My Current Ubuntu Setup with compiz window previews enabled, no docks, and a custom gnome panel background. The emerald theme manager is also being used.
One thing that really bothers me is Windows. I have tried Windows 98, Windows XP, and Windows Vista. Every new Windows release is an expensive and unsatisfying experience. About a year and a half ago I became so frustrated that I began to look for an alternative. After doing a little research I decided that a linux-based operating system would be the best option. I eventually decided upon Ubuntu. After the initial install and a bit of playing around I was not that impressed. Everything worked but the 'user experience' of the operating system was not what I wanted it to be. This sent me on a quest to fully explore the GUI of linux. I was supprised to learn that linux can really be whatever you want it to be.
There are a variety of programs available to enhance the linux experience. I can't help but wonder why they are not included by default. During the installation of the system, graphical option could be set by the user, or based on detected hardware. Programs that I feel should be installed by default are emerald, compizfusion, cairo-dock, and avant-window-navigator. With these programs linux can be customized to look like whatever you'd like it to. It is possible to almost exactly copy the Vista or OSX look (if that's what you'd like to do). Below are some of my concepts for a linux desktop. They are combinations of various themes created/modified by the linux community and myself.
The above screenshot shows the emerald theme manager, cairo-dock at the top, and avant-window-navigator at the bottom (with the reserve screen edge for dock options enabled). The gnome panel is completely hidden.
This image shows the emerald theme manager with a customized gtk theme and the default-gnome panel expanded to double height with a custom background.
This is a very simple concept. Only the avant-window-navigator is used to manage windows and applications. I created the icons out of various images I found online.
Here the gnome panel is not hidden entirely, but used for the clock applet and a reflective surface for the avant-window-navigator icons. I made the wallpaper from individual plante pictures and made the icon set out of various pictures I found online. The clear window is the gnome-terminal. It's background can be set to any image/opacity. With the compiz blur plugin enabled, the entire window would look like Vista glass. Unfortunately my Acer doesn't support it.
This is similar to the last one but with more windows open. The gnome panel has been hidden.
As is this one, but with less windows.I wish more linux distributions would provide these options by default. I believe this would greatly increase the overall experience of linux, and cause more people to look at open source operating systems and software as truly superior options.
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