Hey, i started using Ubuntu over a month now and everything has been going great thanks to some help from users on here but I was wondering

What things I should install for my desktop?
Are there tricks to make it look cool with accessories and what not?
Different themes or tool bars, etc?

thanks in advance!

As far as the looks are concerned, you might find this useful (that is assuming that you use Gnome desktop environment)
It's really difficult to tell what you should install on your system as we don't know what you want to have on your system. It would be better if you asked more specific questions.

If you like eye-candy, you might want to google 'compiz'.

yeah sorry I was worried bout that.

one thing i want tho is something like the toolbar at the bottom of this.. mac looking.
http://gnome-look.org/content/previe...+color+chooser

If I'm not mistaken, this is cairo-dock.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CairoDock

Neither docks nor Gnome are really my kind of thing but have a look here, particularly that first makeuseof link.

Yeah, google 'ciarodock'. (I think I spelled it right) I know many people who use it on both Linux and Windows.

I use avant window manager over cairo dock, just a personal preference. You can get some themes and icon packs for it and make it look pretty awesome. You can get it in Ubuntu with

Or just through Synaptic by searching 'awn' or 'avant'

Another thing you might want (which I dont use anymore) is conky. Conky allows you to display information right on your desktop, check it out you might find it useful.

Pretty sure its in the repo's for Ubuntu or just get it from http://conky.sourceforge.net/

Gnome-look.org is good for themes and what not though the way they are packaged doesnt seem very consistent to me and it usually turns into a hassle getting icons etc to work.

The main one if your system is decent would be Compiz. It give all the effects you mostly see on youtube etc Things like window effects, the rotating desktop cube, transitions etc. If you have a decent pc you will barely notice any performance hit and if its setup right you can 'wow' most windows users who havent seen linux before

It is basically installed on default, im not in front of a ubuntu box at the moment but you basically go to "System -> Appearance -> Desktop effects (I think) -> Advanced".

To get advanced options install

Good luck!

-Matt

1 members found this post helpful.

Thanks guys,

One thing I dont get though is how to use the codes. Where do I enter that code?

Terminal.

See the LinuxCommand tutorial in my sig.

Go to Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal (if you're using gnome)

And I also believe it's

Then to use it type

To clear up any confusion