will probably work very well also on other Linux distributions as well but due to lack of own experience I won’t guarantee that.

To make the perfect desktop, it is NOT enough just changing into a cool background and apply a nice theme. The secret, which I will guide you through consists in my guide of 9 steps:

1. Change background picture
2. Change GTK2 theme with window border and controls
3. Change icon set
4. Change Fonts
5. Configure the top bar
6. Install a cool mac-like dock (AWN)
7. Install and get conky up and running to get that geeky text information about RAM usage, processes etc
8. Change login theme
9. Change the ugly orange color which is between the login screen and your fully loaded desktop

Note: In order to get that transparent look you need to get compiz up and running. You can activate compiz on Ubuntu 7.10 or higher: right click in the desktop, click “change desktop background”, click the tab “visual effects” and click “normal” or higher. It requires that your computer is equipped with a 3d graphics card with correct drivers.

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The new Ubuntu release 8.04 Hardy Heron will be released tomorrow.

If you can’t wait, upgrade to the release candidate, available now, and then upgrade to the final version again tomorrow. Note that its not recommendable to install the release candidate on working machines but what the heck, you only live once. It was released just a few days ago and so many bugs can not have been solved since then, could it?

To upgrade Hardy Heron release candidate:

Alt+F2
Enter following command: upgrade manager -d
Click on upgrade to 8.04 lts and follow the instructions.

Tomorrow after the release you can upgrade again doing following:
Alt+F2
Enter following command: upgrade manager -c
Click on upgrade to 8.04 lts and follow the instructions.

Linux has grown up incredibly during the last years. And if not yet completely mature and stable for the vast majority of computer users, at least ready to move from home. But unfortunately a large majority of the community is still childish and totally biased on even the slightest complain of Linux or in any comparison discussion between Mac or Windows.

How many times have you read that it’s a myth that Linux is

• difficult to use
• difficult to install programs
• difficult to get the hardware to work and impossible to find drivers
• difficult to find help and that there is no support what so ever

Let’s get one thing very clear. Its not a myth, it was like that just a few years ago. At the time when Windows XP was released, Linux was still a pain in the ass to use. Too many people knows that, even by own experience from home, school or work. They still have nightmares about that unix/linux terminal or in the best case a really ugly X windows. And remember, this was at the time when you could already plug virtually anything in the Windows XP and it would most probably install the device automatically. In worst case you could visit the makers web page and download the drivers.

But still today, year 2008, many wireless cards, graphic cards, tons of USB devices just wont work out of the box with Linux.

With that said lets praise Linux for where it is today. The last years there has been a tremendous development and Mark Shuttleworth sort of finished it off with his Ubuntu. There is a strength in open source which I believe in strongly. There will never be any management saying no to an idea because you can’t make money on it or because it’s not company policy. If someone wants it, its going to happen for sure in open source.

But I call for a small change in attitude in how we should sell Linux and I have drafted following four points:

1. Admit the history. Just because it works quite well with the latest releases of Ubuntu, it doesn’t mean that it always was like that. Don’t get too cocky just because you also just got that Mac-dock or cool compiz features. We got that recently - remember.
2. Admit whats good with Windows and Mac. There are tons of things which are much better with those systems. I would never in my life recommend a hard core gamer to to start with Linux, he would go back to Windows immediately. I have never, during my 15 years of computing had a device which couldn’t be install in windows with quite ease, with Linux that happens now and then. How easy is it to do such a fundamental thing such as dual screens in different configurations compared to in the competing OS’s. Adobe and Autodesk doesn’t have some of the most important programs in Linux format, its also something to bring up. So no need to say everything is better, its not. And there are no need to cry out in tears if someone complains about using the terminal.
3. Bring on all the stuff which is better in Linux. You know it so well already so I do not need to tell, but of course you mention that everything is 100% free, it comes with complete set of programs pre-installed, it is super easy to install new programs, there are several nice desktops environments to choose from, it has the most helpful community in the world (Ubuntuforums.com) etc etc etc.
4. Finish it off with the the most important point. Because its fun!

Kimchikid

Official distro sites

The main homepage for Ubuntu - the standard and most popular Ubuntu distro, using the gnome desktop environment.

The home for Kubuntu - a linux distro with the poular KDE desktop environment.

The homepage for Edubuntu - a linux distribution aimed at classroom and educational usage. For schools and universities.

Xubuntu uses the Xfce desktop environment. Older computers feel lively again, while newer ones will run faster than ever before! Recommended for old computers and various Xfce freaks.

Similar to the Ubuntu distribution but with only what they claim to be truly free software.

Study and interact

Ubuntu Forums

Meet the Ubuntu community, world famous for its helpfulness. Main place for searching, writing, interacting and finding a sollution for your Linux/Ubuntu problems. Probably the standard forum for all Debian based Linux distro’s.

Ubuntu brainstorm

The ultimate place to post your ideas and read and vote for other’s ideas. This is where you give your vote about what you want the Ubuntu dev’s to implement and fix for future Ubuntu distributions.

Ubuntu wiki pages

A place for the Ubuntu community to discuss ideas and store team-related information. You can find vital geek information such as the exact Hardy Heron release schedule.

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A clean install of Ubuntu is not looking very slick at all. To be frank, it looks pretty boring.

But relax, if you follow this guide you will be able to get a ultra cool desktop like this one.

Edit: Several steps in this guide will probably work very well also on other linux distributions as well but due to lack of own experience I won’t guarantee that.

We will do following steps:

1. Change background picture
2. Change GTK2 theme with window border and controls
3. Change icon set
4. Change Fonts
5. Configure the top bar
6. Install a cool Mac-like dock (AWN)
7. Install and get conky up and running to get the geeky text information about RAM usage, processes etc
8. Change login theme
9. Change the ugly orange color which is between the login screen and your fully loaded desktop

Edit: BOBCFC kindly pointed out that compiz must be up and running in order to get this transparent look. You can activate compiz on Ubuntu 7.10 or higher: right click in the desktop, click “change desktop background”, click the tab “visual effects” and click “normal” or higher. It requires that your computer is equipped with a 3d graphics card.

Next page 1 2 3 4View All