This tutorial will guide you through the steps required to install and setup Netbook Remix on your Eee PC. Netbook Remix is an alternate interface of the standard Ubuntu 8.04 desktop. It’s an interface that allows you to work more easily on a smaller screen devices (such as the Asus Eee PC).
- Yes, you will need to install Ubuntu on your Eee PC first.
- Once Ubuntu is installed, open a Terminal (select Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal) and issue the following 3 commands, one at a time:
wget http://netbook-install-script.googlecode.com/files/netbook-install.sh
chmod +x netbook-install.sh
sudo ./netbook-install.shAfter entering the last command (sudo ./netbook-install.sh) you’ll be prompted to enter your password. You’ll also be asked to confirm several of the installations by hitting the y key on your keyboard.
- If everything went fine (no errors), delete the bottom panel on your Ubuntu desktop. To do so, right-click it and select Delete This Panel.
- Open your Appearance Preferences by selecting System -> Preferences -> Appearance. From the Theme tab, select Human-Netbook.
- Click the Visual Effects tab and select None. Exit out of the Appearance Preferences by clicking the Close button.
- Now we’ll add maximus to the startup programs by selecting System -> Preferences -> Sessions. Make sure the Startup Programs tab is selected, and click the Add button. In the Name: field enter maximus. In the Command: tab, enter /usr/bin/maximus. You can add an entry to the Comment: field (like “maximus for Netbook Remix”) but it’s not mandatory. Click OK and then Close to exit the Sessions Preferences.
- The final step is to create a new “top” panel. Right-click on the existing one, and select New Panel. It will appear on the bottom of your desktop by default. Right-click the new one and select Add to Panel…. Add the following items to the panel: Go Home, Window Picker, Notification Area and Clock. You can add more items later, depending on your needs.
Now click and drag your new panel from the bottom of the screen to the top. Right-click the “old” top panel and select Delete This Panel.
- You’re done. Close any open programs, and click Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart Gnome (the default desktop environment for Ubuntu). Log back in, and the Netbook Remix desktop will your new desktop interface.
- If you want to make things “blend” even more, go back to the Appearance Preferences and make your desktop background (wallpaper) solid black.
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Wow, great! Really! I’m installing Ubuntu EEE OS on my EEE PC thanks to your great tutorial. The problem with eee pc is that it’s shipped whit xandros. Sorry all, but it sucks! It cant connect to a WPA2 encrypted network. And an other serious problem (whit the swedish version) is that you can’t install or uninstall applications. Xandros is working with it, but who have patience to wait? Not me!
In a few minutes, i will install the Notbook remix. It clean, looks great and simple. And I’m a already fan of ubuntu! Thanks, sorry for the English. /Fredrik
I have an eee 1000 and am changing over to Ubuntu. Fredrik’s statement that Xandros “sucks” is much too complimentary. I called support to discover why I could not add applications and was told that “Linux doesn’t like other programs.” Before my decision to convert to Ubuntu, I was ready to declare jihad on the s.o.b. (s) who decided to call Xandros a Linux distro.
Well, I have to suggest that there’s something seriously wrong with your understanding of Linux/Xandros/the eee if you truly believe you can’t add new programs/WPA2.
I have a 701 (until recently running Xandros in Advanced mode). It’s great. Xandros, actually, isn’t that bad, once you’re in advanced mode and have it tweaked to your liking. Mine connected successfully to my home WPA2-protected system and did so constantly, w/o needing the password to be reentered. The eeeuser forum is an incredible resource. Use it!
I recently followed the eeeuser wiki’s directions to moving from Xandros to xubuntu and am quite pleased with the results, but, really, would’ve been fine staying in Xandros: I just like to tinker.
Ross, I love your site, greatly appreciate your taking the time to crank out these How Tos for us. The netbook remix doesn’t appeal to me so much b/c I like a desktop devoid of icons (and panels!), but as an inveterate tinkerer, I may do the eeedora install you wrote about in Sept. Thanks!
@ Gyffes -
I think the problem w/ people having issues w/ Xandros is that they’re new to Linux, have used Windows most of their lives, and Xandros really isn’t the most intuitive of the Linux’s. Plus the Ubuntu community is (I’ve found) pretty darn patient w/ newbies, and have really top quality help and howto’s. The couple of folks I’ve spoken w/ who had Eee PCs w/ Xandros had similar complaints as the ppl who have left comments here. I showed them how to overcome those problems, and the typical answer was “well how was I supposed to know that??”. Again, I think it’s just a bit of a Windows mentality. The same thing happens to folks who switch to OS X. They keep trying to do things they “way they did them in Windows” and it takes a while to get the hang of the differences.
Anyway, thrilled you like the site. I should give xubuntu a try on my Eee, but my mum has adopted the device as her own
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