I downloaded and installed Eeebuntu 3.0 on my machine, thanks to those who offered help on fixing the graphics issues that I was having, I had already started the reload before some of the suggestions were posted.In one way I am sorry that I did not get a chance to see if these solutions would have worked, but on another way I am glad that I did the reload.
Eeebuntu is a very specific version of Ubuntu that has been compiled specifically for users of Eee notebooks from Asus. It has been optimised to include all of the correct drivers for my little notebook.
The author uses a different core (perhaps someone can explain to me what this in involves?
Installation was done in exactly the same manner that Ubuntu used, though this time I used the linux version of Unetbootin. I made a live sd disk and then used the install program from this.
Straight away differences are obvious between Ubuntu and Eeebuntu. The author of the distribution has installed a new logo on bootuo, and the visual differences extend into the desktop. Getting away from the orange ubuntu colours to a nice blue based set is nice. I am sure that many like the trademark browns and oranges of Ubuntu, but it was not my cup of Tea.
The author has also included a slightly different set of applications with this distribution, including I was pleased to see, thunderbird complete with lightening add on. This saved me some time. As I wrote previously, I did not like Evolution, the e-mail client included with Ubuntu. Thunderbird I am becoming very familiar with and really starting to like it. Particularly I like the fact that it has some good add ons, for instance one to set up google's imap mail for you. I love IMAP already, and it is when doing a reload of an OS that it really pays off. Because Imap leaves mail on the server side, as soon as you set up your email in Thunderbird, all your mail comes back including all your folders.
Other changes that I am really liking is the fact that the EeePC's keyboard layout works perfectly straight from the OS being loaded. Also tailored is the ACPI drivers for the EeePC. This has really improved for me the power consumption of my PC. A tray applet EeePC Tray, is included that lets me underclock the Atom processor to dramatically increase battery time. it also controls the power switching to peripherals all of which have drivers optimised for them.
Another major improvement is the setup of the grahips drivers. I had been playing around with Compiz on Ubuntu, but had pretty much grown fed up of its hit on performance. On Eeebuntu, the compiz settings manager is preinstalled. Activating Compiz effects also has far less of a performance hit. I even have been watching mov files without stutter and with the desktop cube switched on. This was simply too much for my baby laptop on the standard Ubuntu install.
At the bottom of my screen, Eeebuntu includes a clever little application launcher that disapears when not pointed at. This makes finding my favourite utilities much quicker and suits the limited 1024x600 screeen resolution of the EeePCThere are a few bits and pieces that are included in the package that I will probably uninstall, but generally speaking the standard options are much closer to my needs than Ubuntu was offering.
Even the media player VLC was included, one that I am familiar with using since it is also ported to Windows.
Another issue that I resolved in Eeebuntu was that I managed to install Adobe Flash Player without totalling the system. It needed a reboot, but after I can just about watch programs on the BBC i-player. However that itself is another story for another post.
In general then, I am more at home with Eeebuntu.. I know that someone will point out that I can modify Ubuntu to give me pretty much everything that I like about Eeebuntu, but my point is I dont have to... Pretty much what I need comes straight out of the packet. As a Windows user of course this is what i am used to, so this suits me just fine!
Newer news items:
- An update
- Gineau pig #3 checks in
- Well Where Are WE
- Ardour and Adversity.
- Get-Iplayer tempts me to the terminal
Older news items:
- Audio recording and a journey into various booting methods.
- Installing a Linux Application from Outside the Supplied Repositories
- I think that I resolved the Keyring Issue with the removed Evolution.
- I removed Evolution, but it still wants to use a keyring.
- Setting Backspace button within Firefox to Navigate to Previous Page
