I reinstalled
Crunchbang Linux back onto my netbook. I have
Ubuntu Netbook Remix (UNR) fully functional, but I didn't have wireless working on the Crunchbang side of my netbook.
I got the System76 driver working on both sides, and had been using UNR for awhile until I decided to boot into Crunchbang for the heck of it. Somehow, the wireless started working (magic? luck? Who knows, it's working now.) and I got down to business.
First I added some programs:
- Tomboy; lets me keep track of notes and whatnot (pic below).
- Flock; this is installed to my /home directory, so it was already there, but I installed the three addons from this Lifehacker post. Now I have perma-tabs and I don't need various programs installed to track my gmail and my g-greader feeds. (See the pic below for the idea.)
- Wakoopa; for software tracking.
- Gwibber; #! comes with this, but I always add the daily PPA. I like to live on the edge with this program.
- Gnome-Do; because it's awesome and easy to start.
- Dropbox: So I can sync various things between my computers (Tomboy notes, for instance).
First, let's start with a screenshot:
Note the icons in the notifcation area: Gwibber, Dropbox, Tomboy, Gnome-Do, Power, Volume, Networking, and Wakoopa.
Along the side there is Conky, showing my system information, hard drive information and network information. I'm thinking about modifiying it though and adding weather (maybe).
Next screenshot:
This screenshot shows Gwibber. I'm using the Twitter, identi.ca and Jaiku services. The theme is a Crunchbang eeePC theme. Very nice.
Next:
This shows Tomboy Notes. Awesome little app if you don't mind running Mono. I have a folder in Dropbox that I use to sync all my notes to all of my computers. Again, awesome.
Next:
This screenshot shows Flock. I've used the addons linked in the second bullet above to have permanent gmail, g-reader, and g-calendar tabs. I love those addons.
Ok, now that's what it looks like. I basically changed my theme and my wallpaper.
Crunchbang is based on Ubuntu. It's running the Openbox theme and has some additional things that Ubuntu does not, like the codecs to play DVDs, MP3s and other multimedia. Also, it includes Gwibber, the oft-mentioned microblogging app I use.
It's fast, pretty easy to use (especially if you know your way around a terminal), and if you don't mind delving into some configuration files, it's very configurable. I like the simplicity of Openbox and how it works. I like the right-click menu and the speed. The fact that it's black doesn't hurt either.
The only real problem I have with it is the fact that when I mouse over a folder or a file, it selects it. I would prefer to select with one click instead. EDIT: This is Fixed. I modified a config file and deleted a line. Now my file manager doesn't open on one click.
Score: 4.75/5. Speed, functionality (after initial setup), programs, and looks. It's perfect for a netbook or another computer that you might need a lighter operating system.