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Omnios
July 27th, 2005, 09:18 PM
I have a peeve when it comes to desktops. The peeve being I keep seeing the untimate desktops and can't seem to get them. You can see them almost everyday on TV programs and movies such as CSI, Adramida (sci-fi) etc. The list is endless. Even when the Xfiles was running I used to see some sick Desktops.

You know the ones im talking about. The ones with sick transparencies, window colors that match the background color but still stand out. Window frames of less than a millimeter yet still make a window stand out better than a 1 inch frame. My personal favorit had about a millimeter frame on its windows very small toolbars. Sweet semi transparent window backgrounds that matched the background. It was so uncluttered and deskspace premiumed.

K the real bad part about it was from what they where running on them most of them looked like they where running Linux.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to get something like this?

super
July 27th, 2005, 10:08 PM
i happened to rent the ALIAS dvds and as i was watching i started to notice the amazing computer desktops. so i hit pause, and sure enough it was linux. (or some *nix) bit it didn't look like any linux theme or WM that i've ever seen. i think what they did was draw the windows and stuff onto the wallpaper and put a terminal on top.

DJ_Max
July 27th, 2005, 10:29 PM
Linux is very customizable, even when it comes down to look. I'm not that good at eye candy, but there are resources.
http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=16
http://gnome-look.org
http://kde-look.org

wmcbrine
July 28th, 2005, 03:36 AM
OK, I'm guessing you know this, but: Those unusual desktops you see on TV and in movies are mostly mockups. They don't correspond to anything that's really available.

It's better than it used to be -- at least they look plausible now. There used to be the most absurd pseudo-interfaces ("Pretty in Pink" has one of the least believable, for its era). On text displays, they used to use 40 columns a lot, so they'd be readable on TV.

They still have an inordinate fondness for certain gimmicks, like making a photo show up (from out of a database) line by line. Oh, and my (least) favorite -- the "password cracking" display that (impossibly) solves one character at a time. There in War Games (worst thing in the movie), and still there in Alias this last season. Argh... but I digress.

Stormy Eyes
July 28th, 2005, 03:58 AM
OK, I'm guessing you know this, but: Those unusual desktops you see on TV and in movies are mostly mockups. They don't correspond to anything that's really available.

Like that handwriting-recognition computer used as a prop in the original Highlander? That was funny.

Omnios
July 28th, 2005, 04:06 AM
Actualy I was talking about the destop graphics and layouts not the password breakers and special affects. The ones I saw looked pretty linux but much sweeter. They tended to look much more computerish or what TV has lead are expectations of todays and tomoros computer desktops should look like. But dam they make it look dam good. Almost makes me think where can I get that os from before I wake from my daydream.

poofyhairguy
July 28th, 2005, 07:47 AM
They tended to look much more computerish or what TV has lead are expectations of todays and tomoros computer desktops should look like.

Some have compicated underworkings. But like most TV its fantasy.

macgyver2
July 28th, 2005, 03:37 PM
OK, I'm guessing you know this, but: Those unusual desktops you see on TV and in movies are mostly mockups. They don't correspond to anything that's really available.

It's better than it used to be -- at least they look plausible now. There used to be the most absurd pseudo-interfaces ("Pretty in Pink" has one of the least believable, for its era). On text displays, they used to use 40 columns a lot, so they'd be readable on TV.

They still have an inordinate fondness for certain gimmicks, like making a photo show up (from out of a database) line by line. Oh, and my (least) favorite -- the "password cracking" display that (impossibly) solves one character at a time. There in War Games (worst thing in the movie), and still there in Alias this last season. Argh... but I digress.

Don't forget the movie Hackers! How horrible was that?!

But on the other hand, the industry does get it right occasionally. Two instances that come to mind are when Trinity uses nmap in Matrix: Reloaded and the computers in Jurassic Park. Gotta give 'em credit for that.

The disk browser they used in Jurassic Park is here (http://www.sgi.com/fun/freeware/3d_navigator.html) (but it's only for Irix, supposedly). There's another program for windows called Scanner (http://www.steffengerlach.de/freeware/) that is functional and looks good...and now I think there's the same thing for Linux in KDE...I asked a friend (who uses KDE) and he think it's called kdiskfree. I don't know...never tried it myself. Not exactly what Omnios was looking for, but still cool nonetheless.

Mr. Electric Wizard
July 28th, 2005, 04:44 PM
LOL, navigating the servers in Hackers, uh, flight simulator comes to mind?

Kvark
July 28th, 2005, 06:29 PM
The movie versions of computer stuff that I really love are the ones that are horribly wrong and hilarious. Always makes me laugh. Like in the bad low quality series She Spies they find encrypted files hidden inside of blue screen of death.

The disk browser used in Jurassic Park is actually one of those hilarious ones. It might exist but it must take much longer to fly around there then to use a normal non-3D disk browser. Might just as well add missiles and enemy aircraft (virus) while wasting time. That'd be like playing Decent, the guide-bot could be the search function.

WildTangent
July 28th, 2005, 06:58 PM
The disk browser they used in Jurassic Park is here (http://www.sgi.com/fun/freeware/3d_navigator.html) (but it's only for Irix, supposedly).
wow, and i thought it was totally bogus :S

-Wild

somuchfortheafter
July 28th, 2005, 07:02 PM
fluxbox allows for that.... well combined with the window transparency program found in the hoary how-tos anyway... fluxbox is very very versatile.

Omnios
July 29th, 2005, 11:39 PM
Well found some interesting gnome desk tops, expecialy the dark and black ones. I still can't find a very thin slim file bar. Would realy like to see the title bar and file bar worked into one unit but that would definatly have to be a hack. Thin and bare it would be. Only problem I have come across the black and dark themes is that they are not compatible with firefox so I did some searching for a light writing dark background firefox theme and came accross cool neo green for scure sites but the regualr sites will still be back on black. Be nice if we could change the size of the text and buttons etc in the window frames which may make for some realy interesting thmes. Total customization.

Haven't found the perfect Ultimate desktop yet but am getting a step closer. I downloaded a theme yesterday Neosipo.zip, it was zip because or file type problems on his domain. Was thinking of unzipping and rating it but there are many different theme versions in it so was not shure how to do that. Think ill give it a go as it gives me a reason to figure out fileroller, so far only used it to unzip stuff.

Maybe tonight I might find the untimate desktop.

Omnios
July 30th, 2005, 05:38 AM
Well not exactly what id call the ultimate desktop but its a start.

http://ubuntuforums.org/gallery/showimage.php?i=595&c=2

kvidell
July 30th, 2005, 06:02 AM
Well not exactly what id call the ultimate desktop but its a start.

http://ubuntuforums.org/gallery/showimage.php?i=595&c=2
Have you looked at E17? They're doing some very nice things with it.

Next time I do a Linux desktop I'm thinking of running that on it instead of my usual Gnome+OpenBox or standalone FluxBox.

It's a thought.
- Kev

ubuntu_demon
July 30th, 2005, 11:37 AM
Well not exactly what id call the ultimate desktop but its a start.

http://ubuntuforums.org/gallery/showimage.php?i=595&c=2
which icon set is that ?

this is my desktop : http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=277673

I want to make my title bars a little smaller and change my gaim background/font ... I have to look into it.

Omnios
July 30th, 2005, 04:29 PM
The icons are Gartoon you can get in on synaptic
The blue is a chaotic chaotic cotroll theme from gnome.look.
Its a bit tricky to get everything to match though.

Omnios
July 31st, 2005, 05:29 AM
Looking at different desktops and Flubox is definatly one of desktops I have seen on tv but it was a bit dofferent. Seen an amazing screen shot on the forum posted by Seti

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=39412&highlight=fluxbox+screenshot
Flubox looks cool can you spice it up with different menu temp gauges etc?
Anyways I will keep looking out for interesting stuff, when I manage to get my used lap top I will probably try it out on it.

cheers

Omnios
July 31st, 2005, 04:47 PM
Anyone know of a good site on configing and tweeking Fluxbox.

super
August 1st, 2005, 12:34 AM
http://www.boxwhore.org

imo the best place for *box themes, hands down. plus they recently added a forums section that is very helpful. :smile:

Omnios
August 1st, 2005, 12:43 AM
http://www.boxwhore.org

imo the best place for *box themes, hands down. plus they recently added a forums section that is very helpful. :smile:

Thanks!

poofyhairguy
August 1st, 2005, 07:26 PM
After lots of work I finally got my desktop how I want:

Enlightenment 17 running inside of Gnome (instead of Metacity) plus some cool gdesklets. Very futurific....Gnome works pretty good with Enlightenment.

I love the lighting when windows move. Also xcompmgr is more stable with e17 than metacity for me.

ubuntu_demon
August 1st, 2005, 07:36 PM
After lots of work I finally got my desktop how I want:

Enlightenment 17 running inside of Gnome (instead of Metacity) plus some cool gdesklets. Very futurific....Gnome works pretty good with Enlightenment.

I love the lighting when windows move. Also xcompmgr is more stable with e17 than metacity for me.
nice desktop!

But what is the story with the weed and internet explorer icons ? :-D

Brunellus
August 1st, 2005, 07:48 PM
After lots of work I finally got my desktop how I want:

Enlightenment 17 running inside of Gnome (instead of Metacity) plus some cool gdesklets. Very futurific....Gnome works pretty good with Enlightenment.

I love the lighting when windows move. Also xcompmgr is more stable with e17 than metacity for me.

so is there going to be a howto ?

super
August 1st, 2005, 07:58 PM
@poofyhairedguy

looks good! :)
a little different from how i want to make mine but still nice.

what's the deal with the drop shadows? did you turn them off or do they not render in nautilus? i think what i am after is something like my current desktop. (see link in my signature below) but i would like e17 as my WM and desktop. the same gnome-panel at the top and engage at the bottom.

but i would prefer the drop-shadows in e17 over xcompmgr.

i concur withwith the howto idea.

Kvark
August 1st, 2005, 07:59 PM
nice desktop!

But what is the story with the weed and internet explorer icons ? :-D
I think the weed might explain the internet explorer icon.


It would be nice with a howto on that gnome+e17 achivement...

DJ_Max
August 1st, 2005, 08:02 PM
I think the weed might explain the internet explorer icon.

ROFL. I was thinking it....

super
August 1st, 2005, 08:03 PM
way off topic...

but i just reached 100 posts
look out people with 1000+
i'm coming for you :-P

return to topic...

benplaut
August 1st, 2005, 08:06 PM
way off topic...

but i just reached 100 posts
look out people with 1000+
i'm coming for you :-P

return to topic...

congrats :grin:

ubuntu_demon
August 1st, 2005, 08:36 PM
way off topic...

but i just reached 100 posts
look out people with 1000+
i'm coming for you :-P

return to topic...
I challenge you :-P

benplaut
August 1st, 2005, 08:42 PM
I challenge you :-P

:roll:


here's my semi-ultimate desktop (my gpu can't handle xcompmgr)

http://ubuntuforums.org/gallery/showimage.php?i=620

ubuntu_demon
August 1st, 2005, 08:52 PM
:roll:


here's my semi-ultimate desktop (my gpu can't handle xcompmgr)

http://ubuntuforums.org/gallery/showimage.php?i=620
nice!
but the window borders are a bit too blue for me :)

super
August 1st, 2005, 09:03 PM
what is the performance like with xcompmgr?
i just want the dropshadows in GNOME and FVWM, no translucency
i have an Athlon 2400 and a 64mb nvidia card.

i'll post my ultimate desktop next time i log into FVWM.

poofyhairguy
August 1st, 2005, 09:21 PM
nice desktop!

But what is the story with the weed and internet explorer icons ? :-D


Weed icon is dopewars, a fun(ny) game (installed from synaptic). Good way to kill time.

The IE icon is really IE...I like playing with it on Linux because its worst problems (security issues) doesn't matter! Plus my school's website needs it.

poofyhairguy
August 1st, 2005, 09:23 PM
so is there going to be a howto ?

When I work the biggest bugs out of it.

I'm working on it now. As it is Smoon's e17 is kinda broken (I'm using an old version and I don't know how to tell people to do that) so as soon as e17 works easily again I'll release the howto.

I don't want people to hate me.

poofyhairguy
August 1st, 2005, 09:25 PM
what is the performance like with xcompmgr?
i just want the dropshadows in GNOME and FVWM, no translucency
i have an Athlon 2400 and a 64mb nvidia card.

i'll post my ultimate desktop next time i log into FVWM.


Xcompmgr NEEDS an nvidia card and the composite extrension (no 3d anything). And its buggy.

Omnios
August 1st, 2005, 10:10 PM
A tad off topic but does anyone know how to change the screen res in Fluxbox. So far it looks pretty cool and I have seen a few sweet desktops on the web the docapps are amazing. Only thing I dont like is the menu bar one point being it does not have a menu lol. Seems to be a bit easier than I origanly thought though.

Stormy Eyes
August 1st, 2005, 11:01 PM
Here's mine. It's not fancy, but it works. (http://ubuntuforums.org/gallery/showimage.php?i=624&original=1&c=2)

benplaut
August 2nd, 2005, 01:17 AM
It's not as fancy as some, but here is what I am on right now.

http://ubuntuforums.org/gallery/showimage.php?i=623&original=1&c=2

UR 5uc|-| 4 n00b!

7ha7 !5 73h 5u><0r5!


(sorry, i was just so tempted to say that :roll: :grin: )

benplaut
August 2nd, 2005, 06:36 AM
I'm so sorry, I'll remove it immediately.

huh? :?

Omnios
August 3rd, 2005, 07:34 PM
AAARRRrrrrgggggg! Looked at some amazing screenshots of Fluxbox they had amazing in focus and out of focus app transparency amd killer dock app. But I prefear the usability of Xfce as far as the tool bar is concerned. The main thing would that I could load it up with amazing dock apps and eye candy and it would still run on my system.

So far my idea of the of the Ultimate dasktop seems to consist of taking bits and pieces of Fluxbox, Xfce, Gmone and throwing it in a monitor box and stomping on it till it fits. Im stumped, Im not going to bother tweeking gnome as its borderline usable for games as it is.

Think ill go play with fluxbox for a while still have to figure out how to change the dcesktop res.

Stormy Eyes
August 3rd, 2005, 07:43 PM
Think ill go play with fluxbox for a while still have to figure out how to change the dcesktop res.

Read the xrandr man page for info about changing screen resolution on the fly. (http://docs.biostat.wustl.edu/cgi-bin/man2web?program=xrandr&section=1)