Desktop affairs
Posted on 19. Jan, 2007 by dimaks in Technology
For the past 3 months or so, I have been pondering over switching my OS from WinXP to OSS (Open Source Softwares) like fedora or ubuntu for a safer computer working environment. As you may know, around 4 months ago, I suffered this computer bugger which, I don’t know what it’s called, that forcibly hid my windows taskbar and I can’t bring it on again. Thanks to the author of this solution page which made my missing taskbar re-surface again after almost a sweaty afternoon.
But then, my OS migration did not push through due to the fact that I needed to tailor most of my working softwares to OSS environment and that’s a lot of work. Making it dual boot was an option though, but then that defeats the purpose of aiming at a safer computer working environment. In short, I landed at installing AntiVir Guard backed by a couple of anti-spybots/anti-spywares. Also got the mighty (so far) Stinger and Zone Alarm firewall. To date, surfing the net and working with the original WinXP OS has been a breeze.
That fortification done, I decided to soup my desktop a little bit up 
Firstly, I installed a new desktop theme from CrystalXP.net called Crystal Clear. The look was sleek and gives me the feeling that I am working on a Fedora platform, as shown in the snap shot below.
Crystal Clear theme has a dock settings for your basic desktop folders and utilities, including media player and browser. The docked folders and utilities are automatically hidden upon moving your mouse pointer away from it.
This is just another set of option buttons offered by the theme. You can choose which tool to display, refresh icons, access help page or perhaps remove the theme pack.
This is how my start button and program menu look like.
Also, got iTunes re-installed and got those radio streams flowing.
And yes, did you notice that cutie tux, on top of my sidebar? got her from CrystalXP.net edited it and added my wordpress URL. Plus, got myself a mood icon from imood. Lastly, I installed Adobe Photoshop CS2 
Yiiiihaaaaa!
—
Disclaimer:
I am neither recommending the themes from CrystalXP.net nor discouraging you from using them. In case you wish to install one on your desktop, don’t forget to read the compatibility issues stated in the theme provider’s website. Thanks!
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Part-time blogger dimaks is involved in transport planning and research and is into Internet technology, PC games, digital photography, motorcycling and martial arts.. 
verns
Jan 19th, 2007
cool! but like i always say I am an idiot when it comes to the computer and anything related to it so I guess I just have to stick with whatever I have right now
But how I wish I know these things too so that I can somehow personalized my desktop. I love your theme! Is changing my theme gonna affect the others? I just want to change my theme too…something green and cool to the eyes
Wil
Jan 19th, 2007
I also switched from windows xp… except I switched to a mac.
Got tired of all the viruses with windows. Don’t know anything about OSS, so hopefully that works out for you. 
dimaks
Jan 19th, 2007
@verns
..generally, the new theme will just replace the aesthetics of your desktop –folders image, minimize and close buttons, taskbar icons, mouse pointer, animations etc. plus a sleek design and cool-to-the-eyes color scheme.
thanks for the compliment. well, you can always learn about these things ..plus patience of course
@Wil
..i think i will be fine with OSS since I’ve used it for quiet sometime in my office in the Philippines. we use OSS for various applications like Local Area Networking (LAN), internet and database servers, as well as land-based mapping. –thanks for dropping 
wow heavy, mac
tina
Jan 19th, 2007
Wow! It sure does look like its in a Linux Envi. Haha. Nice one. I really like the TUX on your sidebarrrr soooo cuteee!!!
dimaks
Jan 19th, 2007
@tina
Yes, a Linux envi ..not really but at least, it feels like it.
Hmm, i think I can make a tux for those who want it on his/her blog site
since i got the base psd file. i just gotta add each appropriate url.
kathy
Jan 20th, 2007
Kewl. Your desktop looks so sleek! Are you using Japanese or English WinXP?
Prab
Jan 20th, 2007
Good thing you found an alternative to ubuntu. I was literally caught unawares when I found myself back at one of the campus computer areas @ UP. Everything was in ubuntu and I couldn’t navigate around it. I was like, “Where’s my Windows platform?!?!?!”
But yeah, it’s cool, your desktop looks like it’s linux based now. Question though. Doesn’t that eat a lot of memory and hard disk space?
tina
Jan 20th, 2007
buti na lang i saw your reply here! haha. Can i ? I mean the tux in the sidebar? for myyy bloggiee? i like penguins hahaha. lol
herb
Jan 20th, 2007
asteg and cool! gusto ko rin but i’m afraid that it might take up too much space in my HD. adobe family takes up sooooo much HD space. boo.
dimaks
Jan 21st, 2007
@kathy
‘changed the jap WinXP which came with the computer –navigating it takes me too much time since I am not so versatile yet with reading japanese text :p
Right now i’m using english WinXP
@Prab
Haha, i think right now, you can find OSS all over the UP computer areas — considering the UP system’s plight to affordable computing facilities, the campaign towards FOSS (Free Open Source Softwares) is on the height.
I am not so sure with the memory consumption but as I have read in the pack’s documentation, it does not require much. Or maybe my PCs processor and RAM were too good to handle the operation
@tina
Sure no problem.
@herb
Hell yeah, this Adobe PS CS2 is i think too much HD voracious eating creature. I am thinking of removing it and stick to my PS 7.
Elaine
Jan 21st, 2007
It looks good. Yah, that can slow down your comp’s performance but it depends if your RAM can support it (I bet you have gigs of RAM
). Remember I wanted to dual boot my pc, too? Well that was complicated. You have to make partitions and stuff.
Funny. I was listening to a song entitled ‘Tokyo Drift’ and I remembered the ‘Too Fast, Too Furious 2′ movie and then you and then I wondered if you’re in Tokyo…?
dimaks
Jan 21st, 2007
Well a little bit of past the gig ram
so far, no slowing down being felt.
Hmm, partitioning and stuff, yeah i opted to avoid the complexities, hehe. Nope.. was here in Tsukuba, lurking in my laboratory
Elaine
Jan 22nd, 2007
Hahah. Lurking, eh?
