new laptop for development

Sony Vaio Pro 13 black
8gb RAM
3.0ghz i7
256GB SSD
13.3" 1920x1080

It came with win 8, which I upgraded to 8.1.
It's fun to use, but to get any real work done I need *nix.

I've always preferred debian based distros of linux, and ubuntu's the current favorite.
I don't have any issue with unity, mainly because all I use it for is to press the super key, then type programs names.

ubuntu 13.10
After creating an ubuntu live usb disk, desktop 64bit.
I completely wiped the HD, and let the install setup it's preferred partitions.
It refused to boot, regardless of UEFI settings, and after trying a bunch of things I found the first comment here https://spicious.com/sony-vaio-pro-11-with-ubuntu.html
essentially it won't boot unless a kernel parameter is set : libata.force=noncq
I had to boot again with the usb stick, edit /etc/default/grub, chroot the target drives, sudo update-grub

arrg, what a pain.

14.04 update:
sudo parted -l

shows sda1 is boot and sda2 is root

in BIOS set : non-secureboot with uefi
boot from the usb drive 14.04 iso

install and run boot-repair
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair
with default options

then run the following commands

sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt

cd /mnt/EFI
sudo mkdir -p Microsoft/Boot
sudo cp ubuntu/* Microsoft/Boot/*
sudo cp Microsoft/Boot/shimx64.efi Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
cd ~
sudo umount /mnt
sudo mount /dev/sda2 /mnt
sudo gedit /mnt/etc/default/grub
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash libata.force=noncq"

from http://steffankarger.nl/2013/12/10/ubuntu-13-10-on-the-sony-vaio-pro-13


make the fan quiet
cat /sys/devices/platform/sony-laptop/thermal_control
balanced
performance
silent
echo silent | sudo tee /sys/devices/platform/sony-laptop/thermal_control

Time to setup apps:

run software updater

install chrome and login with google account.

install packages:
sudo apt-get install
  kde-config-touchpad # setup the trackpad
  git
  xclip # with alias clip='xclip -se c'
  vlc
  compizconfig-settings-manager # mostly to set super+left windows snapping
  steam

Install using Ubuntu Software Centre:
'Unity Tweak Tool'
'Tweak Tool'

themes:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/themes
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install zoncolor-themes nouvegnome-gray delorean-dark ambiance-crunchy

http://craazyt.deviantart.com/art/Black-Out-GTK-Theme-v1-290897730
http://alecive.deviantart.com/art/ANewStartBLOOD-1-0-273905913
http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/?content=154296



I like the dark and monochrome themes and icons:
zencolordarknight theme, with noucegnome-gray icon set and zencolor cursor

set caps-lock to be an extra control key:
in tweak-tool, under typing

install:
sublime text 2
jdk
grails ggts

install ruby and rails:
http://ruby.railstutorial.org/chapters/beginning#sec-rubygems


install haskell !!!:
sudo apt-get install haskell-platform


sublime text setup;

package control
https://sublime.wbond.net/

packages
* sublimeREPL
* fileDiffs

make sublimeREPL ruby actually work
* rvm  all do gem install pry

edit SublimeREPL.sublime-settings:
{
    "filter_ascii_color_codes": true,

    "default_extend_env": {
    "PATH": "/usr/local/bin:{HOME}/.rvm/rubies/default/bin/:{PATH}",
    "GEM_PATH": "{HOME}/.rvm/gems/ruby-2.0.0-p247"
    }
}

make bluetooth actually work:
sudo usermod -a -G bluetooth $USER
restart