Linux Desktop enivironments and a couple other questions

WARNING...WARNING...complete Linux newbie here!!!! :-D

To make a long story short...I have installed Ubuntu Server Edition LTS on a spare system that I am attempting to make a multimedia server for the living room...along with learning a little about NOS since I am going to attempt my MCSA, hopefully sometime in the near future.

So...on to the question...I installed the Gnome desktop that came with this server bundle. Can I put other environments on there, or is the server edition limited to the Gnome that come with it? If so...I am shooting to get as close to a mac environment as possible...or is that simply a silly wish? I am a sucker for a cool/neat GUI. And being that I am going to have to teach my wife how to use this thing...she get's turned off by dated looking software, which she thinks is the case with Ubuntu. So anyway...I am looking to jazz up the GUI a bit...any suggestions?

Also...can't seem to find any kind of unzip utility (free ofcourse) that with handle .tar files particularly.

BTW...Adryn...if you see this...thanks for the link on the Wine in the other forum. Didn't want to hijack the thread there, so I thought I would ask you what your take on it is? Is there another better free alternative? I couldn't read into your post enough to tell if you do or don't like wine.

 

I can't think of a better alternative, I just ran into that app with Ubuntu Ultimate 1.8 and thought it was interesting.

As for Desktop Environments...stay tuned.

 

Ok, first of all, yes, you can install different DEs. You simply change the session type on the login screen. To simplify it:

1. Gnome is going to be more minimalist, but can easily mimic OS X.
http://sourceforge.net/dbimage.php?id=152332
2. KDE is more akin to a Windows type interface. 4.x is very pretty, but not intirely usable yet. Stick with the 3.5.x series.
3. XFCE is a lightweight gnome like environment.

Here are a couple videos. One I made with 7.10, one with 8.04.

http://adrynalyne.colemanguy.com/out.ogg

http://adrynalyne.colemanguy.com/out-1.ogv

Here are some older screenshots from a different distro, but I was for the most part using KDE at the time.
http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot3ib7.jpg
http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot2yb0.jpg
http://img405.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot4bx6.jpg
http://img405.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot5yz9.jpg
http://img182.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot6ht6.jpg
http://img512.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot7pm0.jpg
http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot9re8.jpg
http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot10cu3.jpg
http://img391.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot16td1.jpg

You can spice things up with compiz-fusion, but you will need to install the restricted drivers for your video card (non-free). The applications DO look dated, and I had mentioned that on another forum, and got flamed to the point of removing my review, and telling them to stick it where the sun don't shine. This is my biggest gripe about Linux.

 

Thanks adryn...I am a bit behind on my wish list of projects for this fine day, but I will follow up with it in a bit.

In the meantime...I can't figure out why I can see and access files on my XP c: drive, however...on the XP d: drive (which is actually the "My Documents"), I can see the folders but can't access the files in the folders.

Aaaaaaahh...the joys of learning something new!!:cool

 

Holy crap...I've hit the motherload!!

http://ubuntuforums.org/

 

Ok...I think I've got the networking thingy straightened out!! :celebrate

In the meantime...if I change DEs'...will I have to reconfigure my network settings (or any other critical system settings) again or will it all migrate accordingly.

 

It all depends on what you are using to configure your network. If it is a gnome specific application, then, possibly so.

 

That Gnome screenshot at the beginning of your post looks cool...I am fine sticking with gnome if I can get it to something like that. I haven't had a chance to look at the videos (odd file extensions) but I'm assuming they will give me an idea how to get started?

I did in the meantime play around with some of the appearance features. I have an ATI Radeon 9250 128mb video card in there. I notice that if I set the Visual Effects to anything other than normal...it tends to be pretty sluggish. So is my card not hefty enough or is there maybe a step in there I missed as far as getting the video card set up properly. And if my video card isn't powerful enough, is that going to severly restrict my dream of a Mac like user interface?

 

They will show you what some mild customization looks like. VLC player will play them. Which screenshot interested you? I can likely walk ya through it. Ati doesn't play nice with nix...but, luckily enough for you, Gnome now supports its own compositing, you just have to enable it. If Compiz-Fusion is too much for the card, Gnome compositing might be just fine, as it is a lot more subtle and subdued. Plus you can still run Avant Window Navigator with it.

 

These are what I like...note the first one is the most mac like with the tray down in the middle. That seems to be my weak spot!!:-D

Does the application tray in this one, at the bottom animate like the real one in Mac OSx
http://sourceforge.net/dbimage.php?id=152332

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/9919/snapshot4bx6.jpg

I love Beryl...that would be cool too!!
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1508/snapshot6ht6.jpg

This one is really cool, if it's not too powerful for my card...I really like the transparent window borders.
http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=snapshot9re8.jpg

This one isn't bad either...I like how the whole window is semi transparent.
http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/7360/snapshot16td1.jpg

I'm anxious to start tweaking, after seeing those!!

 

You might be surprised to learn what those are.

In the first link, thats AWN, Avant Window Navigator, and yes, it works like the OS X dock.

In the second link, thats actually KDE, believe it or not. The pseudo dock is just a panel I centered and made small.

Beryl has now remerged with Compiz, to create Compiz-Fusion.

The fourth screenshot is Gnome.

Much of the transparency effects you see in those screenshots were from Beryl.

 

Ok...well...in the meantime my wireless isn't working like I thought it was, so I need to get that fixed before I work on the eyecandy!! But I'll be back!!!

 

Ok...Adryn...if you're out there...I am piddling with my DE...I'm particularly shooting for the 4th one that I listed in my reply of the ones that I liked...I think you said that was Gnome...just a matter of settings I'm guessing?? In the meantime I have installed Desklets and I am getting ready to attempt this whole Compiz-Fusion...I'm guessing I can get that via Synaptics Package Handler...guess I'll find out soon enough.

I still haven't figured out why I can't see my windows shares when I am on wireless..but I can on wired connection!?!? But I am just wanting to get this set up in the living room in the meantime...I guess I'll worry about the LAN later.

Roger

 

Install ccsm through synaptic. Compiz-fusion is already installed, but this allows you to adjust all the effects.

It installed into preferences, Advanced settings something or another.

 

So is there an easy on/off toggle for compiz. I have been playing with it and Gnome compiz and both seem to be a bit heavy for my video card, which surprises me to some extent. I am running an AT Radeon 9250 128mb, which I know isn't the most powerful thing in the word...but was hoping to get SOME neat effects out of it. I am trying to find some instructions on how to see what video driver is installed and see if there is a better one available. Do you know anything about that?

BTW...all that crap that I am trying just to see what I can and can't do...is there a way to set it back to default, as far as video and DE? If I go to Preferences>Appearance>Visual affects, and click on None...then that is turning off and/or disabling all the settings in Compiz-Fusion right...or wrong. I think Simple Compiz is going to be the route I have to take.

In the meantime I am going to check out the avant window navigater. I'm guessing I can just google it?

 

BTW...How do I change the taskbars so I'm not looking at boring flat gray bars at the top and bottoms of my screen.

Or does that come with themes?

 

right click desktop, configure desktop, click on the themes tab.

You can get more from gnome-look.org. Download gtk2+ themes, simply drag them to the themes window to install them.

 

Video card at 128..... depends on the card.

Sometimes I have no borders or taskbar and have to go into Visual Effects, select None, then the one at the bottom. It drove me batty when I had the Dell running. This new box is somewhat better, I don't think I am fully using the full firepower of the box either.

Install the newest version of Compiz (Actually a pretty good blog with howtos)

Link on howto

 

I've got some pretty cool Mac looking effects going on but for some reason the top bar of any window is still the default ubuntu brown look...no matter what theme, colors, or whatever!!

 

Give us a screenshot.

 

Did you install the Compiz Fusion icon? Right click on it running and there are options to select the window manager. You can have Metacity/Compiz for windows manager and Compiz/GTK for Windows Decorator manager.

~Or simply right click on the Menubar and properties. Select Theme Color as opposed to solid. You can set transparency there also.

 

I got it now...a couple restarts apparently got it straightened out...screenshots to come in a little bit.

 

Apparently this project is gonna get put on the back burner for a bit until I can get a video card that Ubuntu decides they want to support!! My Radeon 9250 will only work on the generic default install driver, which is fine for just computing, but I want to connect this to the living room tv as a mediacenter. After HOURS of googling I can't find anything (at least that newb can understand) that will allow you to use the S-video port on this card. Since the purpose of this machine is to be a media server on the living room tv...I really need to make the S-video work...otherwise just pretty much a paper weight being that I have 2 other computers in the house that are for the everyday computing.

This is the 3rd time I have decided to play with linux, but as usual...there is a piece of hardware that they decide not to support. All three times it's been the video card. It seems like they just draw names out of a hat and decide they aren't going to support a piece of hardware. And every time...that's the piece of hardware I manage to have.

But anyway...it's neat so far and very easy to figure out in my opinion, but in the meantime...until I can either get a card w/tv out that works, or figure out some way to make this one work, I guess I'll just have to wait.

 

I have a brand new in the box NVIDIA Geforce 7200 GS here. I bought two and thought My idiot son in law was going to buy this one for a build.

My loss.

 

Sorry it took so long to get back to this. Finally got it going...kind of. I finally realized that I had an Nvidia FX5500 w/Svideo so I stuck that in there and was finally able to get it going on the TV. For some reason though...the edges of the screen on the TV are a bit distorted, but it's doable. And I still haven't gotten Firestarter to work with Samba and my local network.

But anyway...here is a screen shot. It's kind of boring, but my back was screaming at me to get out of the living room floor, so I had to leave it at this for now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/rogval/Screenshot.png

 

Its getting there!

 

You could ssh into the Media box and change settings that way if you dare....:major

 

I had thought about that. I actually played with RealVNC very briefly, but it didn't come together for me in the few minutes I had before I had to start making dinner. I have never dealt with SSH before, so I was going to wait till later today when I've got some time to do some research on that. In the meantime...gotta go to a job interview in a little over an hour, so I'll come back to this later.