Ubuntu Customization Guide : Purple Boy

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purple-boy-ubuntu-desktopMost 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Avant Window Navigator

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

Awn Manager

Final Look :

Purple Boy Ubuntu Desktop

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!

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Author: Pubudu Kodikara (143 Articles)

Pubudu Kodikara is a writer at Tech Hamlet (www.techhamlet.com), a state of the art tech blog which is powered by the Earth Organization, which have a main target of educating people about the latest technology. They post latest tech news, tips on how to resolve problems, tricks and hacks to improve what you do, tutorials to learn new things and many more.

20 Responses to Ubuntu Customization Guide : Purple Boy
  1. Deepika
    December 20, 2009 | 2:14 pm

    Hi Pubudu Kodikara,,,

    Really Purple Boy looking awesome… Definitely i will give a try to this friend.
    Deepika´s last blog ..7-Sureshot Methods To Increase Your Blog Readership My ComLuv Profile

  2. Shiva@Web Magazine
    December 21, 2009 | 7:29 am

    Great tutorials man, always was thinking of making my ubuntu desktop a bit more cooler, your tutorial did the stuff

  3. Rajesh Kanuri
    December 21, 2009 | 8:41 pm

    the looks were far better and i will call this as Windows Purple.. :D
    Rajesh Kanuri´s last blog ..How To Solve Missed Schedule Error In Wordpress 2.9 My ComLuv Profile

  4. Ramkumar
    December 21, 2009 | 10:38 pm

    You have sent a strong message to people who think Linux is a mess. Anyone after using Suse 12 will never feel like returning to Windows.
    Ramkumar´s last blog ..ASUS P835 PDA phone Review: My ComLuv Profile

  5. Dinesh
    December 21, 2009 | 11:03 pm
  6. TechChunks
    December 23, 2009 | 5:47 pm

    I’m going to try this on a friend’s Linux machine this weekend ;)
    TechChunks´s last blog ..Firefox 3.5 beats IE7 and takes the ‘Most Popular Browser’ Spot My ComLuv Profile

  7. Mia
    December 25, 2009 | 9:13 am

    Nice looking desktop Pubudu, however : I my desktop looks like the desk of Albert Einstein ! :( [ and if you have never seen Einsteins messy desktop - then you have no idea as to what I am talking about :D - I have millions of files on my Mac Desktop ] ; basically there is no more room to store anything on my desktop- I envy this desktop now ..maybe after I get my Windows, I will be better able to manage everything -I need 3 computers basically :D ! what shall be done with me ? I wonder ??? :D

    Mia
    Mia´s last blog ..Enabling Your "FF" Browser at Warp Speed My ComLuv Profile

    • Pubudu Kodikara
      December 25, 2009 | 12:02 pm

      When i write a post with many screen-shots, my desktop also looks like Einstein’s… actually that gives me a real headache :P
      Pubudu Kodikara´s last blog ..By: Ching Ya My ComLuv Profile

  8. JFS
    January 6, 2010 | 10:13 pm

    If you actually like Avant Window Navigator, you might want to check out AWN 0.4:
    http://www.webupd8.org/2009/10/avant-window-navigator-awn-04-available.html

    It has better support for dual screens and I like having the background curved (YMMV).

    -J

  9. iwonttellyou
    January 11, 2010 | 2:12 pm

    It’s Windows, not windows.

  10. shrek
    February 24, 2010 | 6:21 pm

    Hey PK,
    I am new to ubuntu and this was an amazing guide.
    Thank you. You are insane…

  11. Saif
    March 2, 2010 | 12:09 pm

    Useful Info and yeah Linux distros has amazing graphics but most of the windows users do not know

  12. TechChunks
    March 3, 2010 | 1:12 pm

    Great customization tip for Ubuntu Lovers. Hats off buddy :D
    TechChunks´s last blog ..Opera 10.50 Released For Windows, Mac And Linux Version ‘Coming Soon’ My ComLuv Profile

  13. Gojeg
    March 12, 2010 | 7:49 am

    Nice tips..
    I’m using Karmic Koala, and WASP theme. It’s lighter than the default theme. :D
    Gojeg´s last blog ..Awesome Blogger Feature : Blogger Template Designer My ComLuv Profile

  14. fishing organizations
    March 12, 2010 | 6:42 pm

    Wow, that is amazing! It really IS better than some of the Widows desktops. How on earth did you ever figure this out? Thanks a lot for making Linux way cooler than Windows (not that it wasn’t already).

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