Some Xubuntu (Xfce) tweaks

I have been using Xubuntu for around a month now on my ThinkPad and thought I would share some of the tweaks/fixes I use.

This is a very tip of the iceberg post so if you have questions please fell free to ask.

Xubuntu install "must haves" -
Aptitude install the following(keep in mind this is my notebook)
Powertop, ACPItool, htop, rar, OOo Writer, xubuntu-restricted-extras

Fixes:

Mount NTFS drives at boot

Create mount point and place it in /media
ex. sudo mkdir /media/yourMount

List partitions with 'sudo fdisk -l' select the partition to mount
ex. /dev/sda5 5100 9729 37187608+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

Edit /etc/fstab as super user and add lines for your ntfs partion(s)
/dev/sda5 /media/yourMount ntfs-3g defaults,umask=007,gid=46 0 1

Reboot or mount -a

Unbind Windows key as a modifier

Create a file called .Xmodmap in your home directory.
vim .Xmodmap

Add this line:
remove mod4 = Super_L
*Same applies for Super_R also if you have it.

Go to Settings -> Settings Manager -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts tab

Create a new "Theme" Give it a name and and now map the Super_L to the shortcut of your liking. I use it for a Terminal.


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If I get some more time I will put up some more information.

--Dan

Linux Power information

Striving to be Green is great, running Green in the Linux world is a bit of a hassle but can be done.

I don't have the time to explain in great detail, but I am going to provide some links to help you on your quest for a "Greener Linux"

Great write up on the usage of CPU-Freq utils:
http://polishlinux.org/linux/debian/green-pcs-cpu-frequency-scaling-in-linux/

Thinkpad Linux mailing list- An valuable resource for those with Thinkpads / Ideapads && Linux
http://mailman.linux-thinkpad.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-thinkpad

Thinkwiki - Another great resource for Lenovo/IBM notebooks and Linux:
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki

Less Watts - Saving power with Linux and Intel:
http://www.lesswatts.org/

PowerTop Mailing List:
http://www.bughost.org/mailman/listinfo/power

Hopefully those links will keep you busy for a bit and help you reduce YOUR footprint on the world...

Trying Vista SP1

Well with all the talk of Windows Vista and its failure to claim the "fame" on the desktop, I thought it fitting to give it another chance on my "new" ThinkPad R61.

As I have been a Microsoft Beta Guinea pig for a few years I have had access to the Service Pack for about a week now. Until today I had no desire to run it at all, to be honest I was just bored. So here goes;

Installation was very fast, I was done in roughly 30 minutes. Base install no special software from Lenovo mind you. Most everything worked right from the start.
I think Microsoft figured out what I have thought was the biggest obstacle of an install for years, having an active internet connection first, being if I have a wireless card I more than likely will not plug in during my install why should I? This really irritates me in Linux BTW.

Things I have noticed that don't work, IBM Powermanager, On Screen Display, and the battery life is dismal at best.....

Maybe more if I keep it installed, this is doubtful though.