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| === Desktops === | === Desktops === | ||
| The two most popular desktop managers are ] (Nautilus Window Manager) and ] (Konqueror Window Manager). Other desktop environments include FVWM2 (Feline Virtual Window Manager), MWM (Motif Window Manager), and ] amongst others. The desktop environment looks different according to which window manager is used, and a number of options are available to customize these desktops according to a user's interest. | |||
| === Applications === | === Applications === | ||
Revision as of 15:46, 10 August 2007
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Desktop Linux, also Linux on the desktop, is the application of the GNU/Linux operating system on a desktop computer.
History
Historically, UNIX and other Unix-like operating systems have been utilized on servers, mainframes, and workstations in corporate or scientific environments.
Beginning in the latter 90's, a few Linux distribution companies, such as MandrakeSoft, began to advertise their systems for low-end desktop computers. However, it was not until Apple released the first version of Mac OS X, a UNIX-like system, that Linux began to be seen as a serious alternative to Microsoft's Windows operating system on desktop computers, in both corporate and home environments.
Since the turn of the 21st century, a growing number of Linux, and even BSD-based, distributions have originated with a dedication to the desktop market. Perhaps the most famous/popular of these distributions, as of 2007, is Canonical's Ubuntu distribution.
Advantages
Desktop Linux has long been touted by its users, vendors, and advocates as a more security-conscious, stable OS for the desktop computer , compared to Microsoft Windows, which has been criticized throughout its history for its security and stability problems.
Desktops
The two most popular desktop managers are GNOME (Nautilus Window Manager) and KDE (Konqueror Window Manager). Other desktop environments include FVWM2 (Feline Virtual Window Manager), MWM (Motif Window Manager), and IceWM amongst others. The desktop environment looks different according to which window manager is used, and a number of options are available to customize these desktops according to a user's interest.
Applications
Most Desktop Linux distributions are developed and deployed with an assortment of applications developed by third-party projects, such as KDE, GNOME, GIMP, Mozilla Firefox, and OpenOffice.org. This is to make sure that the user will be less prone to looking for basic applications which he/she may be lacking. Many programs that acomplish the same purpose as closed source couterparts exist. Through compatability layers such as Wine Windows and Mac applications can run.
3D user interfaces
In addition, with the development of Xgl and other hardware-accelerated user interface architectures, 3D environments have experienced greater demand from both potential and veteran Desktop Linux users. Beryl is the most common example of this.
Disadvantages
Applications
Desktop Linux has also been maligned for its lack of name-brand applications in comparison to its proprietary and closed source counterparts, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. In response, many open source programs comparable to or more capable than their counterparts. Desktop Linux advocates have blamed the more recognized application vendors, such as Adobe Systems, for their alleged shunning of Desktop Linux systems and users in favor of users of either Windows or Mac OS X.
Drivers
The aforementioned 3D user interface environments also have come under scrutiny because of the usage of proprietary and closed-source drivers for the graphic cards, from Nvidia or ATI upon which the environments are dependent. In response, independent developers have reverse-engineered the drivers to write new free and open source drivers.
In addition, in 2006, freedesktop.org began a project called "Nouveau" in order to create free and open-source drivers for Nvidia cards.
Installation
Main article: LinuxThe experience of installing a Linux distribution on a desktop computer varies from person to person as well as from distribution to distribution. While a number of ways to use a Desktop Linux distribution exist, the barriers of entry seem to remain rather high for many speculative users.
Year of Desktop Linux
Since at least 2001, a meme known as "(year) will be the year of Linux on the Desktop" has been published by a number of tech-related magazines, referring to the prior year's experiences of supposed "gains" for Linux adoption by business corporations; these gains can vary in reason, such as the installation of a Linux distribution onto the desktops of workers for organizations or companies who may not be immediately or otherwise involved in the computing industry, or the acceleration of development for specific applications which find their greatest usages on desktop Linux distributions, or the pre-installation of specific Linux distributions onto personal computers being sold by PC manufacturers such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard, or other corporations. The meme, which is used on an annual basis, has been roundly criticized as redundant and overreaching.
See also
- Beryl (window manager)
- cairo
- Compiz
- Desktop Linux Consortium
- Desktop Linux Summit
- Desktop wars
- KDE
- GNOME
- Xgl
- IceWM
- GNU