I had a lot of trouble getting the MacBook screen brightness keys to work with the NVIDIA driver (which was needed, because if the open source one was selected – apps would freeze/crash a lot)

https://pushka.com/mint-mac-backlight/

I followed a few instructions, but the Keys are not F1 and F2, because that would need the function key – they are named:

“xbacklight -14”
XF86MonBrightnessDown
“xbacklight +14″
XF86MonBrightnessUp

(which is the settings file home ~/.xbindkeysrc )

Output all keys/mouse movements –
Run xev from a terminal. This will give you a new window.
Place your mouse pointer in this window, type some keys and watch for results in the terminal.

My grub settings are (I show a bunch of text on boot)
/etc/default/grub
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=””
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=”acpi_backlight=vendor”

Terminal – sudo update-grub

And follow these instructions:
(middle of the thread)

https://web.archive.org/web/20211006124501/https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?p=1965475

I learned emacs and vim briefly, so I wanted to start using it with everything, especially FileZilla, which is where I do a lot of coding.

I installed Gvim, since logging into the server through the terminal, and editing files directly with vim was too cumbersome (you needed to manually download a file, edit it, then upload it all in the terminal..)

I had this as my default editor:

/usr/bin/gvim

And files were taking 5-10 seconds to load after they were downloaded from the server.. 
I changed it to:

/usr/bin/gvim -f

And it fixed it (for some reason)

A screencast is the recording of computer screen (aka screen capture) with the help of screen recording software. If you want to convert these screencasts into animated GIFs to use them on your blog or website, then this tutorial will explain this using two methods under Ubuntu/Linux Mint.

Method 1

The first method consists of using Byzanz which allows to record screencasts as GIFs. To install it under Ubuntu 12.10/12.04/11.10 or Linux Mint 13/12, open the terminal and run these commands:

sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:fossfreedom/byzanz
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y byzanz

You can now use this comman to record GIF screencasts (replace details with your own):

byzanz-record --duration=15 --delay=2 --cursor --x=65 --y=88    --width=666 --height=500  output.gif

 

For more help about the use of Byzanz, run this command:

byzanz-record –help

Note: The GIF file will be saved in the current terminal location.

 

(slightly off topic on linux, but if you are using Win7:)

Save on system rescources, use old graphics cards, and keep Aero off Win 7 and use this dark theme.

• Download package with instructions here on DA
• Download this, so you can rename/ delete the original Aero basic file

May need some reset(s) to make it all function ~

And say goodbye to pale washed out blue ~ ~ 
(why is linux the only OS that lets you chose a theme without hacking the system??? *facepalm***)

Sometimes you want to delete/ insert/ edit files that are in some locked location – like – outside your Home folder, in the system somewhere in Ubuntu. You could use the terminal to gain admin privileges and access the files, or copy/ move folders, but there is an easier way. You can do it through the GUI by typing this into the terminal:

• gksudo nautilus

Then a new finder window will open in which you will be running in SUDO – Admin. Nautilus is the file manager used in Ubuntu Unity. If you use Kubuntu it would be “kdesudo dolphin” for example. This is an add-on which adds an “Open as administrator” dialogue to right click.

Sometimes we need to resize some images to email or use as a thumbnail – now you can right click in ubuntu and click resize. simple ~

• open the terminal
• copy this: 
  sudo apt-get install nautilus-image-converter
• paste it into the terminal by pressing Ctrl + Shift + V
• enter + password, and it will install
• on next login/reboot, there will be a new item when you right click on images ~

Mac computers save a bit of time with extracting for simple people that just want to always extract to current folder – just double click, and it loads.. no menus, no semi-extracted file browsers. Simple.

In ubuntu: do this:

• right click on a ZIP file (etc.)
• select: “open with other application”
• click “use custom command”
• paste in ”/usr/bin/file-roller -h”
• check “remember this application”

And that’s it  ~ ZIP files will always extract on double click.

(you need to repeat this process for different types of archives)

In Ubuntu the edge of windows for resizing is quite sensitive and thin.

But there is an easier way to resize windows ~ 
just like you can move windows around by holding Alt and draging the window with your left mouse button – you can do the same with your right mouse button to resize the window.

Install Compiz – then do this:

Alt+F2 (run program) -> type ‘gconf-editor’ ->  click to directories: apps -> metacity -> general -> ‘resize_with_right_button’ tick the checkbox

And that’s it ~

This is a random tip:

It’s quite easy to share files between Ubuntu and Apple Mac if connected to the same WIFI network.

• just open mac’s
  Settings -> Sharing ->Check box file sharing on
• click next to the checkbox -> otions
• share files and folders using FTP check on

Then from Ubuntu,

• click places -> Network, and it should show
• type in the Mac login details to connect
• you can now browse the mac directories, and take files from there, or put files there.