Linux Cookbook

Desktop Environment, or Window Manager?

One of the many puzzling things about Linux, at least if you're a typical end-user (like me), is figuring out what the difference is between a desktop environment and a window manager.

But puzzle no longer after you read this: Flipping the Linux switch: Desktop environments vs. window managers. Kristin Shoemaker wrote this succinct essay for Download Squad. Now I know that a desktop environment is kind of like Windows: it's not just handling the windows and applications running therein, but a desktop environment includes all the fancy little utilities and applets as well as providing lots of user-friendly knobs and switches for configuring everything. Window managers just manage windows.

Why would you want a window manager? With fewer features and less eye-candy, they run faster and leaner, and work better on stripped down or older hardware, especially hardware being used for a single purpose application (e.g., firewall, video appliance, etc).

Why would you want a desktop environment? If you've got enough RAM and CPU power, and if you need a user-friendly GUI that will be useful for doing all kinds of computation.

Keyboards and Another Resource for Linux Wins, and More

I tripped over the Who is switching to Linux? blog the other day, but not for a Linux switch story--it was a story about keyboards.

Now, I may not permit any Microsoft software products in the house, but Microsoft also sells hardware: keyboards and mice. I don't like mice myself, and prefer the Logitech Trackman Wheel device for all my mousing needs.

However, Microsoft sells the only usable widely-available, mass market, ergonomic keyboard (you know, the kind that looks as if it was broken in half and glued together with the halves slightly tilted). The problem is that they also sell a lot of versions of this keyboard: some really cheap and poorly laid-out; some expensive and wireless. And over time, they tinker with the layout, which really messes you up if you've gotten accustomed to one particular layout and they change it.

Which is why the "Who is switching to Linux?" blogger complains about Microsoft - The Anti-Linux Keyboard. It really struck a chord with me, because despite paying top dollar for these keyboards, they keep flaking out on me in some way, and need replacing. At which point I'm forced to try the demo keyboards at Staples and hope that they haven't changed too much since the last time I bought one.

Could Microsoft be plotting against Linux users by moving the Insert key to become inaccessible? I don't know, but at least the latest version of the keyboard I got (just last month) is still "correct" more or less.

We put a man on the moon (well, 40 years or so ago), why can't someone (besides Microsoft) bring a high-quality ergonomic keyboard to market for a reasonable price?

Miro: Open Source TV/Video Player

Miro is the new name for the old Democracy Player, now that it's ready for prime-time with a 1.0 release. It's a "free, open source internet tv and video player", and about time, too. Finally, you should be able to watch just about any video content--Quicktime, WMV, MPI, MPEG, XVID, and more--on a free and open source player--on Windows, Mac, and yes, Linux.

Now, if only the hardware manufacturers would get busy producing computers compact and quiet enough to go in the living room, we'll be able to make some awesome home video player applications.

Linux is not Windows, redux

If you must have Windows compatibility and zero learning curve with a new OS, you should just re-install your current version of Windows. Because Linux may let you do all you can do with Windows (or more, or less, or something else), but it isn't intended to be a Windows clone.

This article, Linux is Not Windows, written by  Dominic Humphries, lays out the differences in some considerable detail. I like this kind of article a great deal, because if you expect Linux (or Mac OSX, for that matter) to allow you to duplicate your Windows experience, you're wasting your time. There are things Windows is good at (number 1 IMHO, is that Windows is compatible with the vast majority of other Windows users/systems out there).

Now, I was going to link to another article that I wrote some time ago, on the same topic. Because I was sure I wrote it, and got it published, somewhere. Even though I can't find it, I don't mind--since Dominic's got it covered.

Linux Distro Chooser

Not sure which Linux distribution is for you? Here's the polishlinux.org Linux Distro Chooser. Answer ten questions, get five suggestions for Linux distributions that just may meet your needs.

Polishlinux.org is another nice portal/blog site, with articles geared toward new Linux users. An English language version of the Polish JakiLinux.org website, you'll find plenty of good information that goes beyond the simple mechanics of running a Linux installation or starting applications.

Introduction to the Command Line

Have you seen the Free Software Magazine? It's a nice "free online magazine about free software", and a good place to get some how-to advice.

In particular, there a handy pair of articles about the Linux command line: A beginner’s introduction to the GNU/Linux command line, and the latest installment, A beginner’s introduction to the GNU/Linux command line, Part II—Managing processes.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of these articles from Rosalyn Hunter.

Adding Applications to Ubuntu

Ubuntu Linux is pretty awesome, especially if you're new to Linux, because it's so easy to set up and get going. But it's not always obvious just how to add the applications you want--or even to know that you want something different from the default applications. And because of Ubuntu's stance on non-free software you can't do some things (like view Macromedia Flash content) on a fresh install.

Don't worry: The  LINUX ON DESKTOP blog has many answers for you. First, there's 13 Must Do things on new Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn installation, which tells you what and how to get plugins and other software to run video, audio and other multi-media content; Microsoft TrueType fonts; and more.

There's also a nice summary of more than 35 Cool Applications to install on Ubuntu 7.04 (half a dozen were added after the fact). Screenshots, links to the application websites, and quick instructions for getting the software installed are there, along with nice little write-ups about why you'd want the software.

Before You Take the Linux Plunge...

Here's a great little article about what to watch out for if you're thinking about taking the Linux plunge: Confessions of a Linux Fan: 10 Things You Might Want To Know Before Switching Over To Linux.

I'm not saying I agree with all of the points raised in that article, but it's a nice reminder of how reasonable members of the Linux/open source community (a.k.a., "Linux fan-boys") can be when they want to be.

So just in case you're having second thoughts about Linux because you've heard that you need to do a little homework so you'll understand partition tables, don't worry about it too much. Because honestly, there are aspects of Windows that you have to study up on if you want to use them (like, the registry for example).

And even though I haven't used Windows for seven or eight years, I did, just recently, purchase a Windows PC. I never got to the point of running Windows, though, mostly because all the EULAs and clickwrap "agreements" scared me off; read more about my experiences in "Declining the Windows Vista EULA".