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Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin saw the light a few days ago. As we do with each release of this popular distro, here are some things you should do after making a installation from scratch. |
1. Run the Update Manager
It is likely that after Ubuntu 12.04 was released, new updates have appeared for the different packages that the ISO image distributed by Canonical comes with.
For this reason, after finishing the installation it is always recommended to run the Update Manager. You can do it by searching for it in Dash or by executing the following from a terminal:
sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get upgrade
2. Install Spanish Language
In the Dash I wrote Language and from there you will be able to add the language you prefer.
3. Install codecs, Flash, additional fonts, drivers, etc.
Due to legal issues, Ubuntu cannot include by default a series of packages that, on the other hand, are very necessary for any user: codecs to play MP3, WMV or encrypted DVDs, additional sources (widely used in Windows), Flash, drivers owners (to make better use of 3D functions or Wi-Fi), etc.
Fortunately, the Ubuntu installer allows you to install all of this from scratch. You just have to enable that option in one of the installer screens.
In case you haven't already done so, you can install them as follows:
Video card driver
Ubuntu should automatically detect and alert you to the availability of 3D drivers. In that case, you will see an icon for a video card on the top panel. Click on that icon and follow the instructions.
If Ubuntu doesn't detect your card, you can always install your 3D driver (nvidia or ati) by looking for the Hardware Configuration Tool.
Proprietary codecs and formats
If you are one of those who cannot live without listening to MP3, M4A and other proprietary formats, as well as you could not survive in this cruel world without being able to play your videos in MP4, WMV and other proprietary formats, there is a very simple solution. You just have to click on the button below:
or write in a terminal:
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
To add support for encrypted DVDs (all "originals"), I opened a terminal and typed the following:
sudo apt-get install libdvdread4 sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh
4. Install additional repositories
Medibuntu
It is a repository of software packages that cannot be included in the Ubuntu distribution for reasons such as legal copyright, licensing or patent restrictions. Includes programs like: Google-Earth, Opera, Win32codecs, Msfonts.
sudo -E wget --output-document = / etc / apt / sources.list.d / medibuntu.list http://www.medibuntu.org/sources.list.d/$(lsb_release -cs) .list && sudo apt-get --quiet update && sudo apt-get --yes --quiet --allow-unauthenticated install medibuntu-keyring && sudo apt-get --quiet update
To add the Medibuntu packages in the Ubuntu Software Center:
sudo apt-get install app-install-data-medibuntu apport-hooks-medibuntu
GetDeb & Playdeb
GetDeb (formerly Ubuntu Click And Run) is a website where Deb packages and more current versions of packages that do not come in the usual Ubuntu repositories are manufactured and made available to the end user.
Playdeb, the game repository for Ubuntu, was created by the same people who gave us getdeb.net, the purpose of the project is to provide Ubuntu users with an unofficial repository with the latest versions of the games.
5. Install help tools to configure Ubuntu
Ubuntu Tweak
The most popular tool for configuring Ubuntu is Ubuntu Tweak. This wonder allows you to "tune" your Ubuntu and leave it as you like.
To install Ubuntu Tweak, I opened a terminal and typed:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa: tualatrix / ppa sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak
MyUnity
MyUnity allows you to configure Unity very easily.
6. Install compression applications
In order to compress and decompress some popular free and proprietary formats, you need to install the following packages:
sudo apt-get install rar unace p7zip-full p7zip-rar sharutils mpack lha arj
7. Install other package and configuration managers
Synaptic - is a graphical tool for package management based on GTK + and APT. Synaptic allows you to install, update or uninstall program packages in a versatile way.
It is not already installed by default (as they say by space on the CD)
Installation: Search Software Center: synaptic. Otherwise, you can enter the following command in a terminal ...
sudo apt-get install synaptic
aptitude - Command to install applications from the terminal
It is not necessary since we can always use the "apt-get" command, but here I leave it for those who want it:
Installation: Search Software Center: aptitude. Otherwise, you can enter the following command in a terminal ...
sudo apt-get install aptitude
gdeby - Installation of .deb packages
It is not necessary, since when installing the .deb with double click the Software Center opens. For the nostalgic:
Installation: search Software Center: gdebi. Otherwise, you can enter the following command in a terminal ...
sudo apt-get install gdebi
Dconf editor - It can be useful when configuring Gnome.
Installation: Search Software Center: dconf editor. Otherwise, you can enter the following command in a terminal ...
sudo apt-get install dconf-tools
To run it, I opened Dash and typed "dconf editor."
8. Find more applications in the Ubuntu Software Center
In case you can't find an application to do what you want or you don't like the applications that come by default in Ubuntu, you can go to the Ubuntu Software Center.
From there you will be able to install excellent applications with just a few clicks. Some popular picks are:
- OpenShot, video editor
- AbiWordSimple, lightweight text editor
- Thunderbird, email
- Chromium, web browser (free version of Google Chrome)
- Pidgin, cat
- Deluge, torrent
- VLCvideo
- XBMC, media center
- fileZilla,FTP
- GIMP, image editor (Photoshop type)
9. Change interface
To the traditional GNOME interface
If you are not a fan of Unity and want to use the traditional GNOME interface, please do the following:
- Log out
- Click on your username
- Look for the session menu at the bottom of the screen
- Change it from Ubuntu to Ubuntu Classic
- Click Login.
In case for some strange reason this option is not available, try running the following command first:
sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback
To GNOME 3 / GNOME Shell
If you want to try Gnome 3.2 with Gnome-Shell, instead of Unity.
Installation: search in Software Center: gnome shell. Otherwise, you can enter the following command in a terminal ...
sudo apt-get install gnome-shell
If you decided to install Gnome Shell, you may also be interested install the Gnome Shell 3.2 extensions.
cinnamon
Cinammon is a fork of Gnome 3 used and developed by the creators of Linux Mint that allows you to have a lower task bar with the classic Start Menu.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa: gwendal-lebihan-dev / cinnamon-stable sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install cinnamon
10. Install Indicators and Quicklists
Indicators - You can install many indicators, which will appear on the top panel of your desktop. These indicators can display information about many things (weather, hardware sensors, ssh, system monitors, dropbox, virtualbox, etc.).
A complete list of indicators, along with a brief description of their installation, is available at Ask Ubuntu.
quicklist - Quicklists allow you to access common functionalities of the applications. They run through the bar that appears on the left on your desktop.
A complete list of quicklists, along with a brief description of their installation, is available at Ask Ubuntu.
11. Install Compiz Settings Manager & some extra plugins
Compiz is the one who makes those amazing stationery that leaves us all speechless. Unfortunately Ubuntu does not come with any graphical interface to configure Compiz. Also, it doesn't come with all the plugins installed.
To install them, I opened a terminal and typed:
sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-extra
12. Remove the global menu
To remove the so-called "global menu", which makes the applications menu appear on the top panel of your desktop, I simply opened a terminal and typed the following:
sudo apt-get remove appmenu-gtk3 appmenu-gtk appmenu-qt
Log out and log in again.
To revert the changes, open a terminal and enter:
sudo apt-get install appmenu-gtk3 appmenu-gtk appmenu-qt
If you are a lover of the global menu and you don't like that LibreOffice I don't support it, I opened a terminal and wrote the following:
sudo apt-get install lo-menubar
That should fix the problem.