I installed Ubuntu 12.04. What now?

Question

I salvaged an extremely slow computer of mine with this fantastic OS, but I'm really not sure where to go from here. How do I access all of the customization I hear about? What other cool things can Linux do? Is Ubuntu even the best distro? I just want a crash course in Ubuntu and the cool stuff I can do with it.

Answer 1

First off to get started creating a "Custom" look you will need to install ComizConfig System Manager or CCSM. This allows you to make nearly any change to the actual looks and feel of the desktop. I also recommend that you install Ubuntu Tweak, It allows you to change a few settings that are neat to play around with as well. Another thing to install that allows a large amount of customization would be Cairo Dock (or GLX Dock as found in the Ubuntu Software Center.)

As far as learning how to trick things out... it is a trial and error learning curve... for anyone to try and tell (teach) you how would take volumes of info. Best to google each thing you are trying to do in advance before doing it... someone hase done it before and a how-to is out there. Sometimes with older equipment there are things that don't work as well (hardware acceleration for example) and things aren't as smooth as you would like and get very irritating, be prepared for some give and take. Although not always needed, sometimes after making a change it does help to restart the computer if things aren't quite right.

Answer 2

If Unity is installed in this distribution, open Synaptic, type in Unity in the search and do a complete removal of Unity. Unity was a developers version and not stable and was never intended to be used on a home computer desktop. Unity wasn't even created by Ubuntu. When it came out I tried it several different times and constantly crashed the operating system every time. It still has bugs and glitches and sometime does not work with some software programs. Other than this everone has good suggestions about customizing your Linux. You could download Ultimate Edition 3.5 Linux and run it LiveCD to see what can be done with Linux. It all depends on just how far you want to customize the Linux you are using. I believe Ultimate Edition 3.5 is a Ubuntu based Remaster.

Answer 3

To take full advantage of Ubuntu's customization options, you need a few additional tools; CCSM for changing Compiz, and one of the third-party "tweak tools" for Ubuntu: Ubuntu Tweak, Unsettings, or MyUnity. Of the three I'd suggest Ubuntu Tweak, it's the most comprehensive: http://ubuntu-tweak.com/



Frankly, if you're looking for a desktop with the most potential for personalization, Ubuntu would not be my first choice, a KDE-based distro would, followed by MATE/GNOME 2, which all offer more configuration options than locked-down Unity does (can't move Launcher, can't move top panel, Compiz gets crashy when you alter default settings with the Unity Plugin installed, etc etc)



The advice given by alk99 is a good start; docks are one of the easiest ways to change the look and behavior of your desktop. Conky is something else to investigate.



You can find new themes and icons for Ubuntu here: http://gnome-look.org/

Answer 4

RUN! RUN! AS FAST AS YOU CAN!

BE THE GINGERBREAD MAN.



Okay, too much.



No, but really, if you know only the basics of a computer, i'd run. I am more advance in computer's and i'm still trying to run from it. (Windows 8 here I come)