There have been many complaints about the default look of Ubuntu Linux. I'm one of those people who think you can't please everyone, so lets take a look at how to customize Ubuntu Linux to reflect your personality. No complaints then!
Update Ubuntu Linux
Before making any aesthetic changes the first thing you will want to do is make sure your newly installed Ubuntu Linux desktop is up-to-date. Using the Ubuntu Linux update-manager to install recommended updates will update applications to their most recent stable versions as well as install any security updates that have been made available since your Ubuntu Linux ISO image was built.
Let's go ahead and do this manually this first time. You will find the Ubuntu Linux update-manager under the System menu (located on the top panel) > Administration > Update Manager.
Now that we have the Ubuntu Linux update-manager GUI (graphical user interface) open lets click Check to start the update process. The Ubuntu Linux update-manager will ask you to enter your administrator password while accessing the Ubuntu repositories and retrieving a list of recommended updates for your system. At this point simply click Install Updates and grab a coffee while the update-manager updates your system.
Congratulations, your Ubuntu Linux system is now up-to-date! Reboot as required and you will be back at your Ubuntu Linux default desktop. From this point on you will be automatically notified of all available updates, via the notification area, by the Ubuntu Linux update-manager.
Screen Resolution
Before we go ahead and customize your Ubuntu Linux system lets make sure the screen resolution in Ubuntu Linux matches the native screen resolution of your monitor. This is an important step to make sure graphics and fonts appear as intended on your display. If the Ubuntu Linux screen resolution does not match your monitor's native screen resolution you may be plagued by distorted images and blurry Ubuntu fonts.
Most modern LCD monitors have a native resolution of 1600x1200 or higher while laptop screens are often 1440x900. You will have to consult your hardware documentation to verify your monitor's native resolution. If you do not have your monitors documentation a quick Google search using the monitors model # will usually provide you with the information you need. You can generally locate the monitors model # on the front border or a sticker on the rear.
You will find the Ubuntu Linux display preferences under the System menu (located on the top panel) > Preferences > Display. This preference pane is where you will make adjustments to your resolution and refresh rate as needed.
The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Ubuntu Linux
If you've decided to make the switch to one of the world's most popular Linux distributions (Ubuntu), but are unsure where to start, you've come to the right place! In this guide I will introduce you to the basics of the Ubuntu Linux OS (operating system).