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A Window inside the Linux Desktop

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“ What’ s the difference between a Windows and a Linux?”

That’ s the first question many people may ask while considering the Linux for their desktop. To answer the question, the interface is the difference to a degree where the user can choose a desktop environment of a window manager.

Technically, the desktop environment is the term for typical, full-featured desktop that displays the programs and other features such as app launchers, menu panels and widgets. In Linux, the design is different than Windows basics like app menu, notification bar to window framing programs.

In the i3 window manager, the user can launch a terminal by hitting the window key and enter. The i3 is a tiling window manager that all the windows expand evenly to fit the screen. When a new window pops up, it reduces the existing windows size.

The desktop environment has its pros like rich features, interface, out of box style and a score of codecs and also system notifications. For Linux, XFCE is a good desktop environment that is a much leaner and has much lesser clutter. By downloading the Qt themes, the XFCE has the best desktop environment ever. Perhaps the most noticeable distinction from desktop environments is that window managers generally focus on efficiency by emphasizing mouse movements and keyboard hotkeys to open programs or launchers.

Some of its cons include, it’ s out of box skeleton and the user has to spend time to read the manager’ s documentation for configuration syntax and actually getting the hand of the said syntaxes.

While window managers aren’ t designed for everyone, they offer a distinct experience and Linux is one of the few OS that allows them to work flawlessly.

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Frequently asked questions ( 5 )

Q

What are Linux Distributions or Distros?

A

As I’ve said earlier, Linux is just the Kernel and a Linux Distribution is the complete OS which contains Linux as their Kernel with added programs and other software based on what the OS is targeted towards. Distributions in short, are referred to as Distros.

Q

Which Distro should I install?

A

The large number of Distros may confuse you on what to start with and it’s true that not all distros are suitable for new users. As a general suggestion for new users, choose a distro which is fairly popular because then it’ll be easier to find help when you run into any problem. Two of the most popular Linux distros for both new and experienced users are Ubuntu and Mint. Ubuntu is the more popular one with one of the biggest communities but Mint is a bit more easier, especially for new users.

Q

Can I get GNU/Linux in my own language?

A

Yes. All main distributions, such as the ones we recommend, are all available in the main languages around, and have support for many keyboard types.

Unlike Windows, all languages are included on each installation CD, so there is no need for you to download (or pay for!) another whole version to merely change the language on your computer.

Q

Will Microsoft Office run on GNU/Linux?

A

No. It is technically possible to adapt Microsoft Office to GNU/Linux, but Microsoft isn't keen on allowing Office users to choose their operating system. There are other issues with MS Office and openness — like Microsoft's fierce opposition to supporting the OpenDocument format.

However, a complete, free, reliable office suite exists: LibreOffice. Or you can choose its close cousin, Apache OpenOffice. They will both happily use all your existing office files in MS-Word, MS-Excel, and MS-PowerPoint format, and are really free (both as in freedom and as in price). And they run on Windows as well as on GNU/Linux.

Q

Is macOS a distribution of GNU/Linux?

A

No. There are a few free software components in macOS, and it is technically similar to GNU/Linux systems. But overall, it is proprietary software: all the issues about Windows apply to it as well.

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