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paradigm-shifting — Custom Linux Desktop 08
Published: 2008-10-03 19:39:03 +0000 UTC; Views: 2431; Favourites: 3; Downloads: 227
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Description
This is just one in a series of screens I'll be uploading, to help make a very important point.A Desktop Interface and an Operating System are two ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THINGS. Whenever I tell people about Non-Windows Operating Systems, I've lost count of how many times I've heard "is it hard to learn a new Desktop?" -- as if somehow -- some way -- the change in Operating System has anything at all to do with it.
To assist me in making this point clear, I'd like to advise that you also check out my MS Windows Screen Shots -- [link] -- as they show and explain that using Addons such as SharpE Shell and LiteStep, you can make your Desktop look exactly like (or even nothing at all like) the Linux Desktop.
This screenshot however is to show you that Linux can do the exact same thing -- and if you people absolutely insist -- can even look and feel exactly like Windows XP or Windows Vista.
The reason why is -- a Desktop is a Desktop. They all have folders, shortcuts, icons, right click, left click, documents, pictures, music and yada yada yada. Same shit, different Desktop Environment.
How configurable the Desktop Interface is or is not, is what determines whether or not you should use it. If it functions the way you want it to, then great. You should use it if you're getting out of it what you want from it.
Most Linux Distributions are FREE. Consult Google for further details, though I personally use Ubuntu and I like it very much: [link]
People hear about Linux and other OSes being "better, safer, faster, more stable, immune to spyware, etc.." but they fear trying them out because "oh gee i don't know how to use the desktop on linux!" ... well, of course you do, silly! Cuz a Desktop is a Desktop! lol ... LiteStep is the best example (as well as SharpE Shell) to make the point because people can take their current MS Windows System -- install LiteStep (or SharpE) -- install a LiteStep (or SharpE) theme and then see for themselves that Windows can look VERY different -- yet still function the same as ever. People would be quicker to check out new things such as Linux if they weren't under the impression that it's going to be some foreign alien interface from hell.
Now of course every OS has differences from others. Hell -- even MS Windows OSes have distinct differences from one to the next. So I'd always advise test driving this sort of stuff and not removing what you currently have. Leaping without looking tends to be fatal.
There are two main ways to test drive most Linux Distros without risking any tampering to your Windows Machine:
1) If a Distro supports "Live Boot" or "Live Install" -- what this means is that you'll be able to boot the default Desktop of the OS right from the CD itself and screw around with it WITHOUT making any changes to your system. The install icon is purely an optional choice and you should not feel forced or pressured to install anything, ever.
2) There is a free software by Sun Microsystems (the same people who make JavaScript, among other things) called VirtualBox which can be found here: [link]
This will allow you to create a "fake computer" upon which you can install almost any operating system into almost any other operating system -- so that the "mock pc" runs as "an application". For example -- you can run Windows XP under Linux -- or -- you can run Linux under Windows XP. It's a perfect way to test drive a fully functional installation of an Operating System knowing that any modifications you make won't mater.
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Comments: 29
Awesome desktop.
I'm running the new Ubuntu on the computer I built shortly ago. I wasn't too crazy for it on my old, weak deskop-but it was probably because of the hardware.. not the OS. I'm liking it a lot better than Windows (speed for the most part lol).
I have a laptop, too, but I have Windows 7 on there. lol, every time I go on a Windows Computer I get mad because Windows is so sluggish at times. xD
Ubuntu turns on in like less than a minute.. and shuts down in like 12 seconds!! Puts windows to shame lol
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Indeed. I am a tech and I do Linux Migrations, among other things. It is nice to make money helping people. I consider eliminating for people the pain of Microshit and providing them the stability of Linux, as helping them.
Linux has helped me a lot, personally. Runs like a dream. No end of free applications that put the commercial pay apps to shame!
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No doubt about the free-ness!
Well a coworker of mine's girlfriend gave him her laptop. That's kinda wordy, oh well. But, the computer had Vista Basic on it and he told me it ran horribly. I looked at the hardware after he let me take it home.. it was weak. What the hell is Microsoft thinking putting Vista on a weak computer with a 1/2 GB memory?? >.>
So, I wiped Vista right off and put Ubuntu on there. It's a hell of a lot faster.
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Microsoft wasn't thinking anything. It is the computer manufacturers who make those stupid choices. Vista runs like shit after awhile even on 2GB of RAM. Windows XP won't run anywhere near close to stable either, but your chances are best with well over 1GB of RAM.
Dell was selling these systems for like $199 with Windows XP on them. People bought them up under the illusion of a good deal. But really, the only thing good was the CPU. The rest of the specs, were crap -- including but not limited to 256MB of RAM!
Sure, runs great out of the box. Thats another part of the illusion. Windows runs perfect when you don't use it. But if you wanted something to never use - such as a fucking paper weight -- there are paper weights far cheaper than a Dell for $199!
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Yeah that is true. Microsoft just makes the OS and manufactures buy them. *slaps myself in the face xD It reminds me of something I heard a while ago.. some computers are just made to by sold not "used"
Damn capital market >.> lol
Yeah my Dell Laptop I got in Feb. 2008 had 2 GB of memory, I upgraded to 4 GB. Runs better. It came with Vista Home Premium.. now it has Windows 7. I'm starting to hate my laptop though because of my desktop with Linux. 
I guess we become too picky after using Linux lol
Yes, I consider most lower-priced laptops paperweight. People go yeah "Good deal!!" and then I think "Phhhhh yeah >.>" xD
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I would never buy a Dell Laptop from a store. I did however get an amazing dead on a used high end one from a friend. Only $99. I put Linux on it, of course
The Laptop was about $500+ when it came out. Pretty high end, for a Dell, anyways.
1.6GHZ. 2GB RAM. 80GB Hard Drive. Loaded up with the usual plugs, ports and capabilities.
They should make em' that high end and sell them for $99 in the first place. Now that, would be a nice deal if it was retail. Hell, its a nice deal used, too. The computer is less than 2 years old.
A fellow tech was just going to *give* it to me, but he was a bit strapped for cash and said he'd prefer I give him whatever I could afford. Well, for a high end laptop that he was going to just give me anyways, I felt that $99 was fair.
Technically I gave him $100, but it seems psychologically more impressive to the reader when I say $99. lol
Thats why they market things for $99, $2.99, etc... people never look to the right when they look at dollar figures -- and when they see something like $49, they don't see "$49 is $1 less than $50 so its really more like $40" they read "$49" the same way they read "$40" so psychologically, they see a difference of $10 instead of $1.
People are easily brain washed.
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yeah for how much the hardware all would cost-99 bucks is pretty good.
Yes, I'm included with that mind trick! xD
Like at Taco Bell where I work "79 cents" looks like eye candy.
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I am not included with that mind trick 
Lets say I am grocery shopping or something and can not exceed $200, just for example. I will spot the mind trick and "round up" so that I can be 100% sure that sales tax is more than covered
$1.49 round up to $2.00
$8.49 round up to $10.00
$3.99 round up to $5.00
This way, I can keep track of the math in my head and come well below the $200 mark for this example. It is already easy with just these 3 figures to remember that you're currently up to $17.
I give myself the illusion of spending more instead of spending less -- so that when I hit the imaginary $200, check out at the front and come to realize I only spent around $125 -- its a much better experience than to have a $200, realize you've charged $225 and need to put $25 worth of shit BACK
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Lol at the guy who said Ubuntu was the Jenga of operating systems in January. XD Hilarious.
Ubuntu, for the vast majority of cases since 8.04, is as close to perfect as a user-friendly, CLI-less experience should be. There's no surprise that it's got more than half of the Linux market at the moment.
I've never had to direct a friend to the terminal, and I have about 5 friends and 2 family members converted to it. And guess what? Now I don't have to help them fix up their computers all the freaking time. It's a blessing.
I even hacked my brother's iPod touch so he could sync with OpenSSH, wirelessly. He didn't complain- he thought it was cool! We even got it so he can download music to his iPod touch.
Soooo... the reasons not to use Linux are slowly fading away. And people don't really mind to sacrifice a couple of games that don't work with Wine for the sake of having a good Operating System. I have seen in my life- things are already changing, A LOT. It's not just a geek's hobby anymore.
Anyway, done ranting. I'm just glad to read such coherent comments on Desktop Environments from you.
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Yeah. It's not bad. I just don't like the menus as opposed to the traditional Gnome Menus. I don't mind installing codecs on my own. XD
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Right click on LinuxMint Start Menu.
Left click REMOVE.
Right click on Taskbar.
Select "Add Applet"
Locate traditional Gnome Menus. Click Add.
Traditional Gnome Menus installed.
Thank you, drive thru
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Haha, thanks.
The other issues I have with it is that the application installer doesn't have checkboxes except for the suggested programs, and they've completely done away with Software Sources.
^_^ But the good news is that I create my own remaster with all the stuff I typically install after every new Ubuntu version (every six months). So, it's usually pretty easy if I ever have to reinstall.
Thanks for the suggestion, though. I've suggested Mint to some of my lazy friends. XD
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Well then, you should surely use it yourself, as I have not yet fully explored LinuxMint and even I got as far as knowing that the Traditional Gnome Menus are easily re-instated. Yes, I am claiming that you too are somewhat lazy, based on all available evidence
Though I have not explored the checkboxes issue as of yet (I will eventually) -- I can say that apt-get is driven and powered by its Software Sources List -- so do say they have done away with it, is just silly. Perhaps they eliminated the GUI Access to it to prevent noobs from going in there and fucking things up. Well, so what? A real Geek has no issues with using the Terminal Prompt. Anyone who will not use the prompt -- is lazy
Right now I am on Regular Ubuntu, but the following should work for *ANY* Ubuntu / Debian Base. Drop to a command prompt and type:
nano /etc/apt/sources.list
(or if you absolutely HAVE TO have your silly GUI)
gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
This brings you to see this:
# See [link] for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.
deb [link] hardy main restricted
deb-src [link] hardy main restricted
## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb [link] hardy-updates main restricted
deb-src [link] hardy-updates main restricted
## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb [link] hardy universe
deb-src [link] hardy universe
## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb [link] hardy multiverse
deb-src [link] hardy multiverse
## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'backports'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
# deb [link] feisty-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src [link] feisty-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb [link] hardy-security main restricted
deb-src [link] hardy-security main restricted
deb [link] hardy-security universe
deb-src [link] hardy-security universe
deb [link] hardy-security multiverse
deb-src [link] hardy-security multiverse
deb [link] hardy main
deb-src [link] hardy main
Some friends and I are also thinking of making our own Ubuntu Based Distro (LinuxMint Based) but are not quite as practiced with this just yet. Perhaps you might have more experience in these areas?
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Yeah, I've actually been working on a distro that uses primarily a dock, and tries to get people used to using gnome-do for most actions. But it also includes a plugin that gives you a genuine gnome-based menu from the dock, rendered in GTK (just in case).
Oh, yeah, I used to add sources with the terminal, but I think that GUIs are, in general, a good thing, especially when they make clicks fewer than the words you would have to click. I like how it lets you add PGP keys. But yeah, when I said Software Sources I meant the GUI in System/Administration. XD Not the sources functionality.
I just think it's odd that a distro that claims to make things easier would remove a GUI that's so useful to newcomers as that. Seems to contradict the purpose of the distribution. I do think Ubuntu should consider more of the refinements included in Linux Mint for their own inspiration.
Namely, get rid of the Human theme as default. They can keep it in there, but I'd rather have something gorgeous to start out with instead of having to look for one.
But yeah, even though the terminal is quite useful, I still have a text file full of generic commands I usually put in, since copying and pasting is a lot faster than typing it from scratch (which I used to do too often).
The terminal is extremely useful for a lot of things, and it's nice to have an all-in-one program that accesses your whole system's capabilities. Able to mix it all together.
But again, I think refined GUIs can be useful and capable of taking less time than the terminal, which increases ease of use and productivity. Even if I'm a total geek. XD
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I tried ubuntu and I couldn't stand it. I started out with a redhat based system (fedora core 4), and now i've returned to it (CentOS 5). There were just too many things that just annoyed me about it, and i'm not a fan of bleeding edge.
Oh well, customization and choice is the reason why I like *nix. The gaming machine however is getting XP on it.
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When did you try it? Ubuntu has a lot of different options. Sometimes this throws people off a bit. The amount of options can sometimes be over whealming. Too much of a good thing? I don't think so, but -- some people just don't have the patience to sit there and go through all of it.
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Last time I tried it I used the latest build inside a VM to help a friend with a problem. I have attempted to find it appealing, but after all of the problems I had with it i'm done using it.
And trust me i have patience to go through options. I have installed gentoo on several occasions, and I have recompiled the kernel to it too many times to remember.
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When was the last time?
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maybe you'd like an older version better. like, 2 or 3 versions back.
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I used 5 for a while, went to SuSE. SuSE 10.1 kicked it's ass. I tried 7 on the macbook. It installed ok, but I couldn't get 3d acceleration to work, so I installed SuSE 10.3 on that.
I have tried RPM based, Debian Based, Gentoo Based (yea, there went a couple good weekends lost to compile times...), and lastly Slackware with Unix scattered in a few places somewhere in between all of that. Out of all of them debian based systems take last place on my heirarchy. Ubuntu has self destructed every time I have installed it and when I was uninstalling a feature I didn't want or need on my system, never in the configuration. Nobody will ever convert me to that system, i'd rather use windows.
And now for a laugh, check these out: [link]
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I've never had issues with Ubuntu. Sorry your luck was not so great.
Love the jokes link! LOOL!
Hell! Buwhahahaha!
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Yea, I refer to it as the Jenga of operating systems.
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Some people like Jenga. Otherwise, that game wouldn't sell too well XD
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It's a fun game when it doesn't take half an hour to setup.
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I am endlessly setting mine up because there are so many choices. So much to learn and explore. This thing is always teaching me something new.
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Pretty well said in such a short post. You even got me nostalgic for the time I was using Sabayon
openSUSE 11seems to fit to my needs for the moment, but in a week or so I have to pick an OS that should stay on my computer for the next year at least... so the hunt begins
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My preference is Ubuntu. Not to say that this has to be yours. But, they keep making very speedy progress on a great many things. I like a distro that receives constant updates and improvements that has a dedicated development atmosphere.
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