My Ubuntu desktop

What do you think?

My current Ubuntu desktop

One thing I like about Ubuntu, and this applies to most distributions, is how customisable it is.

As you can see, I have two panels (taskbars), one of which is vertical; this panel holds my GNOME main menu (equivalent of the Start menu in Windows), my launchers (quick launch in Windows) and my notification area (system tray). It also has two ‘drawers’, which is where we start to deviate from Windows. Drawers are like mini panels which fold out, providing access to more stuff.

The first drawer is the small box showing a cursor scrolling down a list; this drawer contains a further folding out menu which, in keeping with the icon, is my list of open windows. I chose to put the list there because I wanted more space and only very rarely use the mouse to switch windows; it’s more there so that I can view a list of my open windows and the workspace that each one is on.

The second drawer, which is the vaguely satellite-looking thing second from the bottom, folds out to reveal the quick user switcher (a drop down list of users), a basic weather report and my clock.

The horizontal panel on the bottom, going from left to right, has:

• my show desktop button (rarely used),
• my workspace switcher (workspaces are like virtual desktops; they serve as a way of conveniently categorising windows and essentially increasing space),
• a program to prevent me from getting RSI (that’s the sheep, which is called Workrave; disabled in this screenshot),
• an area in which to lock my cursor (useful for keeping nosey people from doing anything),
• the popup deskbar (search engine, command runner and oh so much more),
• force quit launcher (in case any applications crash),
• the volume applet
• and, lastly, another drawer, this one unfolded and showing the lock screen applet, the recycle bin and a button to reload the panels and desktop in case an update is applied.

I’m probably the only person who voluntarily uses this sort of layout, but I find it suits me well.

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