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Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

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Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#71

Post by JasonFruit »

VeejayRampay wrote: post #49
bluthru wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

About all those nice bullet points: That's cool, but I'd like to be able to use a grid layout. I'm not looking for an argument or a lesson about the awesomeness of the Apple Way™. I just see people trying to accomodate their 9 Spaces and moving tediously from 9 to 1 and back, while pondering the "huge usability win" that is the linear desktop layout and that's when it hits me: "It'd be nice to have the option of usin…

That's exactly why I haven't been able to bring myself to buy nice Apple hardware: there are too many things where I say, "I want it," and the answer is "You shouldn't." With my LXDE desktop, I can make it act however I want, and I'm pleased and productive, even though I shouldn't be.

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#72

Post by baddox »

buo wrote: post #42
baddox wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> * 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.

I have four virtual desktops mapped to WinKey+{a,s,z,x}. I've used this scheme for so long that the keys are hardwired in my brain and I can switch desktops without even thinking about it. In particular, I don't care if the window manager organizes the desktops in a matrix or linearly, since I don't need a visual representation. As an aside, my biggest gripe with Ubuntu is that they hard code the Win key to something…

Fair enough. It sounds like you use a more specific named mental model, rather than a visual one. When I used a 2x2 virtual desktop grid (I don't use virtual desktops at all anymore), I has loosely defined roles for each desktop, but it was fairly dynamic. I used the visual model, as in "Where did I throw that terminal window? I think it's right below me."

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#73

Post by diaz »

buo wrote: post #45

As a Linux user, what I miss most when I use Windows is focus-follows-mouse.

For me, also related to focus is the amazing, best feature ever of having two windows open and write on one and, scroll on another without losing the focus from where I'm writing :)

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#74

Post by zem »

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…

i find i use virtual desktops a lot when using a tiling window manager; otherwise i just have one desktop per monitor and move between windows using the xfce/gnome taskbar instead.

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#77

Post by pjbrunet »

dhruvmittal wrote: post #68
WildUtah wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 d…

The single biggest thing I miss when I use OS X is alt+click to move windows.

Since I switched to a window tiler, I never need to move windows unless I'm doing something complex in GIMP. I'm using pytyle2 (you can probably find something better) and mostly all I use is alt-c to rotate the windows, alt-h for "higher" and alt-l for "lower" and that's it. Now I rarely, rarely ever resize or click-drag a window.

This works so well I totally stopped using window decoration. Having the extra pixels on my laptop is nice! Install the "Classic Compact" add-on for Firefox to free up even more pixels.

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#78

Post by pjbrunet »

pantalaimon wrote: post #59
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…

I wish I was so systematic, but Virtual Desktops still are vital for my workflow. I have 2 Monitors and a 3x3 grid. Usually I start Sublime in the center desktop, terminator occupies the second screen, so I an easily split my terminal if necessary. If I need to look something up, I'll start my browser on an adjacent desktop, and probably a terminal next to it if necessary (most if the time it will run IRC). When I wa…

I tried two monitors but didn't see any benefit. You can only look at one monitor at a time. I find ctrl-alt-arrow easier than straining neck, etc. Also with two monitors, to get right in front of either one you'll need a swivel chair, right? Either that or you sit in the middle and then you're never looking straight ahead which is the natural thing to do. Unless you're a duck, then you could see both monitors at the same time ;-) At least for me, eye-strain is a big factor. Two screens or a too-large screen is too much looking around. Anyway, that's just my preference. When I see devs with two screens I always wonder if they're really more productive or if it's more an "image" thing, to look more busy/nerdy/important? Haha.

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#79

Post by dhruvmittal »

pjbrunet wrote: post #77
dhruvmittal wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The single biggest thing I miss when I use OS X is alt+click to move windows.

Since I switched to a window tiler, I never need to move windows unless I'm doing something complex in GIMP. I'm using pytyle2 (you can probably find something better) and mostly all I use is alt-c to rotate the windows, alt-h for "higher" and alt-l for "lower" and that's it. Now I rarely, rarely ever resize or click-drag a window. This works so well I totally stopped using window decoration. Having the extra pixels…

I've always loved tiling WMs on big screens, since it's a really efficient way to use all of that screen real estate. i3 really comes into its own on my multimonitor desktop setup. I've just never felt any real gain on anything smaller than 17". On my 13" macbook air, however, I find that as soon as I split the screen 50-50 neither window really has enough space to be comfortable. (I've tried using Amethyst[1], but that's all)

[1]: https://github.com/ianyh/Amethyst

Re: Why I Stick with the Linux Desktop

#80

Post by pjbrunet »

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…

At one point had 8 virtual desktops all labled by activity. Then I had a time tracker that triggered on each. So if I was doing dev work for Client A the billable hours would be tracked automatically. Client B. Marketing. Etc. Problem was the time tracker didn't really work. Also over time I realized it was too much trouble to separate activities like that. Now I just use two virtual desktops. The 1st one gets full fast, the 2nd one rarely gets full. So I never need a 3rd desktop. I have the same setup on desktop and laptop.

openbox + tint2 + pytyle2 (they work well together IMO)

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