How to change the default Ubuntu login screen - Update

Updated 5/24/08

The default Ubuntu login screen leaves something to be desired in the way of aesthetics (just my personal opinion, you may love it). But thankfully, like almost everything else in Ubuntu, it can be changed (welcome to the wonderful world of Linux). Here's how:

1. Click on System>Administration>Login Window
2. Enter your administrative password (your login password)
3. Click on the Local tab
4. Select one of the available themes (make sure the radio button is selected beside the theme you want - you may have to click twice for this)
5. Click the Close button
6. Log-out of Ubuntu, and you will be presented with the new themed login screen to log back in




If you don't like any of the default themes, head over to art.gnome.org (look in the Login Manager category) or gnome-look.org (look under GDM Screens) for plenty more choices. You can drag-n-drop a downloaded GDM (Gnome Desktop Manager) login theme into the Login Manager. Just make sure it is selected after you drop it in.

Update 5/24/08



After you change the login theme, you'll still be left with an ugly orange screen just before and just after you login. To change this, look on the Login Manager Local tab, just under the available themes list, for a small colored box labeled Background color. Click on the box, pick the color you want, and close the login manager.

What next?
If you have a problem or question, leave a comment, I'll be glad to help. I'm still new at Ubuntu, too - but it may be that I've already been where you're at.
For more Ubuntu tips, tricks and software, subscribe to my feed. Or use the Bookmark button below to find your way back.

The Thunderbird email/newsreader client for Ubuntu

Several months ago, I started using the Thunderbird email/newsreader client from Mozilla on my Windows XP machine. You can see the full review in this post. Since Thunderbird still has one of the best spam filters on the planet, it was one of the first apps I installed in Ubuntu 8.04 when I made the switch. I'm not a big fan of Evolution - I'm not sure why, it just kind of "feels boxy". If you're not quite happy with Evolution, give Thunderbird a try - it's available right from Applications>Add/Remove>Internet> Mozilla Thunderbird Mail/News. And although I haven't tried it yet, Mozilla (the same people that gave us the Firefox web browser) also produces Lightning, a calendar extension for Thunderbird. You'll have to use the Synaptic Package Manager to get it. Click on System> Administration>Synaptic Package Manager and then search for "lightning". The package you need will be called "lightning-extension" (English language).

What next?
If you have a problem or question, leave a comment, I'll be glad to help. I'm still new at Ubuntu, too - but it may be that I've already been where you're at.
For more Ubuntu tips, tricks and software, subscribe to my feed. Or use the Bookmark button below to find your way back.