Welcome to Gaia! ::

Okay, I confess. I'm only a quasi-nerd. The only claim to geekdom I really have is that I'm a Linux user (Debian Sid), and perhaps that I go through sporadic, addictive, week-long phases of playing Eternal Lands (currently taking a break from it, but if you like an MMORPG that you can play at your own pace, give it a try).

Otherwise, I'm just just your average, boring stay-at-home mom.

Still, I figured I'd start the obligatory "what flavor's your operating system/show us your desktop" thread.

(It also doubles as an introduction. O_O )

Why?

Because this is Gaia. And you are geeks. And I like gold.

Some of the best programs are only out for Windows. SO ill take windows, thanks. >_>

Not to mention gaming.

As you can see from this screenshot and the fact that it's date is really old; I'm a linux user XP (yes that's right; I can't be bothered to go through the long process of print screen, taking it from my clipboard; pasting it into KWord and then saving it. Far too long) And of course I am an obcesser of having more than one desktop; so I have five. Not really much point since I don't have the new features on my Suse; but still...I like having lots of Muse-Matt photos pasted around 3nodding

Oh and yeah; I use KDE 3.4 too...A little out of date...I need to get the new version of Suse or something...Perhaps I'll wander over to KDElook and get a new change of icons... rolleyes

You know I've always thought about moving to mandriva...but...meh. I like my whole way of things now 3nodding Although I wouldn't mind having some kind of windows partition...just so I could use all of my old art software...but then again...I kind of hate windows now rofl too slow... cry

eek How can you hate it? rofl honestly...it's so amazing; you can do so much with it. What do you hate about it?

Again, it's a matter of opinion. You use what operating system suits your needs best. I have a number of reasons for liking Linux. My hubby wouldn't touch Linux with a ten foot pole, and, after much arguing on my part, I've learned to accept that.

For me, first off, everything I've ever been able to do in Windows, I can do just as easily in Linux. Though that, in itself, is not necessarily a reason to use Linux (after all, you could just as easily respond "Well, then, why not use Windows?"), I believe it's what Linux does in addition to those things that makes it a great choice for me.

I like Linux because I don't have to deal with Windows' inherently self-destructive file system. There's no cryptic registry at the core of Linux; it's all just clean text files in plain view (if you want them to be). I've not rebooted my computer in over a month, and it's not slowed down a bit since. I've not had the urge to defrag my hard drive in over a year. It's just not necessary in Linux.

Back when I was a Windows user, I was pretty diligent about spyware and the sort of clutter that accumulates from daily web-surfing and installing/unistalling software of every variety. I'd scrub my registry on a weekly basis, run Adaware almost daily. Still, there was no way to keep things completely clean. Sooner or later, I'd begin craving a fresh re-install. And, sure, a fresh install of Windows is yummy, but it only lasts so long.

If you're organized about the way you do things, that fresh feeling is forever in Linux.

Also, I'm a low-income parent. But, I want a snazzy, fairly-modern, full featured machine to play on when I'm not playing "chase down the screaming baby" . It's far cheaper to have exactly what I want running Linux than it is to fork over some $200 for the latest incarnation of Windows every couple of years or so.

Yes, I do pay for some proprietary software when I feel it's a good enough cause to donate to, but, the point is I don't ever have to, and I can make my choices legally (you wouldn't believe how much pirated software I was running when I was a Windows user). There are amazing, free, open-source alternatives to just about anything you can dream of on this end of the operating system spectrum.

(Operating system spectrum? No, that's not quite right. I don't think you can really call it that. Meh.)

Still, I'm biased. Most Linux users are. We're usually passionate about what we put on our computers. Maybe that's another reason why we end up using Linux - sure, we could be using Windows or a Mac, but Linux has that adventurous, eclectic, fringe-dwelling underdog aura that just caters to some people. It's somehow a little less soul-less than Windows; at its core beats the heart of a subculture, full of legend and myth.

And, as a Windows or Mac user, you have as much right to be biased toward your operating system as we do.

So, it's all good.

heart

I've got an extra 40gb hard drive that I keep reserved for backing things up on, and yet, never touch it. I never seem to find an appropriate opportunity to get a backup going. I should though. I'm kind of curious about the SimplyMepis 6.0 release that's coming up here soon.

As for the photos, why not stick 'em all in one directory and then set Kscreensaver's slide show to cycle through them? ^_^ That'd be one heck of a screensaver to watch!

(Of course, if I pulled something like that, Hubby'd end up traumatized for weeks.)

For an Apple look, I usually go with the Baghira style/decorations, and the OS-L iconset, both available on KDE-Look.

Haa...moving Matt. whee

Yeah; I've just been changing my task bars and things yesterday...just need some shiny 'chrome' icons. As for backing things up...I also have a 40gb hd. But It won't work on my computer for some odd reason...ever since I moved to Linux it just wont work...and since I can't back anything up; I don't want to chance losing everything XP