Attractive environment

[iloveyourtasteincats]

I'm a new linux user and just got opensuse installed recently. I still have issues with sound and there must be some ****ing to do to configure multimedia, however my system is ready to work with.

But, i have a simplistic settings of desktop, it would satisfy me after xp but vista aero is really beautiful, and now i want to have a beautiful system too!

Also, current settings (kde3.5) is not principally different from windows - on one hand its easy, but seeing the same things is a bit boring counting that i've kinda changed my os. The only really new thing must be those cute chameleons i click to get to menu and in the windows' headers (actually the main reason i selected opensuse among other linux distros, lol)

I've seen people having nice things in their linux, and yes there are guides how to set this or that type of environment (though they're too tough for beginners i'd say), i'd like to know what to set before setting anything, not having to try it all.

So is there anywhere a good gallery showing all types of environment available for opensuse? (JPG please, not BMP or PNG, lol)

And good desktop themes including special effects settings customized, since im not satisfied with any from install dvd.

[GransRemedy]

Since you are running KDE, why not take a look at some of the themes for KDE over at KDE-look.org

You can download whole themes (folder icons, Window borders etc), or just parts like desktop backgrounds.

[runtest]

Get your vid drivers working then use YaST to search for Compiz. Its the easiest way to install it. You won't be disappointed.

[oldcpu]

I'm a new linux user and just got opensuse installed recently. I still have issues with sound and there must be some ****ing to do to configure multimedia, however my system is ready to work with.....

If you do not have any sound, then try to follow the guidance here:
SDB:AudioTroubleshooting - openSUSE

If you have sound, but your multimedia does not work well, then don't worry. Multimedia is very easy to setup in openSUSE, as long as you do one thing, ... which is to setup your Software Package Manager Repositories. If you do not understand what that is, take a read here for some basic openSUSE Linux concepts:
Concepts - openSUSE

To setup your Software Repositories (Repos) for your Software Package Manager, then follow this URL here: Repositories - openSUSE-Community I recommend you ONLY add OSS, Non-OSS, Update and Packman. No others. None. Only those 4. When you learn more about the risks of adding others, then you consider adding others. But as a newbie, ONLY those four.

With those 4 added, you can then go to yast > software > software management and add the following applications from Packman (and others from Packman if you want): smplayer, mplayerplug-in, kaffeine, libffmpeg0, libxine1, xine-ui, w32codec-all.

Note that to add libffmpeg0, you may need to first mark xine-lib for removal, but before applying that removal, mark libxine1 for installation.

Again, do NOT forget to read the Concepts URL I passed.

Good luck!

[gropiuskalle]

In case you're the kinda guy (?) who wants to go beyond mainstream, you should take a look at Enlightenment / E17. It's pretty fancy, yet smooth to the cpu.

• Enlightenment Homepage

• Themes and stuff for Enlightenment

Here's the channel providing E17 for SuSE:

http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/dmitry_serpokryl:/Enlightenment-cvs-core-metapackage/openSUSE_11.0/

So is there anywhere a good gallery showing all types of environment available for opensuse?

I am pretty sure that any Windowmanager / Desktop Environment is available through some repository or another - and they're lots of them, the most attractive (in my humble opinion) being KDE3 + 4, Enlightenment, Metisse, Compiz-Fusion and Fluxbox (to name a few). Just google them, there's plenty of information.

I've seen people having nice things in their linux, and yes there are guides how to set this or that type of environment (though they're too tough for beginners i'd say), i'd like to know what to set before setting anything, not having to try it all.

Well, Compiz-Fusion will give you tons of eye-candy by default, once it's set up. On the other hand: who should know what you mean when talking about "this or that type of environment"? Any environment will come with a certain default which can be configured. KDEs default-look on SuSE look doesn't match my taste as well, so I has to configure it - which I prefer to someone configuring it for me, you see?

@oldcpu: you're off-topic.

[oldcpu]

@oldcpu: you're off-topic.

Well, it won't be the first time I've got my posts confused ...

But I did note this in his post:

I'm a new linux user and just got opensuse installed recently. I still have issues with sound and there must be some ****ing to do to configure multimedia.

Multimedia fan that I am, I consider good sound and multimedia part of one's environment. So I don't think I am that far off. Am I ?

[gropiuskalle]

Hey, I'm a mod in a [german] SuSE-board as well - linux-club.de, my subforums are 'Multimedia' and 'Desktop-Environments', isn't that a sweet coincidence? So I do absolutely agree that a working multimedia-system is a must on any kind of system.

But since I am a mod myself I am an avid believer in the idea of 'one problem, one thread', since a forum is also a database of solved problems - and those should be easy to research, you see?

Hope that doesn't sound too dogmatic. Or german. No offense meant, kay?

[guest]

> Hey, I'm a mod in a [german] SuSE-board as well - linux-club.de

If not the NOvell supported board you get no slack her.

Pun x2 intended ;-)

[gropiuskalle]

Well we were sponsored by Novell at the LinuxTag 2008 and shared a booth with them, izzat good enough, pal?

Sorry for OT...

[iloveyourtasteincats]

Thanks for your replies ppl i already found out the effects of compiz
and i liked the Enlightenment thingy screenshot i guess i'll give it a try.

unfortunately i've lost 3d support for my video somehow but too busy now to solve this, gonna start the proper thread when i get some time...

atm, can anyone please tell me how to increase the width of scrollbar in kde3.5? i havent found that configurable anywhere among all the settings, and currently its so thin so hard to hit, kinda bothers me :/

@oldcpu & gropiuskalle
i think explaining basics is not really much offtopic wherever, anything that does help aint