Video: Navigating Gnome Shell 3 in Ubuntu

Our latest video covers the basics of getting around in Gnome Shell 3.  In our previous video we discussed how to install Gnome Shell 3 in Ubuntu 11.10.  If you haven't watched that video yet, you may want to consider watching this video in it's entirety to make sure you'd like to check out Gnome Shell 3 in more detail.

Gnome Shell 3 brings to the table some large changes to the Gnome Desktop Environment.  It reminds me of a mix up of both Gnome and Unity.  I have my own complaints about Gnome Shell 3 (which will be touched on in another video).  But in the meantime, checkout how to navigate the new version of Gnome.



Navigating Gnome Shell 3

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Video: Installing Gnome Shell 3

Our latest video has just gone live on our YouTube Channel and it cover's yet another alternate desktop environment for your Ubuntu 11.10 installation.  This video covers installing Gnome Shell 3!

The latest version of Gnome Shell brings with it some changes and some rather fancy looking eye candy as well.  I honestly haven't had a whole lot of hands on with Gnome Shell 3 since making the video, but I do plan on digging in this week and learning how to get around in it and I will chronicle my sessions with at least one Gnome Shell 3 Basics video.

Overall the new Shell looks pretty slick.  It's a very clean looking desktop with a lot of the usual screen clutter (i.e.: menu's, icons, etc.) all being hidden in the activities menu.  I kind of like the concepts behind it as well.  And my first initial impressions of Gnome Shell 3 are:
- I can't wait to try it out a little more in depth.
- It looks amazing, and with the right theme could look even sweeter.
- Seems to be very snappy and responsive under VirtualBox.

So without further delay, checkout our latest video on how to install Gnome Shell 3:

Ubuntu 11.10: Installing Gnome Shell 3

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Ubuntu 11.10: Installing IceWM

If you love using Ubuntu and want the latest the greatest without the bloat of Unity maybe because your computer is holder and refuses to play nice with Unity than checkout IceWM.  IceWM is an alternate desktop environment for Linux.  If you are looking for a sleek and elegant looking desktop with lots of eye candy than IceWM probably isn't for you.

Installing IceWM is pretty easy to do via the Terminal or you can use the Ubuntu Software Center to install it as well.  I will also install the 'icewm-themes' package as well during the course of this video.  Be sure to visit our YouTube Channel and subscribe so you can stay updated as to when new videos go live!

Ubuntu 11.10: Installing IceWM

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Video: Let's Install Xfce in Ubuntu 11.10

In this video we will cover how to install yet another alternate Window Manager using Ubuntu 11.10.  We will be installing Xfce.  Xfce can also be installed directly from a fresh install by using the Xubuntu release of Ubuntu 11.10.  But for those who maybe upgraded directly from a previous version of Ubuntu only to find out we were being force fed the Unity Desktop than you may not want to take the time to wipe and do a clean install of your operating system.

Why choose the Xfce desktop?  What'ts so great about it?  Well for one, it's pretty fast.  Xfce manages to cut a lot of the excess stuff out of it that you would normally find in a fresh desktop.  The menu effects and extra stuff that tends to use a little more resources is gone.  This is especially nice when you want to use the latest and greatest Ubuntu release, but have an older computer that maybe doesn't play as well with Unity.  The big downside for a lot of people would probably be the appearance of Xfce.  It definitely lacks the elegance and eye candy of other desktop environments.  However, what it lacks in cosmetic appearance it makes up for in speed and low resource usage.

*Note: I do recommend to make sure you have all of your files and data backed up before performing any major install or change to your system just to be on the safe side.  With that being said, we will use the Ubuntu Software Center instead of the Terminal to accomplish this install.

Installing Xfce in Ubuntu 11.10

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GNOME Classic Panel in Ubuntu 11.10

It's no big secret that I'm not the biggest fan of the Unity Desktop Environment being included in the latest Ubuntu releases.  Call me 'old school' or maybe just set in my ways.  But I like the look of what now has been dubbed the 'Classic Ubuntu' look and feel.  Naturally, after Ubuntu 11.04 was released; one of the first tasks at hand was to figure out how to ditch Unity and jump back into good, old Ubuntu as I've always known it.  It was simple, just pick the option at log in to jump into 'Ubuntu Classic'.  And all was well.

Not the case with Ubuntu 11.10 'Oneiric Ocelot'.  Looks like with the release of 11.10, the 'Ubuntu Classic' environment was completely stripped out of Ubuntu.  So naturally, I tried to install the Classic Panel in Ubuntu 11.10.  And to be completely honest, it's terrible.  Much of the cosmetic filler that gives the panel a nice smooth appearance is missing.  The time and date is misplaced and over all it just looks bad.

For those who want to check it out for themselves, this video will walk you through installing it.  And who knows maybe it will be fixed by the time you install it for yourself (that would be great).  But as far as my tastes are concerned, until the issues with the GNOME Classic Panel are resolved (if they get resolved); I'll more than likely be using Ubuntu 11.04 in Ubuntu Classic mode for my Ubuntu fix.  It would be nice if Canonical would throw Ubuntu Classic back in for future releases.  But unless enough people complain about it, I seriously doubt they will.  Especially since Unity is the direction Ubuntu is heading anyways.  After all, isn't one of the core foundations of Linux the fact that user's have options to make changes as they need/like.  I'm not a programmer, so aside from a working solution to using GNOME without Unity than this may be a great opportunity to try out some other Linux distributions.  Time will tell.

So with the exclusion of a working 'Classic' mode from Ubuntu 11.10.  This will launch our new video series highlighting ways to install other Window Managers/Desktop Environments from within Ubuntu 11.10.  Later this week our first 'alternate' desktop will be KDE.  So tune in then!

Ubuntu Classic in Ubuntu 11.10

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Help!: Ubuntu Video Series- Installing Unity 2D & Switching to Ubuntu Classic in 11.04

If you have been following along with our video series on Ubuntu, than you should be ready for our latest video!  In our latest video we will cover how to download and install Unity 2D and how to switch between Unity, Unity 2D, and Ubuntu Classic.

So, why would you want/need to install Unity 2D?  Simple, by default Ubuntu 11.04 includes Unity as it's default Desktop Environment.  It requires OpenGL to be run and can slow things down somewhat (especially boot times).  Not to mention you need a machine with decent hardware specs to run it without too much trouble.  And as we all know, a lot of people turn to Linux to breath new life into older hardware.  So default Unity may not be the best choice.

For example, you install Ubuntu and one of three things will happen:
1- You will meet Unity and immediately fall in love.
2- Your machine can't run it and will be thrown into Ubuntu Classic mode.
3- You absolutely dislike it.


Let's say you fall into either the first two cases listed above.  Let's say you like to idea and look of Unity but you're computer just can't seem to pull it's weight as fast as you'd like with Unity as default.  That's when you should look into Unity 2D.  Unity 2D gives you the functionality and appearance of Unity but without OpenGL being required to run.  In other words, Unity 2D runs from Qt and cuts some of the bloat away from standard Unity.

If you happen to fall into the third scenario; where you log into Ubuntu 11.04 for the first time and aren't too thrilled with Unity.  Relax, don't freak out and start looking for other Linux distributions to use.  There is a little something here for you too.  It's really easy to switch back to Ubuntu Classic.  Ubuntu Classic is the new name for the desktop look and feel everyone has come to know and love from Ubuntu including every release prior to 11.04 (Natty Narwhal).  Personally, this is my choice.  Just because I have always like how Ubuntu looks.  And I feel that Unity may be better suited for a touchscreen situation (my personal opinion).

So, without further delay; check out our latest video on how to download and install Unity 2D and switching between desktop environments.







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