Ubuntu: Tips and tricks 1
January 4th, 2007
So, let’s say you’ve installed Ubuntu. Here are a few simple tips to get you going.
1. Customise the panel (taskbar)
It’s the classic Windows XP desktop - In Ubuntu!!
Ubuntu includes the Gnome panel - this allows you to add or remove menu items in various ways to panels - they can be located on the top/bottom/left/right of screen, like XP’s taskbar - Unlike XP, you can have more than one taskbar in Ubuntu.
I like Windows XP’s menu system, so I’ve configured my system to be similar (single panel at bottom like XP taskbar). Here’s how I did that:
- Delete bottom panel: (right click over it, and click delete)
- Move top panel to bottom: right click, select panel properties, change orientation to bottom.
- Delete the various menu items you don’t need from the panel (I deleted all except the date) by rightclicking and selecting remove from panel).
- Add the main menu: Right click panel, select add to panel, scroll down to ‘utilities’, find main menu, click it and drag it to bottom left of panel.
- Add the show desktop button (under desktop and windows).
- Add tabs: to add a list of tabs for open windows, select window list under desktop and windows, and drag it to the bottom.
- Add the network monitor (or modem monitor if you use one).
- You can add any other icons you like.
2. Add the computer to your desktop
Not that you need to, but if you miss it, you can add it by dragging it off the places menu
3. Adding shortcuts
Ubuntu allows you to set up keyboard shortcuts - in this case I will show how to set up a shortcut for Terminal (some Ubuntu tasks need you to access the terminal). You can make a hotkey to it easily by going to System - Preferences - Keyboard Shortcuts, then select Run a terminal, and press the shortcut combination you want - e.g. alt+t, and click close.
4. Enable media playback
By default, Ubuntu does not enable playback of non open source media formats via its movie player. To re-enable this feature so you can play DivX, etc, by following the instructions here: (do whats described in the “how to make things work in a hurry” section.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats
5. Install Wine (Enables you to run Windows software under Ubuntu Linux!!)
Microsoft Word under Wine - not really necessary as open office is already installed - but I did this to test the installation process on Wine - it works!
- Open synaptic package manager (System - Administration - Synaptic package manager.
- Enable all repositories (Settings - repositories - and tick the unticked ones)
- Reload (click reload).
- Click search, type Wine - scroll through the list till you find “wine” and doubleclick Mark the packages, then click apply
- Downloading package files wait for all files to be downloaded, follow the prompts to install Wine.
After you instal wine, you can run a program by clicking Alt F2 (run) and then type wine /path/to/application e.g. wine /media/cdrom0/setup.exe
You can now install many Windows applications on your Ubuntu PC, and even create shortcuts to them.
6. Reconfigure Screen (if it doesnt work properly)
Sometimes Ubuntu’s default installation won’t detect your monitor properly (e.g. you can’t select all the resolutions you had under XP), also if you change your monitor (e.g. from a CRT to LCD) or change graphic cards, you might find that ubuntu no longer loads properly.
You can fix this by reconfiguring the graphics setup by logging to terminal on startup (press esc when Grub loads and follow the prompts) then type:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg
7. Pronounce the name right
For some strange reason, some people pronounce Ubuntu as U-BAN-tu. This is wrong. Ubuntu is pronounced as oo-BOON-tu, and if you don’t believe me, just watch the video about Ubuntu which features Nelson Mandela (included on the installation disk).
So, what are your favorite Ubuntu tricks? Please add them as comments
Need more tips and tricks? Check out the Ubuntu forum here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=100
15 Comments Add your own
1. Dave | January 4th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
I just got ubuntu installed on my laptop (dell from 7 years ago) for the first time, and it works great. everything worked out of the box, including internet (wireless), sound, graphics, mouse, everything was perfect, and very easy to install and get running. thanks for the tips, could use some more. still getting situated, and have no clue about what else i can do with this system.
2. Haha | January 5th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Why is the first thing you want to do after switching to Linux making everything look like Windows + getting Windows to work in Wine?
What a joke.
3. Yano | January 5th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Do you know Automatix2?
Google it
It’s very good for Ubuntu
4. deadlynoob | January 7th, 2007 at 9:01 am
imho if u want your linux look like windows and run windows apps. , u should have sticked to windows
—
excuse my poor english
5. pem | January 14th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Moving to a new OS from years on windows, I want something that has a low learning curve–hence linux that works like windows and runs all my windows software that I invested heavily in. This is just to get me started with linux, As I learn about linux, I can slowly get rid of my windows habits and programs. If you ask me to change too many things at once, it won`t work. Ask me to change my habits little by little and you will get me moving to linux. This is why ubuntu and wine are not only necessary but good for linux. I found this page very helpful for my linux experience. I am not a new user, having started with the PET and moved up through C64, AppleII, DOS, OS2, Windows, and now linux. They are more similar than they are different and having similarities helps to move on.
6. Philip | February 6th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Pern, what a sensible attitude!
I’ve been with Ubuntu Linux for a month, and because I did so many things on Windows - multiple mailboxes, multiple websites etc etc - it’s been a steep and not always smooth ride. Thanks to the great Ubuntu community it has been that bit easier - only for that I would have abandoned Linux.
However, now that after 5 weeks I have my printer running (though not the scanner) I’m feeling more at home with it. I’m stubborn and like to solve problems, so I stuck at it, and also because I’ve benefited so much from Open Source on Windows. Others might feel that life’s too short.
#n, I can’t find your real name here, but thanks for this blog. As I say, but for the Ubuntu spirit of helping others, I would have abandoned it.
7. Talia | February 25th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
I want to use iTunes in Ubuntu, for my iPod, so I used your steps (and trust me, many others as well!) to try and install it. All it does is make my screen black and I have to run my mouse over it all to make anything appear again.
Any idea why this is happening and wine isn’t working? We’ve tried undoing it, and downloading it again, ditto for iTunes.
87purple.elephants@gmail.com, any help would be greatly appreciated!
Talia
8. Mike | March 9th, 2007 at 10:04 am
Talia
I suggest using RhythmBox to manage your iPod. As for purchasing songs at the iTunes store, install Automatix and look up Songbird. It has an interface to many popular online music services.
However, I have found RhythmBox to be the best for managing and playing music from your iPod.
9. Derf | April 3rd, 2007 at 6:57 pm
I loaded Ubuntu from the CD and it worked out of the box so well I was stunned. With Windows XP I had to download 100 MB of patches before I could use Windows XP to surf the internet!!
I have left WIndows behind completely. Good bye Billy Gates!!!
10. michael Proctor | April 26th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
I installed ubuntu 6.06 lts (Dapper) and found out I loved it so much I completely eradicated the win xp off of my system! It is so easy to use, I cant believe I didnt do this sooner. :-)3
11. open_source_guy | May 28th, 2007 at 11:34 am
Talia,
If the Windows version of iTunes did not work through Wine, I would just stick to Rhythmbox because it is just as good. (Use Songbird to use the store.) If you would like to run ANY Windows code (not just wine supported apps), use and emulator (but these cost money, though not as much as Windows). I wouldn’t want to make my Ubuntu look like Windows, but if it helps people switch to free software go for it.
12. open_source_guy | May 28th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Also, to deadlynoob:
I disagree. Why use Windows when Linux is stabler, more reliable, more secure, more user-friendly, has a better supprot community, free, and above all more convenient? The only thing I would use Windows for is possibly 3-D gaming (there are not many games for Linux), and even then I would probably pick a Windows emulator (of course Wine Is Not an Emulator) in its stead. But then again, I am a radical Windows hater…
13. Aaron | August 15th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
The Ultimate Ubuntu Tip— Use Compiz Fusion, it is AWESOME!!!
14. secret | August 21st, 2007 at 1:41 pm
I’m retired. My 1st ‘puter was an apple II. I wish I could “terminal” but know I never will know much about it. Ubuntu has been like my Toyotas—flawless behavior, comfortable, dependable. The help available is super. I again thank those who have helped me .
I keep thinking to myself how much more I could do if I knew how, but Ubuntu hasn’t stopped me from doing what I’m trying to do. Ubuntu is a real pleasure that will only get better, I’ll wager.
15. Zug | October 3rd, 2007 at 2:25 pm
If you want it to look like windows to transition you, more power to you. If you want things to “just work”, then this is the right distro. there are fanboys of ubuntu who preach open source, and I am one of em, but do not let people stop you from enjoying what is YOUR experience in linux. I am glad that we can finally say that there is a linux out there for everyone. The biggest thing I love about ubuntu is that I can enjoy linux instead of having to beg it to do something simple, like dial my modem or find WiFi hotspots. Better to be linux then to be crushed under the boot of proprietary DRM of micro$haft.
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