Windows like Desktop Managers

[n00bie]

I hate them as much as I hate windows.

Why does Linux needs to look like or resemble windows? :mad:

I use fluxbox, and if I was ever forced to use a windows like desktop manager (You know who they are) I would rather be booting into runlevel 3...

A friend of mine keeps saying that linux has no originality and just tries hard to be like windows...
I then send him over my screenshot and he began to pick xmms, saying that its just a rip off of winamp.
Thank God he is just an online friend, or I would'hv punched on his nose...

[n00bie]

Ok.. so maybe I was a little too hasty about saying stuff about window managers... I am actully mad on people saying that Linux is just trying to be like windows without actully trying it...

[MB[DK]]

I don't want to start a fight, but you need to go offline and get a life.

[n00bie]

Sorry if I am exaggerating it. But will linux always be just a cheap alternative to windows?

[Stween]

Originally posted by MB[DK]
I don't want to start a fight, but you need to go offline and get a life.

Heh, agreed :)

Desktop managers look like Windows to try and attract more people from Windows to linux. It is not a cheap alternative to Windows, it works completely differently to Windows and is developed under completely different circumstances.

The point in being able to select different window managers is that you can choose one that you like, and you don't have to bother about what other people are running. The classic Windows look isn't all that bad, but it's not for me either.

I use fluxbox too, but I couldn't care less whether other people use KDE, Gnome, Enlightenment, Afterstep or anything else.

Ho-hum.

[beajedi]

Show your friend that you can fully customize every single aspect of the Desktop environment and watch him wet his pants in amazement.

You don't have that kind of power in Windows. . .

[myshkin]

hehe litestep (http://www.litestep.net/snapshot1.png) anyone?

[Tuxxer]

Originally posted by n00bie
Sorry if I am exaggerating it. But will linux always be just a cheap alternative to windows?

For people that want to run a business , you want to have some commonality in how a GUI presents itself , so by default Microsoft , Apple ,Unix , and linux are going to have similar looking interfaces.

Since I can only comment on MicroSoft and Linux , your basically stuck with the GUI in windows , but not with linux , with the plethora of alternate desktop managers.

So if you don't like KDE or Gnome , then by all means , try one of the others.

Its a free world

Tux

[dlausevic]

I have held the notion that the window managers and assorted apps in linux are made to look windows-like for marketing reasons.

For example, Sun developed Staroffice (and hackers with the better Openoffice.org) to appear like MSOffice because the biggest reason most IT Directors or CIO/CTO's cite for staying with M$ is the cost of retraining. Training is a very expensive item on corporate budgets. If I were to start my own company tomorrow, it would be a no-brainer: I'd go with Linux. But, if I were a CTO with millions already invested in M$ products (let's say I inherited it all), I'd have a ton of explaining to do if company productivity were to take a nosedive due to a sudden software change. I'd only make the decision to switch if the cost of benefit ratio is high enough to a enable complete replacement of software over renewing license agreements. Retraining would be moot point and M$ would crap their pants at a loss of corporate clientele (the cream of their income). Just my $.02

[shadowrider]

Originally posted by dlausevic
I have held the notion that the window managers and assorted apps in linux are made to look windows-like for marketing reasons.

For example, Sun developed Staroffice (and hackers with the better Openoffice.org) to appear like MSOffice because the biggest reason most IT Directors or CIO/CTO's cite for staying with M$ is the cost of retraining. Training is a very expensive item on corporate budgets. If I were to start my own company tomorrow, it would be a no-brainer: I'd go with Linux. But, if I were a CTO with millions already invested in M$ products (let's say I inherited it all), I'd have a ton of explaining to do if company productivity were to take a nosedive due to a sudden software change. I'd only make the decision to switch if the cost of benefit ratio is high enough to a enable complete replacement of software over renewing license agreements. Retraining would be moot point and M$ would crap their pants at a loss of corporate clientele (the cream of their income). Just my $.02

good point. couldn't agree more with you

[dlausevic]

Of course, one of the many things I love about linux is that it lacks a Winblows feature I'll never miss. Basically, I could be racing through my word processor trying to finish a paper I'd put off until a few hours before the due time. While reaching to do an alt_whatever, I'd press the &^%kin start menu key... I'd be typing away, and the start menu would steal focus form my word processor, pop up, and the keys I'm typing would select a program to load, or instruct the computer to shutdown. This would disrupt my creative flow and piss me off.

<sigh> I don't know how many times, since installing tux, that I've pushed that stupid key, and nothing happened. It's so nice.

I live for the day where those keys will be replaced by empty space, or just increased size of alt and ctrl. I'll just die if my linux dist programmed the gui to react to those damned buttons.

[sharth]

on the mention of litestep... I was thinking of bb4win and xpde personally :)

But maybe people like the windows desktop idea, so they emulate it. Then they figure, hey maybe other people would like to try this out. So they go throw it on freshmeat or sourceforge or whatever. Then people download it and say, hey this is pretty neat. and the project grows. What's wrong with that? nothing.

Personally, I use blackbox, but hey, if it wasn't for people tinkering and trying out stuff, then where would we be.

Personally, I think people care to much about all the programs that are being released. If you don't like a program, don't use it. Not too hard. Don't flame the idea.

And i remember an idea a while back, that there are only so many things that can done witha desktop metaphor. With linux, i think we pretty much have filled up the metaphysical list.