Re: Can we make Linux Desktop Enviroment beyond the Desktop Metaphor?

Benjamin wrote:
Can we make Linux Desktop Enviroment beyond the Desktop Metaphor?
Should Linux Desktop Enviroment (e.g.KDE,Gnome,CDE)look like Microsoft
Windows or Mac OSX ?

Do you have any suggestion?

I'm not sure if you can go beyond that metafor. The desktop environment
is not something that was 'just' invented, but it was something that has
evolved according to the needs of the users. A hierarchy on storage was
invented to be able to organize the ever growing amount of data. Unless
there's some alternative to a hierarchy in which you can store massive
amounts of data, you can't exactly go to a different principle, you can
only alter it's appearance slightly, but the storage metaphor remains as
it is. It has evolved from simple byte storage to an abstract interface
in which you traverse though the hierarchy of directories. It's
effective and highly usable.

Windows (and I don't mean the OS) have also evolved according to the
needs of users. Along with the need to be able to have multiple programs
running at once, the need arose to witness multiple outputs at once. So
a division of screen was devised. This resulted in the 'window'. The
window in its current shape is what's most usable for a lot of users.

The menu buttons, taskbar and system tray are also items that evolved
according to the needs of users. When your screen is filled with
window(s) you still want easy access to open other programs, without
having to minimize the output you have. So a always on top menu was
invented. Same with the clock, people want easy access to tell time.
And ofc, people want to see what programs are currently running.
The taskbar is a funny thing, windows has a bar with currently running
tabs on it. MacOS has a drop-down menu with all running programs and
linux can have either way. Still different ways to implement the same
things.

But in essence, all dekstop environments are the same. Not because they
are just copying from eachother, but rather because how it's evolved
according to the needs of the user. So if you can implement something
that still fulfills all the needs, it will work. But if you create
something that does not map with the needs of the user, it's useless.

In short: No, I don't think we can make the Linux Desktop Environment
beyond the desktop metaphor. Mainly because it's already how we want it
to be. I myself would not want a different interface, not just because
I'm used to it, but rather because I can't think of other ways to do the
same things with the same efficiency.
Sure, I could think of a different way to start programs without the use
of menus, but it would not be as efficient. The desktop environments are
constantly changing, but not in essence. They are constantly evolving
into a more definite form. And it's funny to see how all of them are
evolving to eachother.
.

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