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Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

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Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#31

Post by kozikow »

VeejayRampay wrote: post #7

It's way too nice to Apple to call their piss-poor Spaces "Virtual Desktops". Call me when I can finally arrange them how I want (i.e. 2 rows, 2 columns) and not have them in line, which is stupid and inefficient. I'd also like a call when Apple finally implements maximize for windows. And don't get me wrong, I am a Mac user, just a highly frustrated one when I see people praising them as the second coming of the pro…

Did you try Amethyst: https://github.com/ianyh/Amethyst ? It's Tiling WM modeled after xmonad for OSX. Among other things it brings better keyboard support to spaces. I have keyboard shortcut for "move to n-th space", "move focused window to n-th/left/right space". And since you mentioned maximizing - since it's modeled after xmonad (tiling WM) every window is maximized when opened (or splitted with current focused windows, depening on your layout).

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#32

Post by yogo »

cenhyperion wrote: post #11
wtbob wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Out of curiosity, what sort of issues do you have using Linux as a 'daily driver'? I ask because I've been running Linux-only on a daily basis since '99, and (obviously) haven't had any major issues to cause me to change that decision.

For me personally it's image editing software. I need to be able to collaborate easily with graphic designers and manage my personal photography. Adobe's tools are the industry standard and what I need to collaborate with others. That's the single thing holding me back. If I could have photoshop and lightroom on linux I'd switch in a heartbeat. Until then OS X will probably remain my main desktop.

I know the feeling. I run Photoshop and Illustrator in VirtualBox but it would be such a great feeling to launch them right from dmenu one day.

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#33

Post by yogo »

kiallmacinnes wrote: post #21
buckbova wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My experiences . . . Things like setting up dual monitors used to be such a major pain (for me) or hardware support like for a bluetooth dongle. I had some problem with an intel chipset that kept crashing a laptop in 2005. I tried debian and suse varieties with no luck. I have a newer laptop with #! that works well now but I can't do things like VPN into my job because the software needs windows or mac. Basically thi…

> Things like setting up dual monitors used to be such a major pain (for me) or hardware support like for a bluetooth dongle. Dual monitors have got much easier over the last 3 or 4 years, at least on ATI. No clue about nVidia. .. and Intel graphics have always been rock solid on Linux. Before I got my 30" screen, I had 3x 19" spread over 3 different ATI cards. It worked like a charm once I allowed Ubuntu to auto-ins…

My experience with nvidia is that it's just as easy as Windows these days. There's even a gui app that was probably inspired by Windows' monitor config.

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#34

Post by fein »

gknoy wrote: post #13

Virtual desktops .... I always thought this would be useful for switching between different contexts, like work vs. personal, but I’ve rarely used it in practice. I'm a virtual desktop addict. If I may, I'd like to share how I use mine, so that you might perhaps find them more useful in your own work. I have dual monitors, and four virtual desktops (in XFCE, but that doesn't matter). Originally, I used only two works…

1L: Chrome 1R: urxvt (stickied) + inspector + xchat

2L: Emacs 2R: speedbar + urxvt(stickied)

3L: Pgadmin 3R: urxvt(stickied) + pgadmin view/ query window

4: nice n clean

A friend came in today and was talking about how much he liked the brand new, amazing "pin" feature in win 8. I laughed when he described sticky windows and vdesktops.

edit: Fluxbox here tho, not lxde or xfce.

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#35

Post by wting »

VeejayRampay wrote: post #7

It's way too nice to Apple to call their piss-poor Spaces "Virtual Desktops". Call me when I can finally arrange them how I want (i.e. 2 rows, 2 columns) and not have them in line, which is stupid and inefficient. I'd also like a call when Apple finally implements maximize for windows. And don't get me wrong, I am a Mac user, just a highly frustrated one when I see people praising them as the second coming of the pro…

You might want to look into BetterTouchTool (http://www.boastr.de/). It gives you the ability to map keys to full screen maximize, left and right split, and a plethora of other options.

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#36

Post by baddox »

bluthru wrote: post #30
VeejayRampay wrote: post #7

It's way too nice to Apple to call their piss-poor Spaces "Virtual Desktops". Call me when I can finally arrange them how I want (i.e. 2 rows, 2 columns) and not have them in line, which is stupid and inefficient. I'd also like a call when Apple finally implements maximize for windows. And don't get me wrong, I am a Mac user, just a highly frustrated one when I see people praising them as the second coming of the pro…

They're not "stupid" and "piss-poor". Linear desktops are a huge usability win for a multitude of reasons: * It's spatially an easier mental model. * This mental model is consistent with iOS multitasking and iOS home screen. * It allows for simple gestures to switch between desktops. * In western society, we read from left to right. New is to the right. Fullscreen a new desktops are added to the right. * This also se…

> * It's spatially an easier mental model.

This is the only point that really matters, and I think it's false. A square grid is a far easier mental model for me. Remembering if something else is above|below|to the left|to the right of where I am is way easier to remember and visualize than how many slots to the right or left something is.

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#37

Post by WildUtah »

gknoy wrote: post #13

Virtual desktops .... I always thought this would be useful for switching between different contexts, like work vs. personal, but I’ve rarely used it in practice. I'm a virtual desktop addict. If I may, I'd like to share how I use mine, so that you might perhaps find them more useful in your own work. I have dual monitors, and four virtual desktops (in XFCE, but that doesn't matter). Originally, I used only two works…

Things I miss on OSX do include third-button paste from the highlight buffer and, of course, the superior virtual desktops (though OSX had them until Apple decided to cancel 'em), and the window list in the top bar.

But none of those is as important as focus-follows-mouse. I really miss ffm.

On the other hand, I like having working power management and long battery life. And I like never spending a day figuring out driver regressions.

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#38

Post by viseztrance »

encno1s3 wrote: post #19

This is in no way a bashing of Linux. I love linux, I use it daily, but it's the desktop that I have issues with.. I've used Linux as a Desktop exclusively from 1999 to circa 2008. When I finally gave up. I think it was Ubuntu releasing buggy PulseAudio which broke the sound for me that was the last straw. I still use Linux as a desktop occasionally but I just don't have the patience to deal with the weird quirks any…

FYI you can use ctrl + shift + c / ctrl + shift + v to copy / paste text in your terminal.

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#39

Post by jebblue »

patmcguire wrote: post #23
encno1s3 wrote: post #19

This is in no way a bashing of Linux. I love linux, I use it daily, but it's the desktop that I have issues with.. I've used Linux as a Desktop exclusively from 1999 to circa 2008. When I finally gave up. I think it was Ubuntu releasing buggy PulseAudio which broke the sound for me that was the last straw. I still use Linux as a desktop occasionally but I just don't have the patience to deal with the weird quirks any…

Audio is one of those things they've never figured out. There's a good "truth in graphs" about that: http://blogs.adobe.com/penguinswf/files/penguinswf/linuxaudi...

For Ubuntu it's been figured out for years. I use Google Voice, play music, do audio in multiple accounts, it all just works.
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