A lot of modern netbooks just work with Ubuntu Netbook remix. See the Compatibility Page to find out if your netbook works 'out of the box' with UNR or if it requires 'tweaking'.
Contents
Ubuntu Netbook Remix (UNR) is a 'remix' of the standard Ubuntu Desktop release, enabling you to work better on devices with small screens, such as netbooks and sub-notebooks. You have access to all the same applications any Ubuntu user has, plus some enhancements to the user interface. For example:
- All applications are opened "maximized", giving you the most of your screen space.
- Just one, top, panel.
A "Desktop" that gives you easy access to all applications and Places.
Self definable Favorites giving you fast access to your most used applications, websites and storage.
Help and documentation
Post any questions you may have (technical or not) about Ubuntu Netbook Remix by registering to http://www.launchpad.net and using the UNR Answers facility, by clicking on the blue Ask a question button.
Installation
Is easy. Click here for instructions
Hints & Misc.
Removing the desktop
Whilst using dual monitors, I find that I can occasionally "click" on the desktop, which brings this above the netbook-launcher (And hiding it until I restart). Preventing nautilus from showing the desktop icons solves this, and is as simple as pasting the following line into a terminal
gconftool-2 --type bool --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop false
Convert Ubuntu UMPC Image
Please see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MobileTeam/Mobile/HowTo/TurnUMPCDesktopIntoNetbook
Deprecated
The stuff here isn't really needed anymore (as of release 9.10) or simply outdated.
UNR consists of a small number of packages which attempt to modify the Ubuntu desktop experience for smaller screens. The packages can be used stand-alone or together and consist of:
Desktop Switcher - Allows the user to switch between two desktop modes. Currently supports switching between Ubuntu Netbook Remix mode and "Classic Ubuntu" (two panels, gnome-like) mode.
Go Home Applet - A gnome-panel applet that, when clicked upon, displays the desktop. Used in a netbook-based desktop, the desktop-window will normally be the launcher. Go Home Applet also works in conjunction with the netbook-remix-launcher whereby dragging and dropping a file/url/application to the go-home-applet will automatically add it to the launcher's favorites section.
Human Netbook Theme - A gtk theme for use with Ubuntu Netbook Remix
Maximus - A desktop daemon which will automatically maximise and, optionally, un-decorate windows. Has support for exclusion lists and will work with any EWMH-spec compliant window-manager.
Ubuntu Netbook Remix Launcher - An easy-to-use program/places/favourites launcher which resides on the desktop, replacing the main-menu.
Window Picker Applet - A gnome-panel applet that displays open windows as icons on the panel, and has integrated window title-bar functionality. Optimised for use on netbook-size screens.
Installation
The Easy (recommended) Way
The Hard (not-recommended) Way
Look & Feel
As there isn't a configuration package available yet, you will need to setup the gnome-panel to mimic the standard UNR set-up. The applet order is as follows:
go-home-applet | window-picker-applet | notification-area-applet | mixer-applet | clock
To move the panel to the bottom in Ubuntu Netbook Edition:
- Open the configuration editor by pressing Alt + F2, then type gconf-editor and hit ENTER.
- In the Configuration Editor, browse to /apps/panel/toplevels/top_panel
- Look for the key "orientation", click on it and change its value to "bottom".
To have the panel autohide in Ubuntu Netbook Edition:
- Open the configuration editor by pressing Alt + F2, then type gconf-editor and hit ENTER.
- In the Configuration Editor, browse to /apps/panel/toplevels/top_panel
- Look for the key "auto_hide", click on it to toggle its value.