Things to tweak after a fresh Ubuntu 11.10 install

Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot has just been released, making its way towards millions and millions of folks all over the world.

What should we do after the install, from a customization point-of-view?

• tweak Unity 3D from CompizConfig Settings Manager (not installed by default, but easily installable via Ubuntu Software Center) under Ubuntu Unity Plugin
• change the launcher's revealing speed (Behaviour-->Edge Reveal Timeout)



• change the key that triggers the launcher to fit your needs ("Super" is the default)
• adjust the launcher icons' backlight mode ("Backlight and Edge Illuminattion Toogles" is a wise choice)



• change the panel opacity
• change the launcher opacity
• select the blur type under Experimental-->Dash Blur (if you encounter slowness when the Dash is opened, you should select "No Blur")
• if you are more productive in a fullscreen "environment", keep the Dash maximized (just hit the Unity panel's top-left maximize button once and the Dash will remember the fullscreen state)
• if you are a fan of wobbly windows, just check "Wobbly Windows" under "Effects"
• install a new icon theme (like Faenza, Awoken, etc) and select it via dconf-editor (org-->gnome-->desktop-->interface-->type the icon theme's name on icon-theme and press Enter, you can proceed in the same manner to change the GTK+ theme)



(you must install dconf-tools)

sudo apt-get install dconf-tools

• install the experimental appmenu for LibreOffice

sudo apt-get install lo-menubar

• define your preferred default applications via System Settings-->System info-->Default Applications



• enhance your clock by adding extra info to display on the Unity panel (System Settings-->Time & Date-->Clock-->check "Weekday", "Date and Month", etc)
• select a fancy avatar for your user account (System Settings-->User Accounts)



• easily change your wallpaper and theme (System Settings-->Appearance)
• manage your contacts with GNOME-Contacts

sudo apt-get install gnome-contacts

• "help" nautilus to preview in a fancy way clips, .pdf files, images, etc by simply pressing the "Space" key when that particular file is selected

sudo apt-get install gnome-sushi

• if you are using apps with no appindicator support, enable the "old" systray

gsettings set com.canonical.Unity.Panel systray-whitelist "['all']"

• if you want to try/use GNOME-Shell, install it by typing in a terminal
  

  sudo apt-get install gnome-shell

  and then tweak it via GNOME Tweak Tool (useful for changing fonts, theme, cursor theme, etc in Unity, too)

  sudo apt-get install gnome-tweak-tool