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Nine Rules for Designing a Linux Desktop By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published February 7, 2012 The Linux user revolts of recent times could be avoided by following these guidelines. The Dilemma of the Linux Desktop By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published January 31, 2012 Between Ubuntu's Unity and Linux Mint's Cinnamon, we have a snapshot of the Linux desktop in crisis. KDE vs. Windows 7 By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published January 23, 2012 Can a free Linux desktop actually rival Windows 7? The Fragmentation of the Linux Desktop By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published January 17, 2012 Dissatisfaction with Unity and GNOME, among other factors, is wreaking havoc on the Linux desktop. The Mystery of KDE Activities By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published January 11, 2012 Activities are one of KDE's best features. So why do so many users know nothing about them? Nine Open Source Discoveries I Made in 2011 By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published December 19, 2011 A Linux pundit discusses the choice open source software and solutions he started using this past year. 2011: The Year of Linux Disappointments By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published December 13, 2011 As years go, 2011 was a kidney stone of a year for free and open source software. KDE Widgets: Why They Matter By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published December 6, 2011 KDE offers a broad array of widgets to make your daily work easier and faster. Is Linux Mint an Ubuntu-Killer? By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published December 1, 2011 User traffic and key design changes suggest that Mint is a serious challenger to the King of Linux. 7 Reasons Why Free Software Is Losing Influence By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published November 22, 2011 Why are free software ideals less popular than they were five years ago? The answer's complicated and perhaps a bit controversial. KDE vs. Trinity: Is One Really Better? By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published November 15, 2011 How does KDE 4 compare with Trinity, the fork based on KDE 3? The advantages are not as one-side as you might think. GNOME vs. KDE vs. Unity: Performing Seven Basic Tasks By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published November 8, 2011 How do the top Linux desktops compare when you're doing basic tasks? The answers may surprise you. Is the Linux Desktop Dead? By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published November 1, 2011 The increased importance of mobile computing raises questions about the Linux desktop's future. Judging Ubuntu: Failures and Successes By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published October 25, 2011 On Ubuntu's seventh anniversary, the dominant Linux distribution has a mixed record. Which Ubuntu Variant is Right For You? By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published October 18, 2011 Ubuntu variants allow you to remain within Ubuntu while finding the exact options and sub-community you prefer. KDE's 'Plasma Active' Tops GNOME 3 and Unity By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published October 11, 2011 Designed for touch screen tablets, KDE's Plasma Active is clearly superior to its rivals. GNOME 3.2: Tactical Brilliance and Strategic Stubbornness By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published October 5, 2011 It's unclear whether GNOME 3.2 will be enough to reconcile users alienated by GNOME 3.0. Who Will Lead Free Software in the Future? By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published September 27, 2011 After Richard Stallman, three individuals appear the most likely candidates. Windows 8, Metro, and the Linux Desktop By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published September 20, 2011 Windows 8's Metro could indicate an unfortunate direction in the future of the Linux desktop. Ubuntu 11.10 Beta and Unity: Mixed Verdict By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published September 13, 2011 With the beta release, we can start to judge Unity as a mature product -- and the verdict is decidedly mixed. Eight Complaints About the Linux Desktop By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published September 8, 2011 The Linux desktop is like a colony that has gained independence yet still thinks that everything is done better in the mother country. Linus Torvalds and Others on Community Burnout By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published August 30, 2011 Open source developers talk about the stress of coding in the Linux world. What GNOME Can Learn from KDE's Recovery By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published August 23, 2011 KDE made a course correction after a user revolt. Will GNOME show the same ability to learn from mistakes? The GNOME 3 Meltdown By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published August 16, 2011 Is there hope for GNOME 3 in the face of a largely negative user response? Seven Concerns on the Linux Desktop By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published August 9, 2011 After years of trying to match proprietary desktops, the Linux desktop has yet to find a new destination -- or even a compass point. In Defense of Internet Anonymity -- Again By Bruce Byfield | Security Article Published August 2, 2011 In contrast with the Linux community's emphasis on user's rights, Facebook, Google+ and many companies work to limit the protection of user anonymity. Who’s right? GNOME vs. KDE vs. Unity: Customization Tools and Ease of Use By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published July 26, 2011 Which of the three major Linux desktops offers the most customization tools, and which tools are easiest to use? KDE 4.7: Long-Term Vision, Ongoing Myopia By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published July 19, 2011 The problems in the 4.7 release reveal that KDE is making little movement toward solutions. Choosing the Best Linux Desktop: KDE, Unity, GNOME By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published July 13, 2011 Pros and cons of the KDE, Unity, GNOME 2, and GNOME 3 Linux desktops. Tech Pundits Surrender: The Retreat from Free Software and Open Standards By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published July 5, 2011 Tech pundits galore are claiming that proprietary software choices are all that users will ever need. Really? GNOME vs. KDE Apps: Which Are Best For You? By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published June 21, 2011 A comparison between KDE and GNOME apps for IM, document handling, email clients and more. GNOME, KDE and Unity: Virtual Desktops By Bruce Byfield | Open Source Article Published June 8, 2011 The virtual desktops in KDE, GNOME and Unity differ dramatically from one another. Arguments Over the Future of OpenOffice.org By Bruce Byfield | Article Published June 2, 2011 What will become of the popular open source office suite? Ubuntu Unity, GNOME 3: The Video Driver March of Folly By Bruce Byfield | Article Published May 24, 2011 Leading Linux desktops now require hardware acceleration, posing a potential problem for Linux’s continued growth. Other Linux Distros' View of Ubuntu's Unity: It Ain't Pretty By Bruce Byfield | Article Published May 17, 2011 Many Linux developers are surprisingly lukewarm about Unity, which may create a major challenge for Ubuntu. Are Usability Studies Hurting the Free Desktop? By Bruce Byfield | Article Published May 10, 2011 Interface problems with KDE, GNOME and Ubuntu suggest that the Linux desktop may be headed in the wrong direction. Ubuntu 11.04, Natty Narwhal: Successes and Failures By Bruce Byfield | Article Published May 3, 2011 Ubuntu’s latest Linux desktop release is an ambitious effort, though not an unqualified success. GNOME 3: Seven Pros and Cons By Bruce Byfield | Article Published April 26, 2011 The GNOME Linux desktop has major pluses and drawbacks, making the decision to adopt it a tough one. Seven Alternatives to GNOME 3 By Bruce Byfield | Article Published April 19, 2011 If the Linux destkop’s new version isn’t right for you, your options are numerous. Ubuntu Unity vs. GNOME 3: Which is Better? By Bruce Byfield | Article Published April 12, 2011 Both Linux desktops were designed with usability in mind, yet one seems to have a slight edge. GNOME vs. KDE: The Latest Round By Bruce Byfield | Article Published April 5, 2011 Both GNOME and KDE Linux desktops have versions that are radically different from those each had a few years ago. Will GNOME 3.0 Repeat the User Revolt of KDE 4.0? By Bruce Byfield | Article Published March 22, 2011 GNOME 3.0 is a release that will please developers and frustrate many users. Will Microsoft's 'Make Web Not War' Attract Open Source Developers? By Bruce Byfield | Article Published March 14, 2011 Microsoft is nurturing a partnership with open source developers, a move that ‘s producing a mixed response. Linux Leaders, Part II: Fedora and Red Hat Derivative Distros By Bruce Byfield | Article Published March 8, 2011 Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux distributions are the source of myriad distros, geared for a remarkable array of purposes. Linux Leaders: Debian and Ubuntu Derivative Distros By Bruce Byfield | Article Published March 3, 2011 Ubuntu and Debian have enormous influence in the Linux world due to the many distributions based on them. Jono Bacon Defends Ubuntu: An Insider's Perspective By Bruce Byfield | Article Published February 28, 2011 Ubuntu's community manager responds to a recent Datamation article that sparked widespread discussion. Ubuntu: Where Did the Love Go? By Bruce Byfield | Article Published February 22, 2011 Once the darling of the open source crowd, Ubuntu is now increasingly criticized. Nine Current Flame Wars in Open Source By Bruce Byfield | Article Published February 16, 2011 Want to pick an argument about Linux? You’ve got a lot of choices. Ada Initiative Supports Women in Open Source, Counters Sexism By Bruce Byfield | Article Published February 8, 2011 A new non-profit launches to combat what’s sometimes called open source’s dirty little secret. OpenOffice.org vs. LibreOffice By Bruce Byfield | Article Published February 3, 2011 LibreOffice.org’s new release includes many more features than OpenOffice.org's, including better Microsoft Office compatibility. Debian 6.0: Stability and Power to the People By Bruce Byfield | Article Published January 31, 2011 The Debian 6.0 relase puts to rest one longstanding myth while perpetuating another. Eight Completely Free Linux Distros (And One More) By Bruce Byfield | Article Published January 25, 2011 Linux distributions that are completely free of proprietary software are a true rarity. Forget GNOME and KDE, Xfce 4.8 Runs Simpler and Faster By Bruce Byfield | Article Published January 19, 2011 The latest version of Linux desktop Xfce 4.8 balances speed and convenience. Ubuntu's Unity Desktop: Tragically Ironic Product Name By Bruce Byfield | Article Published January 11, 2011 Ubuntu’s move to use Unity instead of the GNOME shell of previous releases is sparking discord. FOSS, Business, and Psychopathy By Bruce Byfield | Article Published January 4, 2011 Corporations are leaders in developing open source software, yet a Groklaw editorial reveals that the community has scant understanding of corporate politics. 9 Free and Open Source Software Stories to Watch in 2011 By Bruce Byfield | Article Published December 28, 2010 From Gnome 3.0 to Chrome OS to Wikileaks, the year ahead should prove interesting for Linux and open source. 2010: The Year in Free and Open Source Software By Bruce Byfield | Article Published December 21, 2010 Linux and open source software saw gains this year, yet also saw a trend that may prove a serious reversal. Chrome OS: Please Don't Open the Hood By Bruce Byfield | Article Published December 14, 2010 In theory, Chrome OS is open source, yet in practice it appears closer to proprietary software. KDE 4.6 Beta: Finding New Directions By Bruce Byfield | Article Published December 8, 2010 KDE 4.6 falls short of the dramatic changes of early KDE 4 releases, yet it lays the groundwork for the desktop’s future development. 9 Linux Desktops for Netbooks By Bruce Byfield | Article Published December 2, 2010 Netbooks have substantially expanded the options for Linux desktops. Seven Improvements Needed in KDE By Bruce Byfield | Article Published November 29, 2010 The KDE desktop has come a long way in the last two years, yet still requires some fixes to be its best. Is Mobile Making Linux Menus Obsolete? By Bruce Byfield | Article Published November 23, 2010 Usability experts may be trying to fix something that isn’t actually broken. LibreOffice Rethinks the Office Suite By Bruce Byfield | Article Published November 16, 2010 OpenOffice and LibreOffice could diverge more quickly than most observers imagined. Aerodynamic Elephants and Free Software Without Freedom By Bruce Byfield | Article Published November 10, 2010 A response to those critics who suggest that open source software needs to become more like proprietary software. Fedora 14 vs. Ubuntu Maverick: Distinct Differences By Bruce Byfield | Article Published November 2, 2010 Ubuntu is not only more commercial, it assumes that users are content to work as the software dictates. OpenOffice.org and the Unnecessary Ultimatum By Bruce Byfield | Article Published October 26, 2010 A dispute within the OpenOffice leadership team concerning support of The Document Foundation is causing a great internal rift. Ubuntu Netbook 10.10: Usability vs. Constraints By Bruce Byfield | Article Published October 20, 2010 Your comfort with the Ubuntu Netbook depends on whether your work habits conform to the assumptions built into the design. KDE 4 vs. GNOME 3: An Early Comparison By Bruce Byfield | Article Published October 12, 2010 The KDE 4 and GNOME 3 comparison is preliminary, yet it appears choices for Linux users are set to change dramatically. Ubuntu's Real Contribution to Free Software By Bruce Byfield | Article Published October 5, 2010 Often overpraised or falsely criticized, Ubuntu’s most significant contribution to open source is often overlooked. How will GNOME 3.0 be Received? By Bruce Byfield | Article Published September 28, 2010 Based on the preview of GNOME 3.0, the Linux desktop release may encounter some significant user resistance. Ubuntu, Canonical Wallow in Muddy Waters with Contributors' Agreements By Bruce Byfield | Article Published September 21, 2010 The Canonical Contributor Agreement is riddled with potential difficulties, causing concern among various parties. Choice is Messy (Free Software Likes It That Way) By Bruce Byfield | Article Published September 15, 2010 Once again we hear calls to better organize Linux software, yet once again they fall on deaf ears. KDE and the Expansion of the Desktop By Bruce Byfield | Article Published September 9, 2010 New KDE features are designed to make desktop icons more efficient and reduce the clutter when using multiple windows. 7 Things You Can Do in KDE, But Not in Windows By Bruce Byfield | Article Published September 2, 2010 Some of these features are not unique to the KDE Linux desktop. Ubuntu 10.10 Alpha: Slouching Toward Ubuntu GNOME By Bruce Byfield | Article Published August 25, 2010 The upcoming changes in Ubuntu GNOME inspire mixed feelings in many Linux users. |
