Thats what a GNU Debian MATE (Gnome2) Desktop can look like :-D – open source alternatives to skype

10.Oct.2016

Debian, GNU Linux and Mate Gnome2 Desktop, GNU-Linux

but imho the best background pictures are the universe and galaxy background pictures that change every 15min /usr/share/backgrounds/cosmos

more fancy background images you could use.

# become root
su
# get latest package definitions
apt update
# update all packages
apt upgrade
# install mate desktop (comes with lightdm window manager and LibreOffice)
apt install task-mate-desktop
# if you just want the minimal MATE Gnome2 desktop (without LibreOffice) go for:
apt install mate-core
# might need that too
apt install lightdm
# reboot
reboot
# more fancy
sync; shutdown -r now;

… this is a Lenovo laptop that was installed “as a service” for a friend. Friend wants to use Skype, so had to install that too, next to non-free intel wifi firmware. (EVIL!)

Downloads:

if your wifi is not working it is probably because of closed source drivers missing for your network wifi card.

sad but true.

you can get it here:

Open up

# install vim
apt install vim
# edit the file
vim /etc/apt/sources.list

and you should see lines like the following (URLs will likely vary):

deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian stable main contrib

Simply add non-free to the respective URLs you wish to use, i.e.:

deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian stable main contrib non-free
: wq # save and quit in vim
# check what firmware is missing (look for red text saying "failed to load")
dmesg
# get packages
apt update
apt install firmware-iwlwifi; # get intel wifi firmware

https://serverfault.com/questions/240920/how-do-i-enable-non-free-packages-on-debian