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 * Mount a tmpfs over /tmp to never write its contents to SSD: echo "tmpfs /tmp tmpfs defaults 0 0" >>/etc/fstab. You can probably to that for other directories like /var/tmp, /var/lock, etc.
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Firefox:

 * Use the F11 key to toggle a fullscreen mode that provides even more area than simply maximizing the window.
 * Install the [https://addons.mozilla.org/fr/firefox/addon/4550 CompactMenu2] extension to gain few pixels taken by the menu
 * You can also stop using tabs and use Alt+Tab to switch from a window to an other. Use the [http://extensionroom.mozdev.org/more-info/keyconfig KeyConfig] extension to bind Ctrl+T to "New window".
 * Activate the “Use Small Icons” checkbox in the “Customize Toolbar” panel

KDE/Kwin:

 * Each window can be made fullscreen with a right click on the window decoration. You can also use keyboard shortcuts to make a window fullscreen in the control center > “Regional & Accessibility” > “Keyboard Shortcuts” > “Make Window Fullscreen” or “Hide Window Border”.
 * Put the panel on the left or right side instead of bottom/top, as you have more room in width than in height. Also choose “Tiny” for the panel size, and take a look at the auto/manual Hiding functionalities.

Extending flash memory life

  • Open /etc/sysctl.conf and set vm.dirty_writeback_centisecs = 1500. This will prolong the life of your SSD by writing to the disk every 15 seconds instead of 5.
  • Probably many of the tips useful for [http://www.cyrius.com/debian/nslu2/linux-on-flash.html Linksys on NSLU2] can be applied to the EeePC

  • Mount a tmpfs over /tmp to never write its contents to SSD: echo "tmpfs /tmp tmpfs defaults 0 0" >>/etc/fstab. You can probably to that for other directories like /var/tmp, /var/lock, etc.

Desktop environment

If you use a Gnome desktop on your Eee, here are some ways to make better use of the limited screen height:

  • Enable the autohide property on the Gnome panels at the top and bottom of the desktop, so they get out of the way unless you mouse over them. To do this, right click on a blank part of the panel, then choose Properties, and go to the General tab.
  • In many applications, like gnome-terminal and firefox (iceweasel), you can use the F11 key to toggle a fullscreen mode that provides even more area than simply maximizing the window.
  • In metacity you can set up the F11 key to toggle fullscreen mode for all applications by selecting System > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts. Find the "Window Management" section, select the "Toggle fullscreen mode" item (which is disabled by default), and type F11 to set it.

  • You can change workspaces without exiting fullscreen mode by using Control-Alt-Left_arrow and Control-Alt-Right_arrow.
  • You can move your application under Xfce (but Gnome too I think) with alt+left_mouse ( press alt before left_mouse ) and move your mouse. Very useful for applications bigger than the screen, like Gnome Evolution (Mail).

Firefox:

  • Use the F11 key to toggle a fullscreen mode that provides even more area than simply maximizing the window.
  • Install the [https://addons.mozilla.org/fr/firefox/addon/4550 ?CompactMenu2] extension to gain few pixels taken by the menu

  • You can also stop using tabs and use Alt+Tab to switch from a window to an other. Use the [http://extensionroom.mozdev.org/more-info/keyconfig ?KeyConfig] extension to bind Ctrl+T to "New window".

  • Activate the “Use Small Icons” checkbox in the “Customize Toolbar” panel

KDE/Kwin:

  • Each window can be made fullscreen with a right click on the window decoration. You can also use keyboard shortcuts to make a window fullscreen in the control center > “Regional & Accessibility” > “Keyboard Shortcuts” > “Make Window Fullscreen” or “Hide Window Border”.

  • Put the panel on the left or right side instead of bottom/top, as you have more room in width than in height. Also choose “Tiny” for the panel size, and take a look at the auto/manual Hiding functionalities.

Accessing the Asus Restore Image

Here is a way to access the files that were on the original Xandros system before you installed Debian on your Eee PC. You need the Asus Support DVD that came with the machine, and a Linux machine with a DVD reader and about 2.5G of free disk space (so you probably don't want to do this on your Eee).

Insert the Support DVD and extract the disk image of the Xandros system:

sudo mount /dev/dvd /media/dvd
zcat /media/dvd/P701L.gz > ~/restore.img
sudo eject /media/dvd

Now you can mount the Xandros image on your desktop whenever you want by doing:

sudo mount -t ext2 ~/restore.img /mnt/img -o ro,loop,offset=32256

(The offset of 63*512 = 32256 skips over the partition table in the disk image.) The original filesystem is now mounted, read-only, under /mnt/img/. When you're finished accessing it, don't forget to do

sudo umount /mnt/img