quick tip

By default, Ubuntu 12.10 comes with support for 4 workspaces, virtual desktops that allow the user to perform complex workflows, in the sense of being able to categorize the desktop in 4 (tweakable number) places, where different activity types can be located.

Editing text documents on the first workspace, watching one's social activity on the second workspace, renaming numerous files on the third workspace, downloading torrents on the fourth workspace, etc, are situations that may be utilized by users.

Days ago, a new version of Unity landed in Raring Ringtail, introducing a definitely interesting new icon for the Ubuntu logo.

While expressed as a whirlwind, the BFB icon contains in itself the Ubuntu identity, being a gate for the powerful filled-with-functionalities Dash.

Ubuntu ships by default Unity, a powerful, polished and full-of-functionality interface, interface that incorporates a top bar (Unity panel), an intuitive user-friendly launcher, etc, as well as the Dash, fancy overlay that houses lenses.

Ubuntu comes (by default) with numerous lenses, presenting the user a wide range of functionalities, such as accessing applications, searching for files, observing the latest accessed images, playing music tracks (directly from the Dash), locating Twitter tweets, etc.

There are situations when, for various reasons, users have to convert a document, action that can easily and successfully be achieved with Calibre (available via Ubuntu Software Center).

An important aspect of the above choice is Calibre's extended document types coverage, consequently, the user has a broad range of conversion choices.

How do we convert documents/books with Calibre?

Ubuntu 12.04's Radiance and Ambiance adopted a new visual approach (as compared to Ubuntu 11.10) in terms of menus, meaning the menus have now a white look if they are generated by a white source and black if they are generated by a dark source.

The user visible consequences are white right-click menus on both Ambiance and Radiance, visuals that are not "digested" by various users, who tend to use, in their daily workflow, GTK+ themes with one-color per menu (right-click menus), finding the viceversa inappropriate.

Having numerous windows opened in the same time on the desktop, makes giving focus an action to be considered for optimizations.

Ubuntu offers, by default, the traditional way of dealing with windows by letting the user to give focus to a window by clicking on it, meaning, users can easily bring a window in an active/focused state via just 1-click.

Workspaces are designed to increase the productivity in Ubuntu, presented as "separate" desktops accessible via keyboard shortcuts (in Ubuntu 11.10, press&hold Ctrl+Alt then navigate between workspaces with the arrow keys, like Up, Down, Left, Right) or by pressing the Workspace Switcher from the Unity launcher.

GNOME Terminal is a powerful tool useful for executing various commands, commands that can vary related to the possessed knowledge level and can be used according to one's amount of informations (versed users can use the terminal for a huge base of actions, yet newcomers can use this command line tool to easily add a PPA via copy & paste).

Compiz is a beautiful tool designed to please numerous users in terms of eyecandy windows, menus, interactions, effects, etc, a true desktop enhancements.

Small but eye-catching effects can easily be selected, especially by users who use dedicated applications, specialized in a particular set of effects.

Ubuntu Tweak brings various sets of configuration settings useful in various Ubuntu parts (like cleaning the "garbage", selecting font, choosing a particular theme, etc), incorporating a Compiz Settings dedicated page, too.

Ubuntu 11.10's System Settings offers a set of configuration options properly organized in categories, from where users can adjust, set, change various options, ranging from the GTK+ theme to sound configurations, printing settings and more.

System Settings brings, especially starting with Ubuntu 11.10, new interesting ways of interaction with various Ubuntu components, allowing users (especially newcomers) to easily change and tweak numerous settings.