Linux.com takes a look at gOS. They conclude: “I really liked gOS. It’s a cute little system with lots of functionality and great looks. It works well and is fast and stable on my laptop. It should work on any computer that any other Linux supports. Enlightenment is an impressive desktop environment, and the iBar is a low-overhead way to blend cool effects with needed functionality. I think users will like it.”
http://www.thecodingstudio.com/opensource/linux/screenshots/index.p…
a linux review without screenshots! a breath of fresh air in some ways 🙂
Aww, come on, people love eye candy and you know it. People want to see what makes it different.
I checked out the screenshots and I saw Enlightenment running with a green theme with a Debian base of applications. In the corner there is a Google search widget. Your typical Mac clone dock launcher (iBar) for applications. The Google application icons open the browser and load the correct URL, simply revolutionary.
“Your typical Mac clone dock launcher (iBar) for applications. ”
I don’t get why people say such a thing , GNU/Linux as had launcher bar for application on it’s desktop long before Mac OS X came out in 2001 and they had them before Next too …
That’s why Apple enforce it’s theme but don’t have a patent on dock launcher bar.
No.
Dock != launch bar. Thom has a nice article about the topic: http://www4.osnews.com/story/18941/Common_Usability_Terms_pt._VI:_t…
“No.”
Your saying NO , that Apple was the first to have it and yet you point to an article that say otherwise …
The answer is yes … Apple was not the first and yes it had been for almost a decade in GNU/Linux.
Linux wasn’t even around when Next first released their OS.
UNIX is 1960’s
BSD is 1970-74
GNU is 1983
Next is 1985
Risc OS Arthur 1987
Linux is 1990 ( Complete failure , nobody use it anymore )
GNU/Linux 1991
OpenStep is 1993
>> Enlightenment is 1996 <<
Next acquisition by Apple is 1996
Mac OS classic integrate some of Next in 1998
Mac OS X is 2001 …
I don’t get why people say such a thing , GNU/Linux as had launcher bar for application on it’s desktop long before Mac OS X came out in 2001 and they had them before Next too …
You do understand that people say such a thing because the Mac dock is on EVERY Mac OSX installation by default whereas under Linux it sure is possible to add one…but is it default? Nope. The dock defines OSX whereas that doesn’t fit with Linux. That’s the reason people say such things. It has nothing to do with who invented it. Just think about the sentence “a flag with stripes and lots of stars”…What does that remind you of? Most likely the flag of the United States. Why? Because that’s the most well-known example of such a flag even though there probably has been hundreds of flags that fit that definition long before.
“You do understand that people say such a thing because”
I disagree completely with your comment …
“whereas under Linux it sure is possible to add one…but is it default? Nope.”
False , it’s default … It’s not setup like Apple own version all the time do.
“The dock defines OSX whereas that doesn’t fit with Linux. ”
The Dock don’t define anything … Yes it fit in GNU/Linux otherwise it would not be included or working …
“That’s the reason people say such things.”
No , it’s due to lack of knowledge on the subject they discuss. They discuss what they know , most of the time they don’t know better or other options or history.
“It has nothing to do with who invented it.”
It is a deformation of reality tru false publicity , myth and urban legend.
“a flag with stripes and lots of stars”
You just described most recent country flags …
“What does that remind you of?”
Nothing in particular … It’s missing colors for defining …
“Most likely the flag of the United States. ”
If you got limited education on flags , and live in the US , probably … otherwise without colors depending on the location of the individual asked you will get a lot of answers …
“Because that’s … long before.”
No that’s because in the US there are normally no other options , due to lack of education … Otherwise change the country and the origin of the people asked and you got a broader range of answers.
I never bought into the idea that because idiot say it in such a way your suppose to say it is such. I said what I had to say , feel free to lie to yourself in disagreement if you want.
Wtf are you even talking about? :O
First of all: False , it’s default … It’s not setup like Apple own version all the time do.
Which distros do ship with a dock by default? Dock is not the same thing as the panel on top or bottom of the screen..gOS sure does ship with a dock, but is it the default in Fedora? SuSE? Ubuntu? PCLOS? Heck, is it by default on ANY of the big Linux distros? Nope.
Second: “The dock defines OSX whereas that doesn’t fit with Linux. ”
The Dock don’t define anything … Yes it fit in GNU/Linux otherwise it would not be included or working …
I wasn’t talking about docks working or not under Linux, I said OSX is defined by it’s dock and Linux isn’t.
“It has nothing to do with who invented it.”
It is a deformation of reality tru false publicity , myth and urban legend.
The original poster never claimed Apple has invented the idea of a dock. As such, he/she was never lying or spreading any sort of false publicity.
“a flag with stripes and lots of stars”
You just described most recent country flags …
“What does that remind you of?”
Nothing in particular … It’s missing colors for defining …
“Recent” means something that has happened/been not long ago. It doesn’t mean a quantity.. And heck, I didn’t mention any colors or further details exactly because I was trying to make a point that when someone knows only part of the details he/she will of course talk about those and not give a specific description of the subject at hand..You completely misunderstood the whole point behind my whole post >_<
“Most likely the flag of the United States. ”
If you got limited education on flags , and live in the US , probably … otherwise without colors depending on the location of the individual asked you will get a lot of answers …
I happen to live in Finland and when I think about a flag with lots of stars and stripes the US flag is the first one to come to my mind.
“Because that’s … long before.”
No that’s because in the US there are normally no other options , due to lack of education … Otherwise change the country and the origin of the people asked and you got a broader range of answers.
Again..I said that’s THE MOST WELL-KNOWN ONE! Atleast around here! And I never said it’s the only flag matching that description… Please try to read other people’s posts BEFORE you post… -.-
I never bought into the idea that because idiot say it in such a way your suppose to say it is such
Oh, and you should watch your language.. Calling someone an idiot is against this site’s rules, especially when you don’t even know the other person.
Interesting , I called you an idiot ? Please point to where I said WereCatf is an idiot , and believe me if I felt like insulting you , you would know it.
You said Mac OS X is defined by it’s dock , I clearly replied it’s not. and that All GNU/Linux distribution ship with dock.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dock_(computing)
“The Dock is a graphical user interface feature used to launch applications and switch between running applications. ”
go at the bottom :
See also
* Taskbar
* Gnome-panel
* Kicker (KDE)
* Avant Window Navigator (GNOME)
http://xwinman.org/
They all have docks …
Now we established you where wrong … Let’s also remember that The theming ( art of making a theme for something ) of BSD , GNU/Linux and Windows have for first theme made the same dock as Apple and is a favorite amongst many people.
Your also lying to your self :
http://www.osnews.com/permalink.php?news_id=18944&comment_id=285114
“Just think about the sentence “a flag with stripes and lots of stars”…What does that remind you of? Most likely the flag of the United States. ”
Thats your own word , you did not ask in your question what’s the most well-known example of such a flag. But you concluded that with so few information EVERYONE would answer the US flag :
“Why? Because that’s the most well-known example of such a flag even though there probably has been hundreds of flags that fit that definition long before.”
I disagree completely and said why.
Also I replied to :
http://www.osnews.com/permalink.php?news_id=18944&comment_id=285017
“Your typical Mac clone dock launcher (iBar) for applications. ”
Witch you apparently consider :
“The original poster never claimed Apple has invented the idea of a dock. As such, he/she was never lying or spreading any sort of false publicity. ”
Wrong again …
gOS is doing something different and no GNU/Linux did not copy the dock we had something similar decade before Mac and Apple did.
You disagree with reality fine by me .. I already said I disagree with you.
So, we all are wrong just because you say so. Be careful not to fall from your own ego man, you can get hurt.
A taskbar allows you to switch between opened and/or minimized applications. That’s not a dock, it’s a… taskbar. The gnome-panel allows you to include both app launchers and a taskbar. That’s not the same as a dock. Kicker is an application/document menu, it’s not a dock.
AWN is a dock but:
1) it’s not included in any desktop environment by default
2) it’s a fairly new project, it hasn’t been here “for years”
The fact that a dock can launch apps and switch betweeen opened ones doesn’t mean that every other system or GUI feature that performs the same functions is in fact a dock.
And please, learn how to use Wikipedia. The “See also” sections are used to point the reader to more related information, not necessarily about the very same topic the article is discussing. For that matter see the “See also” section you just posted and tell me if “Address book”, “Automator” and “Calculator” are docks aswell.
” we all are wrong just because you say so.”
No , your wrong because you are opposing me personally and not refuting the point I made and I offered real example backed with current and actual and factual information , you offered nothing , hence your not proving me as wrong.
“Be careful not to fall from your own ego man”
My ego don’t come into play here , I just stated that Apple was not the creator or first to have dock and that GNU/Linux had them long before they did. I also offered factual and accurate reference on the subject.
“you can get hurt.”
How could I get hurt from stating the truth about something on a written forum ?
“A taskbar allows you to switch between opened and/or minimized applications. That’s not a dock, it’s a… taskbar. ”
reality , Wikipedia and me disagree with you …
“The gnome-panel allows you to include both app launchers and a taskbar. That’s not the same as a dock.”
reality , Wikipedia and me disagree with you …
“Kicker is an application/document menu, it’s not a dock. ”
reality , Wikipedia and me disagree with you …
“AWN is a dock but:”
I have no idea what your AWN here refer to …
“The fact that a dock can launch … the same functions is in fact a dock.”
If it’s a dock it’s not a dock if YOU say it’s not a dock … Sorry If it as the functionality of a dock and act in the same way , it can be called a dock. Your approval is not required at all …
“And please, learn how to use Wikipedia. ”
I am not the one who as problem with Wikipedia here …
“The “See also” sections are used to point the reader to more related information, ”
Yes …
“not necessarily about the very same topic the article is discussing.”
That’s where you wrong … If it’s related but not similar it would say related to : …
“For that matter see the “See also” section you just posted and tell me if “Address book”, “Automator” and “Calculator” are docks aswell.”
The Mac OS X box template is not part of the see also section :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Mac_OS_X
docks is in the Technology & User interface category of that box template …
Please, read the Wikipedia article you posted to show us how wrong we are and you will find out what AWN is. FYI, AWN stands for Avant Window Navigator; it should be easy to find on that Wikipedia page. I won’t keep on discussing when it’s obvious that you’re not really understanding what others have to say nor even the articles you quote for that matter.
BTW, chopping my sentences to keep them out of context is just plain childish.
Have a nice day.
“read the Wikipedia article you posted to show us how wrong we are and you will find out what AWN is”
No AWN found …
“AWN stands for Avant Window Navigator”
Now you make sense …
“it should be easy to find on that Wikipedia page.”
Screenshot box … “Comparison of docks in Avant Window Navigator on Linux, Mac OS X Leopard, and Sun’s Project Looking Glass”
“I won’t keep on … quote for that matter.”
What’s obvious , is your thinking it’s a discussion …
It’s not , just replying that you are wrong and showing why you are.
“the articles you quote for that matter.”
It’s not an article , it’s an on-line encyclopedia page …
“BTW, chopping my sentences to keep them out of context”
I am not chopping your sentence just reducing there footprint.
“is just plain childish.”
That would be your attitude that is childish …
“Have a nice day.”
You too.
Next came out in 1988 and had a dock, the Amiga had a shareware or public domain version. Linux didn’t even had a working GUI in those days… A bit strange because X appears to be from the stoneage.
Linux Did not Exist in 1988. Linux became publicly available 1991 Aug 29.
http://www.linux.org/people/linus_post.html
Not only that, but Linux is a kernel … it doesn’t have a GUI or a desktop even to this day.
No free software desktop was available until about 1997 with GNOME, according to GNU history:
http://www.gnu.org/gnu/thegnuproject.html
Read the section about “Non-free libraries”.
KDE disn’t become free software (because of its Qt dependency) until about 2000.
well damn, makes me want to install Enlightenment on my box here and have a play around
this is a web terminal in a can in many ways, but imo thats perfect for many people. that and a game console and they should be covered.
and if they want to do video, audio or photo editing in a semi-pro way, they could just as well get a mac…
This release is perty and lightweight. I wish they would make more at Wal-Mart! I would totally pick one up.
I downloaded the ISO and I played with gOS on a virtual box. I like it a lot and the Walmart pc seems to be one of the first successful Linux machine for the masses …
I have to say it looks good, but it’s not for me, I prefer desktop applications. The exception is Gmail, but I don’t use Google Docs, Facebook and all that stuff. I’m an old pop.
I’m not sure why you are getting modded down, you have an opinion based on your personal preference and that’s fine. It’s not for me either; I tried it out as a live CD and honestly there’s nothing there that can’t be done with Ubuntu, E17 and a few hours of tweaking.
It’s nice to know that there is a company trying to bring Linux to the masses, and for that I am excited about this project. gOS won’t be the OS of choice for me personally, though I can see it being popular with “switchers” just as Ubuntu has been. This would also be an excellent child’s computer, since it won’t get infected with crapware and is simple and pleasing to the eye.
An that, my friend, is the whole point: this doesn’t require a few hours of tweaking
Besides gmail, I don’t really use many online apps, but this computer delivers what promises: an affordable and easy to use internet-ready system for everyone.
And Joe User was probably being modded down mostly because two reasons:
1) You don’t have to digg much OSNews to see that he tends to participate a bit too much on linux-related threads, ever after saying a gazillion times how happy he is with windows and how far we are from a desktop-ready GNU/Linux.
2) Most linux fanboys will just mod him down for the avatar.
Granted, those are two really stupid reasons to mod someone down, but you get used after spending some time here. Heck, I’m probably going to be modded down just for saying “fanboys”
Well I’ve been around OSNews for quite some time, long before the rating system and threaded discussions actually, but I don’t let someone’s past actions dictate how I feel about a particular post in a particular thread. He made a valid point and I qualified it.
And you’re right, gOS does what it does so you don’t have to with Ubuntu or any other base distro, and that is one of the beauties of open source software. As I said I salute their efforts to bring Linux into the mainstream. I think it’s a perfect OS for that goal; the only thing better in my mind will be when Haiku finally has a release.
And Joe User was probably being modded down mostly because two reasons
Partly for the first reason, but because I have a strong opinion and as I tend to disagree with all Linux zealots who don’t accept that you point out Linux shortcomings, I am now modded down to -1 as default by the OSNews system. Every message I send is modded to -1 right away by default. That’s alright, I’ll continue to say that Linux is nowhere close to perfection.
This has the potential to be the Internet OS for the masses !
Consumer require an easy to learn, user friendly OS to get on the Net that supports all the web standards
If gOS can deliver on that, it will have a bright future
I wanted to try this little distro, just for the fun and beeing curious of this E desktop…
I was really disappointed.
– the french azerty layout keyboad wasn’t configured even after beeing selected in the boot sequence
– I found the Desktop…ugly… (Nvidia 1027*768) on my laptop.
The overall feeling is an “playmobyl-playschool” desktop…
Then I put an elive livecdrom and booted on it and had a nice E17 experience.
The Google web applications that gOS launches open in Firefox while the desktop search function opens in Mozilla Prism. Prism is a ‘distraction free’ browser, in other words, a simple HTML rendering window. I use it to open Gmail and Google Calendar. It uses about 28 MB running under XFCE. You can try out Prism here:
http://wiki.mozilla.org/WebRunner
You have to remember that gOS is still alpha software. The developers are hard at work, and are very receptive to the user’s reponse so far, and are working hard on getting things perfected in the next release. I’ve been playing around with the gOS, first under an existing Ubuntu installation, and then I installed the actual gOS on another system. I had a much better experience installing it on a pre-existing Ubuntu installation. There is still work to be done, and I think the biggest thing would be to work on a file manager that doesn’t crash constantly. I found the default file manager unusable, and whenever I browse my mp3 collection or pictures folder, the folder would close. I installed Thunar, and it worked a lot better. Copy and paste is another area that needs work as well.
I don’t know why everyone is making such a big to do about gOS. It’s just another Ubuntu distribution all dressed up in Google goodness. And, it’s green. Besides being slightly innovative by using Google’s myriad of online applications as system defaults and being on an ultra cheap Wal-Mart PC, there’s not a lot about it that’s exciting. Maybe people are working themselves into a tizzy because they believe that Google is about to mount a challenge against Microsoft. I doubt it. Google is already an active contributer to open source and its online applications and tools have been around for awhile now already. This is nothing more than a prettier, lighter Ubuntu. Am I missing something?
If it were interested, by now, Google would have bought Ubuntu. No doubt about it.
Why would Google buy Canonical (I assume that’s what you meant)? The code is freely available, they can fork it or any other distro and create one of their own if they so choose.
FWIW, Google does use Linux for thier own operations. Rather high profile company to be trusting their data to an unfinished, inferior quality system.
http://www.techworld.com/opsys/features/index.cfm?featureid=467
“Google has its own GFS – Google File System… It has implemented this on several very large clusters of Linux machines spread across the globe in data centres.”
Edited 2007-11-21 03:29