Feb 25

I installed a few hacks to make my ubuntu look as much like a mac as possible. The end result is really impressive. It’s almost like I have a Macintosh… But its about 90% more useful and customizable. :)

First: Get a dock.

I use AWN (Avant Window Navigator)

The installation is simple.

Get the latest version from getdeb.net http://getdeb.net/. I used version 0.2.1 from here: http://getdeb.net/release.php?id=1865

The newer versions support drag ‘n drop for placing your launchers. Here is a screen:

Avant

Step 3: The wallpaper

Here you go (click to enlarge):

Lights

Step 4: Get a cool mac-like theme.

I used Humanoid - OSX - Dark from gnome-look.org

humanoid OSX

here is a link: http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Humanoid+-+OSX+-+Dark?content=72337

Step 5: Hack your metacity buttons to show on the left. (I’m not sure this will work if you use Emerald)

Open gconf-editor. alt+f2 then run:

gconf-editor

Edit the key: apps> metacity > general

Set to button_layout to:

close,minimize,maximize:menu

Step 6: Install global_menu

Install dependencies:
sudo aptitude install liborbit2-dev libgnomeui-dev libglade2-dev libbonoboui2-dev libglib2.0-dev libpango1.0-dev libatk1.0-dev libcairo2-dev libx11-dev libxext-dev libxinerama-dev libxi-dev libxrandr-dev libxcursor-dev libxfixes-dev libxcomposite-dev libxdamage-dev libcairo-directfb2 libcairo-directfb2-dev libcairo2-dev

Open a terminal
Create a folder

sudo mkdir global-menu-install

* Go to this folder

cd global-menu-install

* Get the patched gtk debs with the following instruction

wget http://gnome2-globalmenu.googlecode.com/files/gtk2.0-ubuntu-gutsy.tar.gz

* Unarchive them

tar zxvf gtk2.0-ubuntu-gutsy.tar.gz

* Install them
1. cd gtk
2. sudo dpkg -i *.deb

* Get the MacMenu applet files
1. cd ..
2. wget http://gnome2-globalmenu.googlecode.com/files/gnome2-globalmenu-applet_0.3.397-1_i386.deb
* Install it

sudo dpkg -i gnome2-globalmenu-applet_0.3.397-1_i386.deb

* Right-click on the panel and click add to the panel. Look for Global Menubar. Add it. And voila. It should work.

The finished product (click to enlarge):

myFreeMacOS

Thanks to:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/global_menu
http://code.google.com/p/gnome2-globalmenu/wiki/InstallingonUbuntu

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