UNR
See the Compatibility Page to find out if you netbook works 'out of the box' with UNR or if it requires 'tweaking'.
Contents
Ubuntu Netbook Remix (UNR) is a 'remix' of the standard Ubuntu Desktop release to enable it to work better on devices with small screens, such as netbooks (sub-notebooks), although these packages will work on any 8.04 (Hardy) or 8.10 (Intrepid) installation.
UNR consists of a small number of packages which attempt to modify the Ubuntu desktop experience for smaller screens. The packages can be used stand-alone or together and consist of:
Desktop Switcher - Allows the user to switch between two desktop modes. Currently supports switching between Ubuntu Netbook Remix mode and "Classic Ubuntu" (two panels, gnome-like) mode.
Go Home Applet - A gnome-panel applet that, when clicked upon, displays the desktop. Used in a netbook-based desktop, the desktop-window will normally be the launcher. Go Home Applet also works in conjunction with the netbook-remix-launcher whereby dragging and dropping a file/url/application to the go-home-applet will automatically add it to the launcher's favorites section.
Human Netbook Theme - A gtk theme for use with Ubuntu Netbook Remix
Maximus - A desktop daemon which will automatically maximise and, optionally, un-decorate windows. Has support for exclusion lists and will work with any EWMH-spec compliant window-manager.
Ubuntu Netbook Remix Launcher - An easy-to-use program/places/favourites launcher which resides on the desktop, replacing the main-menu.
Window Picker Applet - A gnome-panel applet that displays open windows as icons on the panel, and has integrated window title-bar functionality. Optimised for use on netbook-size screens.
Help and documentation
Post any questions you may have (technical or not) about Ubuntu Netbook Remix by registering to http://www.launchpad.net and using the UNR Answers facility, by clicking on the blue Ask a question button.
Installation
The Easy (recommended) Way
The Hard (not-recommended) Way
Hints & Misc.
Removing the desktop
Whilst using dual monitors, I find that I can occasionally "click" on the desktop, which brings this above the netbook-launcher (And hiding it until I restart). Preventing nautilus from showing the desktop icons solves this, and is as simple as pasting the following line into a terminal
gconftool-2 --type bool --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop false
Convert Ubuntu UMPC Image
Please see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MobileTeam/Mobile/HowTo/TurnUMPCDesktopIntoNetbook
Look & Feel
As there isn't a configuration package available yet, you will need to setup the gnome-panel to mimic the standard UNR set-up. The applet order is as follows:
go-home-applet | window-picker-applet | notification-area-applet | mixer-applet | clock