Ubuntu Tweak
April 18th, 2008 by heathenx
A few weeks ago I discovered a neat little tool that helps me tweak my Ubuntu installs. Being a full time KDE user (and recently an OpenBox convert) means that I am able to really configure things the way that I like them. Gnome on the other hand takes a different approach. It’s settings are a little harder to get to. Luckily for me, there is so much Ubuntu documentation out there that finding a way to do something usually takes just a few minutes.
A search for some customization tips for Ubuntu/Gnome turned up an app called Ubuntu Tweak. It reminds me of Tweak UI for Windows XP. For someone who doesn’t know the ins and outs of Gnome, this tool is rather handy to have. Here is a list of some of the features straight from the author’ web site:
* View of Basic System Information(Distribution, Kernel, CPU, Memory, etc.)
* GNOME Session Control
* Auto Start Program Control
* Show/Hide and Change Splash screen
* Show/Hide desktop icons or Mounted Volumes
* Show/Hide/Rename Computer, Home, Trash icon or Network icon
* Tweak Metacity Window Manager’s Style and Behavior
* Compiz Fusion settings, Screen Edge Settings, Window Effects Settings, Menu Effect Settins
* GNOME Panel Settings
* Nautilus Settings
* Advanced Power Management Settings
* System Security Settings
Give it a try!
April 21st, 2008 at 8:30 am
Really? I have always found Gnome easier to configure…
Guess it comes down to what your use to.
April 21st, 2008 at 8:41 am
Well, I’m going to find out which is easier to tweak soon enough since I’m switching distro’s. I’m going to try using Ubutnu/Gnome full time instead of openSUSE/KDE.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:42 am
To be honest I have not spent that much time with KDE. I gave it a try a few times for a couple of weeks or so but always went back Gnome, it just feels more comfortable to me.
Why are you making the switch if you don’t mind me asking?
April 21st, 2008 at 11:06 am
Well, I’m leaving openSUSE for a few reasons. One is the package management. With each new release the package management changes. Improvements are made but it never really quite gets there when you compare it to something like apt. Yast and Smart have their merits but apt is what I want to use. I miss the days when apt4rpm was the recommended alternative to Yast. I feel like Novell is trying to reinvent the wheel with zypper. How many package managers have we had at our disposal in the last few years in Suse? Yast, Rug, zypper, apt4rpm, Yum, Smart. Now PackageKit is coming to openSUSE 11.0. 1-click Install is nice but apt has that now too. Can you understand why new users to openSUSE get little confused?
April 21st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Heck I am not a even a new user and openSUSE confuses me. I installed the 11.0 beta a few weeks ago to take it for a test drive and have already removed it from my “play around” machine.
I think mostly I have just become use to Ubuntu/Gnome and trying to change now is just not really worth it. If one of the other distro’s comes up with something unique enough to prompt a change then I would consider it. I will always keep one computer around to test out the other distro’s but for now my work computer is gonna keep Ubuntu on it.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Well, I have been living the Suse way of life for a long time. I have learned by now the ins and outs. Really it boiled down to me asking myself what is keeping me on openSUSE? Everything that I use openSUSE for seems just as equally or better supported on Ubuntu.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:31 am
Looks like if you want a familiar desktop environment KUbuntu 8.04 may be perfect as it comes with KDE 4.1. http://www.kde.org/announcements/4.0/education.php
April 25th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Oh, I know about Kubuntu. I just feel like I want to give Gnome a second chance. I started on Gnome and hated it. Maybe because I thought Red Hat butchered it back then. If Ubuntu’s Gnome doesn’t work out in the end then KDE is just an apt-get away.