Linux excels at letting users customize, or "pimp," the look and feel of their desktop, says a Laptoplogic article, which proceeds to show beginners how to do just that. The article takes users through a makeover session using the GNOME Desktop on Ubuntu.
Written by Blair Mathis, who writes regularly in the new Laptoplogic site on Linux issues, the article is for those "who love to see the glitter, glamour, and special effects and want to pimp their Gnome desktop." The story, called "Eye Candy: Pimping the Gnome Desktop in Ubuntu," starts by exploring the Compiz 3D desktop (pictured at right on an OpenSUSE platform), which the author dubs "the mother of all eye candy efforts." The story then shows how to improve Compiz special effects performance on an underpowered system.
Mathis then explores various GNOME themes downloaded from sites like GnomeLook.org, and discusses how Compiz Emerald window decorator can provide an even more dazzling look. The author moves on to the topic of icons, noting that a typical rookie mistake is to "betray your themes" by using default icons. Mathis shows how to find more distinctive icons on GnomeLook.org or DeviantArt.com.
The author goes on to discuss Desklets and Screenlets, more popularly referred to these days as widgets. Mathis then concludes with an exploration of launch docks, recommending Cairo-dock as a winning design.
Availability
The full story in Laptoplogic, "Eye Candy: Pimping the Gnome Desktop in Ubuntu," should be available here. Readers interested in a more advanced-level dive into Ubuntu GNOME customization can move on to this recent post from DeviceGuru (see image above).
