Best way to tailor Ubuntu for a netbook?

[alfa147x]

I recently revived a Eee PC 1002HA for my gf to use for simple word processing and web surfing. I was wondering if I could tweak Ubuntu so it would be better fit for such a small screen.

I noticed a old flavor for Ubuntu but I couldn't find anything newer.

The netbook is running 11.04

Thanks for the help,
Alfa

 

[lxskllr]

that's already setup for a small screen. The Unity interface is meant to maximize space. Your best bet is to tweak the browser for maximum real estate. Everything else is what it is.

 

[alfa147x]

that's already setup for a small screen. The Unity interface is meant to maximize space. Your best bet is to tweak the browser for maximum real estate. Everything else is what it is.

I kinda figured this after reading about the netbook version of Ubuntu was stopped.

Thanks

 

[lxskllr]

FWIW, I prefer the standard Gnome desktop on my netbook. That's not really an option without downgrading, but Xfce is pretty close. You could install the Xfce packages, and see if you like that better. Unity is prettier, but I find Gnome2/Xfce more functional.

 

[alfa147x]

FWIW, I prefer the standard Gnome desktop on my netbook. That's not really an option without downgrading, but Xfce is pretty close. You could install the Xfce packages, and see if you like that better. Unity is prettier, but I find Gnome2/Xfce more functional.

I'll give it a shot. Currently trying to figure out how to install drivers for my brother laser printer

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Currently trying to figure out how to install drivers for my brother laser printer

Relevant...

 

[alfa147x]

Relevant...

Look up the hl-2270dw. It's CUPS compatible. A lot of people have told me it's easy.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Look up the hl-2270dw. It's CUPS compatible. A lot of people have told me it's easy.

Well for your sake I hope it is. Thankfully I haven't had to install a Brother printer under linux yet, but I do know their Windows software is convoluted and confusing as hell. Just yesterday I found out how confusing their Scanning software/user guide is (MFC-3360c), and believe me, in more than a decade of using scanners it's the most difficult I've ever had to figure out.

 

[alfa147x]

Well for your sake I hope it is. Thankfully I haven't had to install a Brother printer under linux yet, but I do know their Windows software is convoluted and confusing as hell. Just yesterday I found out how confusing their Scanning software/user guide is (MFC-3360c), and believe me, in more than a decade of using scanners it's the most difficult I've ever had to figure out.

It's just a laser printer. I'll mess around with it. OSX seemed to handle the install quite well. It auto-detected the printer on the network and downloaded the driver.

 

[hellfreeze]

FWIW, I prefer the standard Gnome desktop on my netbook. That's not really an option without downgrading, but Xfce is pretty close. You could install the Xfce packages, and see if you like that better. Unity is prettier, but I find Gnome2/Xfce more functional.

On the login screen there's an option to boot into Classic mode which will give you Gnome. Supposedly that option will be removed in the next distro.

 

[trollolo]

a little late to the thread, but unity is just the 10.10 netbook version with some extra tweaks. if you have a lower perfomer, LXDE or XFCE are the way to go

also, for driver support ubuntu is the way to go

Supposedly that option will be removed in the next distro.

if i hear that again i'm going to punch an elderly man in the crotch

 

[beginner99]

you could try http://www.jolicloud.com/

I have it installed on my eeepc T91. It's an out-of-the box install. (only issue in my case is that I have a Z Atom with GMA500 which ahs very bad driver support). But even the touchscreen works.

But it is mainly for surfing eg. typical netbook use not any "real" work. But it feels waaaaaay faster and more responsive than win xp.
EDIT:

It is based on Ubuntu. Thats why i mentioned it.

 

[Fox5]

Unity is already optimized for netbooks, however do you have the unity interface when you install ubuntu 11.04 on the netbook? It may not have the graphical power to display unity and could be defaulting to the normal Gnome desktop.