[PLUG] Guiding Windows user to Linux

[Russell Senior]

On Fri, Oct 8, 2021 at 9:41 AM Richard Owlett <rowlett at cloud85.net> wrote:

> I was a satisfied user of gnome2. Gnome3 came along with ugly and
> annoying defaults and without info on how to get back to what I was used
> to. I'm installing Bullseye on one machine this weekend. I'll see if the
> gnome tweak tool will give me what I want. To make it a fair test could
> you send me your "howto doc"?

Here's what I had written, as of April 2020. Your tastes may vary.

        Documenting how to install Ubuntu to a comfortable configuration:

        * Install 20.04;
          * English (US) keyboard;
          * Connect to a wifi network;
          * Check "Install third-party software for graphics and wifi
            hardware ...";
          * Erase disk and install Ubuntu;
          * Select block device;
          * Select timezone;
          * Enter name, hostname, username, password (twice);
          * (loading takes about 9 minutes on Chuwi Lapbook 12);

        * Reboot and login;

        * Skip "Connect Your Online Accounts" (why would I do that?);

        * Decline "Set Up Livepatch"

        * Opt out of sending information to Canonical (careful, the window
          can disappear!);

        * In Settings / Privacy:
          * opt out of Connectivity Checking unless it is a travelling laptop;
          * File History & Trash:
            * FileHistory to Off
            * Automatically Delete Trash Content to On
            * Automatically Delete Temporary Files to On
          * Screen Lock:
            * Automatic Screen Lock Delay to 1 hour

        * Open Terminal:
          * press Windows key;
          * type "Terminal";
          * right-click and Add to Favorites;
          * click on icon to start;

        * In terminal, run:
          * sudo apt update
          * sudo apt upgrade
          * sudo apt install aptitude gnome-tweaks
gnome-shell-extensions openssh-server git tig
          * sudo apt autoremove
          * sudo vi /etc/default/grub
            * change GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT from "quiet splash" to
"net.ifnames=0"
          * sudo update-grub
          * sudo reboot

        * Login

        * Open Tweaks:
          * press Windows key:
          * type "tweaks";
          * right-click and Add to Favorites;
          * click on icon to start;

        * In Tweaks:
          * Extensions:
            * Applications menu to On;
            * Places status indicator to On;
          * Top Bar:
            * Activities Overview Hot Corner to On;
            * Weekday to On;
            * Seconds to On;
            * Week Numbers to On;
          * Windows:
            * In Window Focus, select Focus on Hover;

        * Open terminal, and run:
          * gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock autohide false
          * gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock
dock-fixed false
          * gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash-to-dock
intellihide false

        * In the dock or dash (or whatever it's called, the thing on the
          left edge, right click and Remove from Favorites:
          * Ubuntu Software
          * Thunderbird Mail

        * In the dock or dash (ditto):
          * move Terminal to the top
          * move Tweaks above ?

        * In Tweaks, under Extensions:
          * Applications menu to Off;
          * Desktop icons, select gear icon;
            * Show the personal folder in the desktop to Off;
            * Show the trash icon in the desktop to Off;
          * Windows list to On;
          * Workspace indicator to On;
          * Applications menu to On

        * Start firefox:
          * Opt out of Mozilla account;
          * at the bottom of the screen, "Choose What I Share";
            * Opt out of:
              * Allow Firefox to send technical and interaction data to Mozilla;
              * Allow Firefox to install and run studies;
          * While still in Preferences:
            * Search:
              * Add search bar in toolbar;
              * Default Search Engine to DuckDuckGo;
            * Extensions & Themes:
              * Extension "Firefox Multi-Account Containers" and "Add
to Firefox";
              * Extension "uBlock Origin" and "Add to Firefox";
              * Extension "EFF Privacy Badger" and "Add to Firefox";
              * if Facebook is used: Extension "Facebook Container"
and "Add to Firefox";
              * if Twitter is used: Extension "BetterTwitter" and "Add
to Firefox";
            * Home:
              * Unselect "Top Sites";
            * General:
              * Consider selecting "Restore previous session";
              * Under "Files and Applications":
                * Select "Always ask you where to save files";
          * In the dropdown menu in the upper right corner, select Customize:
            * Under "Toolbars", select Menu Bar;
            * Click on "Done" in the lower right;
          * Setup containers;