Linux Mint 9 (RC 1) 2nd post.

More tweaking for Mint 9. Can you See why I don't like to update every 6 months, it takes me 1-2 months to get the thing "just right".  There are some other ways to go about it, and when I find those, I'll post about them also.  But I'm going from a fresh install to what it is that I'd like. I'd like to keep to a minimal amount of tweaking, but I think that's just crazy talk.

I'm also thinking that I'll have to make up a list of the changes I did over the first month. - If I still have free time to do so.

So, this week, we've got:

gThumb image edit and viewer. "gThumb is an image viewer and browser for the GNOME Desktop. It also includes an importer tool for transferring photos from cameras." It also allows for some quick cropping of files. One of the features that I use the most.

Also got Ubuntu One setup, and have Tomboy Notes backing up to that folder, don't know what else I'll be doing with that, But I'll be fiddling with Tomboy Notes a little more. It's been a while since I've done much with them, but they're kinda handy.  Check them out if you haven't. - I first used the Synaptic Package Manager to install it, but think that they've got a .deb file to run for the last two versions of Ubuntu.

Added Alarm Clock  Since I don't have Evolution and it's one useful item that I did use with it, was the alarm clock. - I also added to this my Mashpodder script to run three times a week. Yea, I know there's a way to do a Cron Job, for those of you who are command line jockey's. But I've not tried that yet, nor do I think I could walk someone else how to do a cron job. - Part of "My Linux Experiment" is to be able to figure out some things without to much command line, using obvious solutions in the repo's. Trust me, I'd like to be able to take the time to bounce around on it, but it's not something some people would find very user friendly.

Installed Grsync. Simple backup utility. - And that reminds me, I've not taken the time to look at the Mint Backup program. - I need to do that. It's faster then Nautilus for moving large chunks of files etc,  I'm using it now to move stuff from one USB drive to another. I've a drive that has a large FAT32 partition, and I just don't need that around for anything. Moving to EXT3, and of course GParted to perform this feat.

Oh! The one additive that I thought should be included with all GNOME installs or the ones that have Rythmbox is the Nautilus enqueuer plugin for Rhythmbox. Oh yea. I know for some this might seem sorta goofy, but heck, I used to love Amarok, and the fact that it USED to behave a lot like WinAmp, and was for the most part, REALLY GOOD.  With a million different programs out there that will play music on a Linux box... that don't really do anything special, I'm digressing.. Ok, Ok,  I like to be able to bounce around in the file manager and load up a few Podcasts or Tunes.  OR both. But there wasn't really a clear path to do it, or program that DID for me it out of the box with my Linux Experience two years ago, except for Amarok. KDE4 killed off the old player, and the new player just looks wrong, and left me wanting. RythmBox kinda sorta still does, but it's the default Gnome do-dad music thingy and It'll do just fine.

Themes! We mustn't forget the Themes. The AirLines: A New Bisigi Project Gnome Theme is a gorgeous theme. And has a background that changes from daytime to nighttime. Here, better yet, check out the Bisigi Project home page.  A handful of very very stunning themes. - Ubuntu didn't need to move the silly buttons, they could have just added one of these to their default install, and it would have made Ubuntu (or Mint in my case now) a gorgeous desk top that would rust the pixels on any "Brushed Aluminum" crud that the Apple cart has to offer.

That's about it. I don't expect to add much more, or to tweak much more.  I think now, I'll concentrate on getting my personal files sorted out and organized.

Linux Mint 9 is has finally made my laptop work the way it was intended. The Sound Card Issues aren't there, I can use my headphone jack on my Toshiba Satellite A135 now, I can hook it up to the TV with the S-Video port, something I wasn't able to do until now.  I haven't tried the mic jack as of yet, but at the moment, that's a non-issue for me.  Nor have I tried Audacity, or a few other programs that will find their way on my Linux Box.

Have a Great day!