Is The Linux Desktop Ready For Prime Time?
Friday, 10. July 2009
Is the Linux desktop ready for prime time?
Well , that depends what you are looking for. My idea of a desktop might be a bit different from yours, and your idea might not mesh with your friends, or family. But if you are an average user, here are some things for you to think about.
As usual, I’m going to start out with some Linux / Open Source 101. If you are already an expert, then skip it by all means…
What is Linux?
Linux, at it’s core is a kernel. A kernel is just a bunch of instruction sets that sit between the programs you run and the hardware (in most cases a PC) you have. A gentleman by the name Linus Trovalds created the Linux kernel while studying at The University of Helsiki. Linux was released under the GNU Public Licence v2, which is one of many licences Open Source Projects are released under.
So, when we talk about Linux, for the most part, we really mean “A Linux Distribution”, with names likeDebian, Ubuntu, Fedora, etc… This is what you are actually downloading and installing on your computer. Most of the core tools (programs) that Linux distributions use to manage things like renaming files and copying stuff around, for the most part, belong to the GNU project, and have nothing to do with the Linux Kernel at all. The relationship between The Free Sofware Foundation and The Linux Project has been a rocky one, but has stood the tests of time.
The XWindows System.
Linux distributions, or “distros” in geek, are considered to be a Unix, or “*nix” based operating system. Unlike Windows or early Macs, *nix systems were designed from the ground up to be workstations on a network. So, when they decided to put a graphical user interface, or GUI in front of people to use instead of the command console and terminals, they figured it would need to work as part of the network. With this in mind, those brave pioneers of the GUI created a two part display system. They created the XWindows system to host programs from other computers. Let me try to explain, Let’s say that I’m on a computer named Tom. I want to run a program, but that program is not installed on Tom. In fact, Tom doesn’t have the right hardware to run the program. But, the computer in the next office, let’s call it Jane, has the right hardware, and the program is already installed. With the XWindows system, I can connect to Jane from Tom and run the program on Jane, the only on my desktop is the program I started on Jane, not Jane’s desktop. Not only that, but the person that is sitting at Jane, might notice a bit of additional load from the program running on that system, but other then that, they’ll be totally oblivious to my activities. This is not like Windows Terminal Server, nor can it be compared to PC Anywhere, or Desktop Sharing. All I have on my screen is the window the program is running in, and Jane is just as usable and available as she was before I attached. These features aren’t used very much anymore. The cost of hardware has come way down in the past 15 years, and the need to run a GUI program from another system is rare nowadays. But it needed to be covered to understand the rest of the article.
The Window Manager.
The thing to understand about XWindows is this, all it really does is handle input (like the keyboard and mouse) and the actual display (video resolution and window position) on the system. It doesn’t actually allow you to do anything, it just handles communication with all the programs you are running.
Think of the XWindows system as the artist’s canvas. It holds the paint, but you need something to place the paint on the canvas and move it around with. That’s want we call a Window Manager.
The Window Manager is the second part of the *nix desktop. This is probably what you think of when I say the word “Desktop”. This manages all the open programs and usually comes with a menu and a task bar… Notice I said usually? That’s because there are hundreds of different Window Manager programs for Open Source. Some are really pretty with windows that catch fire when you close them, and turn into little paper airplanes when you send them down to the task bar. Others that are less pretty, and more down to business, with few frills, where the task bar is optional or not there at all. This is what we in Open Source call Freedom. Freedom to control how much or how little fluff we have to use. If I run Windows, my choices for desktop are, let’s see, oh yes, I remember, I have no choice. I could go on for hours about Open Source and the whole movement, but you’re here about the desktop, so let’s move on.
Hundreds to Choose From…
Yes, there are hundreds of Windows Managers to choose from, but for the most part, there are only a few that I would recommend, and of those, only two I would recommend to a “Newbie”. They are:
Why these two? The short answer is that on today’s hardware, these are best of class. They have all the features you are probably used to, and they come as either the default Window Manager, or are available as an option on all modern Linux Distros.
Now, if you’re running a 500Mhz with 256Meg of Ram, then I have a whole list of alternative Window Managers for you to try. But that’s a different article.
KDE, Cutting Edge Beauty.
KDE is probably the easiest desktop to maneuver around in if you are a Windows user. It has just undergone a huge overhaul. Many folks in the community thought that the release of Version 4.0 was too soon, with too many bugs. But, most of us assumed, that eventually they would work out the kinks. Wow, that sounds like a certain company in Redmond… The current version of KDE as I’m writing, is 4.2, and it looks like most of the bugs are in the rear view mirror. There has been a movement with KDE to eliminate many of the features that could get a novice user in trouble. So many of the knobs that seasoned users were used to tweaking are gone in KDE 4.x. This is not necessarily a bad thing. But the result is less choices regarding look and feel.
KDE sports a completely contained environment. It has all it’s own programs for web browsing and email, even it’s own office type programs… There’s that company in Redmond popping into my mind again. But, you can install any web browser or email client that you want, just as long as it’s compatible with the Linux operating system.
All and all, KDE is a friendly environment for a user that is new to Linux, but has used Microsoft Windows.
Gnome, Utility and Flexibility.
Gnome is much more of a Mac / *unix feeling Window Manager. Where KDE is totally self contained and has core programs for most any computer task, Gnome has it’s own packages for browsing and email. Word Processing is usually provided by Open Office. And it has it’s own suite of desktop tools just like KDE. Things like a calculator, and many others.
But if you like the calculator that KDE provides more? Never worry, all of the KDE programs can be ran in Gnome, and all of the Gnome programs can be ran in KDE.
Actually, any X compliant program can run in any Window Manager you choose… Kinda changes the playing field a bit. Gnome still has a lot of the original knobs that you can tweak to do all sorts of things to your environment. So if you want it to feel like a Mac, or a Windows Desktop, you can get it there.
Which Window Manager Is Best?
I personally run Gnome. Just cause it fits my needs. Your needs are probably different, so if I were you, I’d install them both and see which one I like the best.
That’s right, you can install them both! You can log out of one, and then log back in the other. Too cool right!
Actually, I use non Gnome and KDE applications for most of what I do. I’m in Firefox all day for browsing, and am running Thunderbird for my email client. Open Office is my choice for what little word processing I do. And I use eGroupware for my calendar and contacts.
So, the answer to which one is best is the one YOU like the best!
Other Stuff Worth Mentioning.
Since XWindows and the Window Manager are two different things, we should talk a little about resolution settings and things like that. Some Linux Distros provide methods of changing screen resolution and stuff like that from inside a GUI. This is not always the case though. XOrg (the name XServer project) has invested thousands of hours in getting all this stuff to just work. So chances are you shouldn’t have any problems. But, just like all the other OS providers, sometimes there are combinations of hardware that just don’t detect right.
If you are not getting the right resolution, or you want to change it and it won’t let you set it to where you think it should work, then you will probably need to try to find an answer on the Internet. If you can’t find it there? your next stop should be a Linux User’s Group (LUG) meeting. Everyone there wants to help you with your problem.
With Linux, you have the support and help of every Linux user in the world and they are ready to lend you a hand. No kidding!
So, The Conclusion?
What, you want my opinion? Ok, I’ll go on the record. If you ask me, I’d have to say YES! The Linux Desktop Is Ready For Prime Time. But my opinion doesn’t matter. It’s your opinion that does. I challenge you to find out more about Linux. See if any of your friends already run it. Find a LUG in your area and check out a meeting. And most of all, install Linux on a PC and you be the judge.
Remember, Open Source is about freedom. Sure, the software is free, but you get more then the software, you get the freedom to share that software with your friends and family.
So what does Open Source ask in return for all this great free software? Your help to make it better if you can. Not much if you ask me…
— Stu
