Help me correct a bland screen -- screenshots included

Fri Jun 22 09:28:34 UTC 2007

I just woke and decided to see what is going on in the forum.  It's not 
quite 4am where I am.  Nonetheless, I got to your email and thought 'that 
isn't like my computer'.  If you are talking desktop features, Linux is far 
richer than Microsoft, in my opinion.

I tried to view the sites you noted, however, both timed out several times, 
so I didn't see them.  Although I am not extremely knowledgeable about 
Linux, being new to the Operating System and using Kubuntu 7.04, I spent a 
lot of time in a System option of the KDE application tree setting 
configuration for all the features for the desktop and came up with a very 
attractive desltop.

I am not quite sure I understand the language used in Linux, yet, so I not 
may be understanding you, but among the choices I made was a choice for a 
beautiful desktop Background.  Then, I made a hiding toolbar at the top of 
the screen.  Instead of having such a variety of colors of icons randomly 
covering the background, I used a feature that made all the icons of their 
various design variations of white and greys to black.  With several on the 
screen, they uniformly contrast the screen, however having the appearance of 
texture by their differing shapes and designs.  I placed those Icons on a 
transparent background so that all you see is the basic Icon shape against 
your Desktop Background of choice.  It looks great.  I placed the toolbar on 
the top of the screen.  The only time it is visible is when I need 
something.  I place the cursor at the top of the screen and the toolbar 
drops down to give my choices.  I used the Macintosh approach  of having the 
Icons kind of fade in when you place the cursor over an Icon.

For a working background, I chose the dark blue theme.  Unlike the extreme 
contrast of a black screen with white lettering, mine is dark blue 
background with light blue in contrast in its features.

I used a light cream color for the buttons and some of the lettering on the 
dark blue background.  The effect is peaceful and not too high energy like 
you would have on a black screen with white letters.  Even when you are 
typing a letter, it is very pleasing and quite attractive; you just have to 
remember that when you print the letter, it will be black letters on a white 
background.

I used the same dark blue/lighter blue background on my email program. 
However this time, I used a pale peach background for the portion you write 
an email and  blue print.  Actually, I am not finished yet, because, the 
choices are so many using Linux, that sometimes, where links change colors 
or the like, when I use a dark background, all the lettering has to be light 
in color to contrast the background (if a link is a dark color, it won't 
show up against a dark background, so you have to make sure that all print 
is in varying choices of light colors)

Take a look at abc.com.  They use the dark background color scheme in a 
similar way.  To me, it is a very rich appearance, unlike the stark white 
dominance of most websites, same with cbs and nbc.

I have been a fine artist for the past 50+ years, so it makes sense that I 
do such a thing; it also makes sense the the major media outlets use high 
color and more artistic design and use of color for their sites.  However, 
with Microsoft products, the option to create this environment is generally 
only available to someone who knows how to use HTML.

Wiith Kubuntu, which is the Linux OS that I am using, it is just an unending 
choice of check-boxes and radio keys making the selections that liven up the 
screen.  You just have to contemplate in your mind what the combinations you 
are choosing will look like when you are making your choices, and you want 
to make sure you don't choose a dark, dark blue background with a black 
font, because it is very hard to read without contrast.  Just think about a 
black screen with white contrasting letters.  It is very extreme on your 
eyes.  But then imagine a dark blue backgroun with a pale cream or pale 
peach color for the print.  Can't you see the softer contrast and potential 
beauty, by the combination that you might choose for colors.

Other choices permit you to design the buttons and other features so that 
they have a three dimentional appearance.  Additionally, you can have these 
buttons change color as you pass the cursor over them. I only go over to my 
XP operating system partition, when I need to something I haven't yet been 
able to do using Linux.  While using the XP OS, I am dominated by the 
feeling of boredom from the appearance and function of the Microsoft 
presence.  I am further troubled by the hundreds of extra mouse clicks I 
have to make to do the things I do.

For instance, how many times have you ever clicked, 'no, I really don't want 
to make this change'.  Microsoft is continually reminding you that there is 
another choice to what you want to do.  And each time they do that,you have 
to double your mouse-clicks.  DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DO THAT?  DO YOU REALLY 
REALLY WANT TO DO THAT?  ARE YOU REALLY SURE, THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO 
DO?  That is what it feels like now.  I can't remember ever being saved by a 
Microsoft warning in a way.  Or, when I open Linux mail and on the screen is 
the last email sent.  I don't have to read a list of emails first if I don't 
want to, then double-click the one I want to read first to get it on the 
screen.  Then click X to get it off the screen and right click, then left 
click to delete it from the Email list of emails then double click on the 
next one I want to read.

Using Linux the last email received is already on the screen when you open 
the mail.  You can still read the list that came in, if you want to read 
another email first, however, if it doesn't make a difference the order you 
read them, you simple read the one on the screen.  If you don't want to save 
it, you right-click and delete it, and immediately the next in line appears 
on the screen without having to go to the list to open it, and with a 
double-click.  I get to thinking that I am probably going to gain weight by 
not having to click the mouse so much.

No!  I very much like the much richer look that you can achieve using a 
Linux system, and I love the reduction of the inumerable number of mouse 
clicks thay you don't have to make when using a better organized system. 
Linux developers are always trying to improve the Linux system.  Microsoft 
developers are always trying to stand out among all their competitors while 
complying to the demands of the Microsoft system of computing.  I guess it's 
all right if you don't mind others making up your mind all the time, but in 
Linux, the free part isn't just saving money on programs, which ain't bad, 
it is the freedom to express yourself using your own computer.

I am sure that being a fine-artist all my life has helped me to make an 
attractive and living desktop, but even if you don't have an artistic sence, 
you probably are still affected by beautiful things.  And if you like the 
opening of ABC.COM, or any other website out there, analyze what you see 
that you like and copy them.  That is the way that most of art is made 
anyway.  There are very few Van Gogh's out there.

I know this is a very long response, but you wouldn't be reading at this 
point, if at least some of it didn't make sense.  I have only used Linux for 
less than a month, however, already, I know I must learn the Terminal and 
the filing function, because as I do, I find that it is easier, more 
logically assembled, and definately a richer and more beautiful experience 
that anything Microsoft has yet come up with.  Those things you see using 
Microsoft products that you like are usually made by professionals who have 
no affiliation with Microsoft, they are just made Microsoft compatible.

Haven't you noticed when you enter Synaptic or Adept Manager that you have 
immediate access to over 20,000 programs, few of which are beta.  You 
install them and they work.  It may take you a while to get the right 
combination of programs into your system to have that perfect stability you 
are looking for, however, you rarely have to make serious changes.  Most 
upgrades are not fixing bugs, although that happens when a program is very 
new sometimes, most upgrades are just improvements, just juicy little 
enhancements to make the system even more wonderful.

Enjoy designing your desktop.

Steven, fine-artist

  ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Tilley" <tilleyrw at cfl.rr.com>
To: <kubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 9:24 PM
Subject: Help me correct a bland screen -- screenshots included

> My KDE desktop is extremely bland and lifeless compared to my Windows box.
> There are many beautiful screenshots of extravagant desktops, but I'm 
> always
> puzzled why mine is so lifeless.
>
> If someone could review these links to screenshots and offer some advice, 
> it
> would be most appreciated.
>
> Thanks, Bob
>
> http://home.cfl.rr.com/rtgroup/example-screen.png
>
> http://home.cfl.rr.com/rtgroup/full-screen.png
>
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