Ubuntu 8.10 on Dell XPS M1530

Following my previous post, finally I got the new Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex on my Dell XPS M1530 laptop. The verdict: Pure Awesomeness. The installation is very quick and simple (it just that it took me a while to write this post). Almost everything works out of the box. The driver support is better. The OS itself I feel more stable, hard as a rock. And of course, more features. Sure, there is a few bumps, but nothing too serious.


(Above: My shiny brand new desktop 🙂 )
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Upgrading to Ubuntu 8.10

The long awaited Ubuntu 8.10 has been released! I’m upgrading it from my Hardy 8.04 to this new version Intrepid Ibex, 8.10, as I’m writing this post. I’m using the Network Upgrade for Ubuntu Desktops. The method is fairly easy, provided by the Ubuntu website.

1. Start System/Administration/Software Sources.

2. Click on the “Updates” tab and change “Show new distribution release” to “Normal releases”.

3. Start System/Administration/Update Manager.

4. Click the Check button to check for new updates.

5. If there are any updates to install, use the Install Updates button to install them, and press Check again after that is complete.

6. A message will appear informing you of the availability of the new release.

7. Click Upgrade.

8. Follow the on-screen instructions.

I will give a simple review about the new Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex, 8.10 when I’m done upgrading it on my machine. Looking good so far 🙂

GrNotify: Your Google Reader Feeds Notification

I’m addicted to my rss feeds. I go over the feeds for tech news, current affairs, friends blogs, and many more. However, I don’t want to go to www.google.com/reader each time want to find out what’s new. This is where desktop applications that provides Google Reader notifications comes in.

For Windows: We have Google Reader Notifier for Windows.

For Mac: There’s a desktop application by the same name, for Mac users.

Firefox Extension: There’s even a extension for it.

But what about Linux users?

Enter GrNotify

GrNotify is a simple Python written tray application that will allow you to know when there are new items in the Google Reader.

Here’s a screenshot:

GrNotify Screenshot
GrNotify Screenshot

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Cleaning up your Ubuntu Filesystem using FSlint

FSlint is a utility to find and clean various forms of unwanted/junk/lint files on your Ubuntu filesystem. For example, one form of unwanted files it finds is duplicate files, bad names, temporary files, files with bad symlinks, empty directory, and others.

To install:
sudo apt-get install fslint

Using Fslint:
If you want to open goto Applications—>System Tools—>FSlint

Screenshot:

Ubuntu Dust Theme

I have just installed a new sexy theme on my Ubuntu Hardy, replacing the default brown and orange theme that hated by a lot of people.

The Dust Theme.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Artwork/Incoming/Intrepid/DustTheme

Dust is a concept for a new, refreshing look for Ubuntu. The idea was to take the defining aesthetic elements of Ubuntu and remix it into something clean, modern, functional, and unique.

The theme requires the new Murrine-SVN package (included in the site). Otherwise, it won’t work where the gnome panel and menu bar displays an ugly gray color. The site includes all the instructions needed to install the theme, and also includes a matching Firefox theme and wallpaper.

Below are the results on my box:

What theme do you guys use on your setup? Feel free to share what your desktop looks like, so we can exchange ideas then. 🙂