new_computer_customize

WIP - waiting til I complete a large chunk of my ad-hoc customizations in scratch/ before I generalize here

Checklist for customizing a new computer

General

Settings

Touchpad

• enable palm protection (so mouse movements won't be detected while you're trying to type)

• disable "natural" scrolling

• enable two-finger scrolling

• set triple-tap == middle mouse button == paste (in Terminal)

Misc

• Setup printers

• Put a clock in upper right, in 12h format, include MM/DD

Apps

• f.lux - to nix that bright white/blue screen

• install Firefox and set as default browser; follow settings in Firefox

• git & clone this wiki

Linux

Settings

Run sudo software-properties-gtk (sw settings seems to be gone from config settings UI)

• Ubuntu: choose faster/fastest mirror; "Download from"

• Ubuntu: change software settings so new versions are checked monthly

• Any: configure various Bash customizations

• Ubuntu: clock; Settings -->Details-->Date & Time-->Time Format: AM/PM

Disable for privacy

• Disable sending any data to Canonical

• remove "Activity Monitor" (manager?) which tracks everything you do

• remove Amazon app

Admin

• Ubuntu: upgrade to newest version via sudo do-release-upgrade

• Ubuntu: post-upgrade, re-enable 3rd party sw sources

  • Ex: file:/var/opt/amdgpu-pro-local

    http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb stable

    http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates xenial-dell

    http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates xenial-dell-service

    http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates xenial-dell-whitehaven

• Ubuntu: configure LivePatch (requires UbuntuOne acct) for autoupdates of most kernel patches w/o reboot reqd

* RETHINK this. Livepatch can only be installed with snapd and snap doesn't seem to have much of a following online. AND it has proven (and experienced by me as well) performance issues for apps installed via snap vs same apps installed with apt.