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paradigm-shifting — Custom Linux Desktop 13
Published: 2008-10-03 19:49:39 +0000 UTC; Views: 831; Favourites: 3; Downloads: 61
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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: 2
I love the idea of Linux, I love freeware in general. I have tried dozens of distributions on my laptop, Freespire was the one I had best luck with. If they can ever work out the kinks with WINE I probably would be a full time Linux user. One thing I find disturbing is that most Linux Distros these days are just as bloated as Windows. I really wanted to get Damn Small Linux on my laptop, but I just don't have enough Linux knowledge to get all the drivers needed to run my wireless card and whatnot.
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Well there are a bunch of things to take into consideration when it comes to Linux. For one, there are literally thousands of Linux Distributions -- and not all Distros are created equal. Anything man made is a give / take situation so you've just got to find what you feel works best for you and yeah, that might take awhile. Thats why things such as VirtualBox are wonderful for fully test driving things.
Next -- 99.999% of Linux applications are free, but not all of them. There are very good reasons for this. Take for example your mention of WINE. Well, there is a way to get WINE working 99.9%. It's called Cedega. You see -- WINE is capable of running any Windows Application perfectly but you have to remember what the WINE acronym stands for. (W)ine (I)s (N)ot an (E)mulator.
So what is it then? It's a Development Environment. This means that the way to get WINE to work properly with every Windows Application, is to figure out how to do that. But, who has the time? Well, the creators of Cedega have the time -- because Cedega isn't free. You pay for the software PLUS you pay for updates on a subscription. This is because what you're paying for, is the fact that their staff is sitting there with nothing else better to do than figure out exactly how to get damn near everything working properly. So, sometimes you do get what you pay for.
The other alternative of course -- if your main concern is security -- is to run Windows XP under VirtualBox. This way, only the "must have" Windows Applications even touch the install -- leaving Linux to do your web surfing and most of the other stuff.
As far as bloat -- I've found Ubuntu Linux to be a pretty slim install.
As for drivers -- this is mostly the fault of the hardware manufacturers. They are NOT obligated to release the specs to third party authors nor are they obligated to create drivers for Linux. ATI is one good example. Half of the Laptop Wifi hardware out there is another. Thankfully -- as more large corporations migrate over to Linux -- they put pressure on the other corporations that refuse to comply -- such as the pressure that Dell put on ATI to get them to finally start playing ball.
No mater what Operating System anyone decides to run -- you're gonna have both pros and cons. So you simply need to select the lesser evil -- seeing as there is no such thing as a perfect OS.
Windows is a crappy OS and Linux is a good OS. This does not mean that there are not OSes worse than Windows -- nor does it mean that Linux is the best, either. Linux can circum to user error. A release can have bugs in it. It is capable of crashing. Nothing man made is perfect.
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