Linux Desktop Hacks

xiii

0

Preface

The Linux desktop has come a long way. I know. I’ve been using Linux as

my default desktop work environment for so long I feel like I’ve experienced

almost the entire evolution of the Linux desktop firsthand. I’m guessing it

was sometime shortly after 1995 when I started using Linux on the desktop

for more than 90% of my work. Linux not only outperformed Windows 95

on my Everex 486 DX2-66, but it also spared me the three Rs that plagued

every version of Windows: Reboot, Reformat, and Reinstall. I never had to

reboot or reinstall anything to solve a Linux problem. That was enough to

solidify my determination to use Linux in spite of its aesthetic flaws.

On the down side, I had to tolerate very spotty hardware support, especially

for display and sound cards. Once I had a graphical desktop running, the

fonts were hideous. To its credit, Linux let me choose from dozens of win-

dow managers. Unfortunately, only a few of them ran reliably, and the user

interface on most of them made little sense to someone like me, who was

used to OS/2 and Windows. On the other hand, I was immediately spoiled

by the fact that almost all Linux window managers let you switch between

virtual desktops instantaneously (virtual desktops are separate, distinct

desktop workspaces). Windows-based attempts at mimicking this feature

were pitiful by comparison. Only a small number of productivity applica-

tions were ...