Ubuntu Customization Guide : Purple Boy

Most of the people think that Linux is an un-userfiendly operating system with horrible graphics! Most of them think that Windows have better desktop effects! Well… that’s in the old time… Today its the other way around. Do you know that you can customise a Linux desktop with better effects than windows? Today Im going to show you how to turn your Ubuntu desktop into something you’ll love better than windows!

First, What do we need?

• You’ll need to download this wallpaper. Actually I can’t remember from where I took it, but I must say that who ever created it did a great job! (If you know the person who created it, or if you are the creator please let us know about it by leaving a comment!)
• Next, you need to download Genoid theme. Download the theme, extract it, but don’t install it!

Lets Start, Shall We?

1) First lets install the wallpaper :

• Right click on your the desktop and select “Change Desktop Background”. Select the “Background” tab (it will be selected by default).

Change Wallpaper

• After that click on “Add” as shown in the image, select the downloaded wallpaper, and click “Open”

2) Now, lets set up the theme :

• If you have closed the above window, open it again. (right click on your the desktop and select “Change Desktop Background”). Select the “Theme” tab.

Set Theme

• In that, click on “Install”, and go to the folder which you have extracted the downloaded theme. In there you’ll see : “cursor.tar.bz2″ ,  ”iconset.tar.bz2″. Click them one by one and click on “Open”. (After you open one file, again click “Install” and add the other file. Like that, add both of them)
• Now, as your theme, keep the default “Human” theme selected, and click on “Customize”.

Customize

• Click on the “Window Border” tab and, in there, select “New Wave”. Now click “Icons” tab and select “Genoid”. Click on “Pointer” tab, and select “GenoidCursor”. After your done, click “Close”

Customize Theme

3) Next, lets set up the panels :

• Right click on on the upper panel (windows users may call this the “task bar”) and select “Properties”. In there, go to the “Background” tab, select “Solid Color” and pull the “Style” towards “Transparent”. Do the same to the bottom panel.

Panel Properties

4) Screenlets!

• Open the terminal (In the main menu : Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and type in the following command :

sudo apt-get install screenlets

• Now, go to the main menu : Applications > Accessories > Screenlets . In that list, select “RingSensors” (You can duble click on it again to add more sensors), and select “Start/Stop” , “Auto start on login” as shown in the image :

Set Screenlets

• Do the same to the “Netmonitor” screenlet.
• After that right click on the Ringsensor that you have added and select “Properties”. Now, go to the “Options” tab, select “Keep below” and deselect “Keep above”. Inside “Options” tab go to the “Sensors” tab and change th “Sensor to Display” to the sensor you want, and also feel free to change the colors.

Ring Sensors

• Do the same to the “Netmonitor” screenlet. (Note : it don’t have sensors to select! and its options are different)
• After that drag and place them where ever you want.

5) Avant Window Navigator!

• Open the terminal (In the main menu : Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and type in the following command :

sudo apt-get install avant-window-navigator

• Now, go to the main menu : Applications > Accessories > Avant Window Navigator .
• To change the options of it, select “Awn Manager” as in the image :

Avant Window Navigator

• Go to “Applets” and select (one by one) “Awn System Monitor” , “Awn Terminal Applet” and click on activate.

Awn Manager

Final Look :

Purple Boy Ubuntu Desktop

How does it look now? Interesting? Awesome? Come on… speak… Leave a comment on how you feel about your new look and Enjoy!