GEEKY FUN: Why I Use GNU/Linux.

There are many reasons why I chose to run GNU/Linux over any other operating system out there. Things like security and speed and freedom.

But screw all that – I like being able to make my desktop look like this! (click the pic for a bigger shot)

This is my desktop right now. What you’re looking at is the KDE desktop on a Kanotix machine (Debian based). The widgets on the screen are mostly supplied by an application called Superkaramba.

Along the left side you will see my system log that tells me what’s going on. On top is my netstat which shows me what’s accessing the Internet. Beside that is my weather forecast (hey! I need to know what days are going to be sunny so I can sit on the patio and drink beer) and below that is my system stats like hard disk space, network traffic, and CPU usage.

Along the bottom we have (starting from left to right) the only KDE component that I’ve left showing: the panel which shows what’s running. To the right and up a bit is another Superkaramba widget called Kroller which mimics the Apple’s Aquabar or whatever they’re calling it. This is essentially my start bar.

All of this was done either with Superkaramba or with the standard ‘configure desktop’ type stuff within KDE.

Try THAT with Windows!