I’m always interested in making my Ubuntu work even faster (who isn’t?). In my search on the internet, I stumbled across the Ubuntu Boot packages. These packages were developed for the sole purpose to aid in boot performance work, and packages proposed to improve performance.
Note: install these package at your own risk, they may cause your system to become unstable or even break.
First, add the respository. Open up a terminal, and type:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-boot/ppa
Then, you need to update your apt-get, and your system:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
The update will install a new version of ureadahead, a tool that will improve your boot time. It’s possible that you need to boot a couple of times to see real difference, since ureadahead needs to build up its configuration to increase boot speed.
As you might have guessed from the site, I (still) work on a Dell Inspiron 1501. It’s a pretty old laptop, I got it in 2006, but it still does its job pretty good, so I don’t see the need to change hardware immediately. It depends on what you want to do, ofcourse. I do some programming, office-stuff, surfing and E-mailing on my laptop, so it suits my needs just fine. (only minor of my laptop that the battery is broken, but well … I just need to have it plugged in constantly)
This is a guide to set up Ubuntu Karmic Koala on the Inspiron 1501. It contains some basic updates I always do when reinstalling Ubuntu (which doesn’t happen too often). I’ll update it regularly.
Basic configuration
Karmic Koala works out of the box for the basic configuration.
Ubuntu has its own layout, which is a basic and simple brown layout. Now, that’s all good and all, but I like my desktop to be … well, a bit more visual attractive. I played around with Compiz and other layout managers, but I could never quite find out how to get it working, let alone make a desktop like some people can. Most frustrating part of it all: I never found a simple tutorial to change my desktop, as in: completely change the theme.
But never give up hope: I stumbled across this post on WebUpd8, where the Bisigi-project is mentioned. It basicly contains a repository for Ubuntu for 9 great themes. These contain:
* Balanzan ( sudo apt-get install balanzan-theme )
* Infinity ( sudo apt-get install infinity-theme )
* Wild shine ( sudo apt-get install wild-shine-theme )
* Exotic ( sudo apt-get install exotic-theme )
* Tropical ( sudo apt-get install tropical-theme )
* Step into Freedom ( sudo apt-get install step-into-freedom-theme )
* Bamboo Zen ( sudo apt-get install bamboo-zen-theme )
* Ubuntu sunrise ( sudo apt-get install ubuntu-sunrise-theme )
* Aqua Dreams ( sudo apt-get install aquadreams-theme )
How to install? First, open up your Terminal, and add the repository:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:bisigi
Then, update your lists:
sudo apt-get update
Then, you can install theme by theme (see above), or install them all:
sudo apt-get install zgegblog-themes
My personal favorite: Bamboo Zen 
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