Ubuntu Unity is a desktop experience designed for efficiency of space and interaction. It maximizes usability and minimizes complexity. Everything is available just 1 click away and almost everyone enjoys working with it. But the problem is, you cant get Unity working everytime on your computer because it needs 3D effects enabled by-default. That means … those who are having low config computers, cant run Unity ? No, Unity 2D is here to the rescue. Unity 3D as we know is going to be the default interface for Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal. If you dont want to use Unity 3D or you are unable to use it, then just get yourself Unity 2D with Gnome in parallel.

Installing Unity 2D

Open the terminal and type this PPA to get unity 2d working on your desktop with Ubuntu 10.10 or Ubuntu 11.04.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:unity-2d-team/unity-2d-daily
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install unity-2d

After the installation, all you need to do is logout/reboot and when you reach ‘Login screen’, select to boot into ‘Unity 2D’ session rather than ‘Ubuntu Desktop’ session which is by-default selection. And thats it. You are now in Unity 2D without losing anything in your Gnome 2.32 desktop or Gnome 3.

Unity 2D First Look

At first Unity 2D looks almost like Unity 3D but its lighter and faster. There are no 3D effects enabled by-default taking much resources from your system ,so things are darn fast. The Panel is translucent with Ubuntu Netbook like interface. Its more polished and stable than 3D. So if you want to test Unity, safely Unity 2D is a way to go. Take a look -

Unity 2d vs Unity 3D

Unity 3D has got all those cool 3D effects enabled by-default that takes too much of system resources. Those who dont have much system power, cant run Unity 3D at all as it requires 3D effects enabled for Compiz to work. But Unity 2D is not like that, it can run on any system whether it has got 3D effects or not. It works on everything ranging from old computers to Netbooks to Desktops. Unity 2D as compared to Unity 3D is

• Lighter
• Faster
• Easier to use
• More polished
• Stable
• Flexible

Unity 3D

Unity 2D

So, Unity 2D is a way to go. It can easily work on Virtual machines too. So if anyone willing to use it on hypervisors is raedy to go. Just hit the PPA in the terminal and enjoy Unity.

For any queries regarding Unity 2D or 3D, or any other regarding Ubuntu, ask here freely.

Njoy !

In this post we will talk a bit about installing softwares which are generally not installed by default but are must have for any Ubuntu installation.

WARNING: Don’t do this unless you’ve a system with a good amount of video memory. Intel on-board graphics with 8MB of video memory are generally enough for basic Compiz effects.

Note – nVidia users: Go to System > Administration > Hardware Drivers and enable (and download) the Restricted Proprietary nVidia graphics driver.

We will now learn how to install Compiz the composite window manager for Ubuntu using Add and Remove Application Option

Also, we will install Emerald theme manager later on which gives great themes to our desktop (rather decoration for our desktop in technical terms).

So, lets start with installing Compiz first .We’ll do so the two ways THE TRADITIONAL WAY & THE NEW WAY(or the preferred one for linoobs)

THE TRADITIONAL WAY

• Go to System > Administration > Synaptic Application Manager.
• Then select select “All” (Applications) in show menu (refer emerald installation screenshots ).
• In the search box type compiz (on manually search for it if you’re that free )
• Click the check-box on the left to mark it for Installation. Don’t forget to also mark compizconfig-settings-manager. Synaptic will ask you to automatically mark other Dependencies.
• And then click “Apply Changes”

THE NEW WAY (USING ADD/REMOVE APPLICATIONS)

• The new way isn’t much of difference since the things in the background remain the except for the fact that now you acn do that with few clicks
• Go to Applications>Add & Remove Applications
• Then just make sure you allow installation of all available applications in the show tab (refer screenshot)
• In the search box type compiz and then just click apply changes

To configure the effects of Compiz go to System > Preferences > CompizConfig Settings Manager.

To enable Desktop Cube Effect, click on the check-box “Desktop Cube” (disable desktop wall)and also “Rotate Cube” (refer screenshots)

We are done enabling the Compiz but still we have to make a cube out of it

So just go to the bottom panel/taskbar and right click the “Current Workspace” area and increase the Coluomns to 4 from default 2

Press Ctrl+Alt and drag your mouse towards right or left while pressing the left mouse button (alternatively you may use keyboard arrow keys) and WoW…!!!!

Now last but not the least it’s turn of Emerald theme manager as promised:

• Go to System>Administration> Synaptic Package Manager
• In the seachbox type “emerald” (without quotes)
• Left click the checkbox the select “Mark For Installation” (further select mark)
• The click Apply on the menubar (again click apply)

To configure Emerald go to System > Prefrences > Emerald Theme Manager

Click Import to import theme and then select the theme & quit (you may not immediately see the changes)

Note - To immediately see changes press Alt+F2 and run “emerald –replace” (without quotes)

To make the changes visible everytime we may have to start emerald at startup/logon

• To do so go to System>Prefrences>Startup Application
• The click add to add a startup program with command “emerald –replace” (without quotes)(refer screenshot)

Themes can be download from Compiz Theme and Gnome-Look