Ubuntu is easy to customize, even if you aren’t an artist or programmer. (I’m neither, and I’ve written a whole slew of articles on how to make Ubuntu like Mac OS X!) But some people go beyond customization to make a new, cohesive look and feel for the whole operating system; and what’s more, they post their work online to share.
Here are some examples to look at, which you can download and try for yourself!
Ubuntu Furry Remix
Few people have heard of the “furry fandom” — people who are into animals and drawings of animals, and who often create their own animal characters, or fursonas, that they feel represent themselves. So there’s probably not a huge market for this remix. But furries are into artwork, so the Ubuntu Furry Remix serves as a textbook example of how to rebrand Ubuntu for your own business or personal use.
As you can see from the WikiFur article that you can read by clicking here, the Ubuntu Furry Remix changed around Ubuntu’s sound theme, login screen, and desktop theme, including sounds, icons and IMing emoticons. And it can be installed on its own, with a default selection of software geared towards creatives, or it can be downloaded as a series of “packages” which can be used to retrofit an existing Ubuntu install.
The attention to detail is tremendous, and the free and open nature of the artwork and code involved might make it easy for volunteers to get involved — just like with regular Ubuntu. Click here to view screenshots, and if you’re a technologically savvy Ubuntu user you can click here to check out their PPA, in case you’re interested in trying it out.
Linux Mint
Linux Mint goes one step beyond rebranding Ubuntu, and turns it into a whole separate operating system. It has its own website, linuxmint.com, and is one of the most popular Linux-based operating systems, only a step or two behind Ubuntu.
What sets Linux Mint apart? In addition to rebranding Ubuntu, it includes a selection of Mint apps which streamline a number of tasks. Linux Mint is reportedly easier to use than Ubuntu (already “Linux for human beings”), and while its community isn’t as large most of the technical solutions that work on Ubuntu will work on Linux Mint as well. Its differences make it popular and distinct — enough to make a lot of money for its creator — while its underlying similarities give it a huge advantage.
Go to the linuxmint.com download page if you’d like to use Linux Mint for free, or click here to see screenshots of the latest version.
The Upshot
Hopefully these examples inspired you, to find out what’s possible with Ubuntu (or with any Linux-based OS).
If you’d like to find out more about how to make Ubuntu like Mac OS X, then visit my contributor page on Associated Content to see all the articles I’ve written about it. Either way, good luck and have fun with your computer!
