5 ms·

I don't see at all why you're saying it's not a desktop setup. It's obviously a workstation computer with media capabilities. The word desktop implies pretty mu

by dmos62 8y ago

I don't see at all why you're saying it's not a desktop setup. It's obviously a workstation computer with media capabilities. The word desktop implies pretty much that. In contrast to desktop, there are portable computers and servers. Today the difference between portable and desktop amounts to just additional power management tools, so it's pretty much the same. So there's just workstation and server, ignoring Androids, Google Chrome laptops, etc. This is certainly not a server. As to the content itself, the insights, configs and tools listed are great. My setups have very similar objectives, but solving a lot of these mundane problems can mean days, so I'm definitely saving this for later.

PurpleRamen 8y ago
> It's obviously a workstation computer with media capabilities. The word desktop implies pretty much that. What? No. A desktop is a computer sitting on the top of your desk. And on the software-side there is the Desktop Metaphor, which describes an interface that behaves like the top of your desk, with free arrangement of all meaning of your work. This article on the other side describes a workspace with multiple machines and mostly no free arrangement of work-elements. So it's not fullfilling the hardware-definition, and pretty weak on the software-definition. This article is clearly about a workspace that blows beyond the classical workspace-definition of a desktop. Which is good IMHO, but means we need better namings for such things, and even if it's just for the sake to distinguish different tools and workflows. We are now moving to integrate Mobile Devices like iOS&Android into our workspaces, and on Windows-tablets we have touch-interfaces which start to be very different from normal mouse&keyboard-interfaces. And then there is also the classical terminal-interface, which this article is very heavy leaning toward.
- morganvachon 8y ago
  I don't understand the gatekeeping and deliberate misinformation in your post. > A desktop is a computer sitting on top of your desk. Besides the fact that the author indicated he's using a laptop hooked up to a 40" monitor, kind of necessitating the computer to be sitting on his desk, his use of "desktop" in general is referring to his everyday workflow. For some people, that's Windows and Windows specific apps. For others, it's macOS and its specific apps. For yet others, it's a Linux or BSD desktop environment, whether stock or customized. The fact that he's using a laptop as a workstation does not magically render his established work environment "mobile", and even if it did, he's still using a desktop environment of his own making. > This article on the other side describes a workspace with multiple machines and mostly no free arrangement of work-elements. Maybe we're reading different articles, but I see no mention whatsoever of what you're going on about. I see where he at one point mentions "multiple computers", but this in no way invalidates his desktop environment and software setup as violating some made-up rule about what is or isn't a "desktop". I currently use five computers at home not counting my iPhone: A HP EliteDesk set up as a Windows gaming system, a Dell PowerEdge T310 server running Slackware Linux, converted into a workstation by adding a GPU and sound card and tweaking the BIOS, a mac Mini for music production and general Mac-specific things, a Raspberry Pi 3B+ for experimenting with IoT, and a HP Elite X2 convertible laptop for quick tasks away from my desk and occasional use at work. Now, according to your logic apparently I can't possibly have a "desktop" setup because I use more than one computer, of more than one form factor, for more than one task at a time, and not always glued to my desk. That's total bullshit.
  - PurpleRamen 8y ago
    Gatekeeping...I just explained why some people consider the the usage of a term wrong. If you are triggered by people having different knowledge and opinion, then maybe you stay away from communications, instead of starting to insult others...
    - morganvachon 8y ago
      You claimed that the author had no right to call his desktop setup a desktop setup based on your own made up rules. That is the very definition of gatekeeping. Also, please tell me where I insulted you. I called you out for gatekeeping and did so rather politely. If you consider a rebuttal to be an insult I’d advise you to grow a thicker skin before interacting with others or you’re in for a lot of disappointment.
- lostjohnny 8y ago
  I would call it a PRO setup. Definitely not Desktop.
pmarin 8y ago
It is not a Desktop because does not follow the desktop metaphor [1]. He is using just a window manager. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_metaphor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_metaphor
- dmos62 8y ago
  That's an interesting point, but I think it's fair to say that usually when you're talking about a desktop computer you mean a computer whose interface is on your desk, similarly to how a laptop relates to a lap. For what it's worth, I find the desktop metaphor in UX design a pretty tiring historical artefact. A desk, as a workstation, is the way it is because of physics. Computationally driven user interfaces don't have those constraints and it's awkward, not to mention short-sighted, at least in my opinion, to force one upon the other.

by dmos62 8y ago

PurpleRamen 8y ago

> It's obviously a workstation computer with media capabilities. The word desktop implies pretty much that. What? No. A desktop is a computer sitting on the top of your desk. And on the software-side there is the Desktop Metaphor, which describes an interface that behaves like the top of your desk, with free arrangement of all meaning of your work. This article on the other side describes a workspace with multiple machines and mostly no free arrangement of work-elements. So it's not fullfilling the hardware-definition, and pretty weak on the software-definition. This article is clearly about a workspace that blows beyond the classical workspace-definition of a desktop. Which is good IMHO, but means we need better namings for such things, and even if it's just for the sake to distinguish different tools and workflows. We are now moving to integrate Mobile Devices like iOS&Android into our workspaces, and on Windows-tablets we have touch-interfaces which start to be very different from normal mouse&keyboard-interfaces. And then there is also the classical terminal-interface, which this article is very heavy leaning toward.

morganvachon 8y ago
I don't understand the gatekeeping and deliberate misinformation in your post. > A desktop is a computer sitting on top of your desk. Besides the fact that the author indicated he's using a laptop hooked up to a 40" monitor, kind of necessitating the computer to be sitting on his desk, his use of "desktop" in general is referring to his everyday workflow. For some people, that's Windows and Windows specific apps. For others, it's macOS and its specific apps. For yet others, it's a Linux or BSD desktop environment, whether stock or customized. The fact that he's using a laptop as a workstation does not magically render his established work environment "mobile", and even if it did, he's still using a desktop environment of his own making. > This article on the other side describes a workspace with multiple machines and mostly no free arrangement of work-elements. Maybe we're reading different articles, but I see no mention whatsoever of what you're going on about. I see where he at one point mentions "multiple computers", but this in no way invalidates his desktop environment and software setup as violating some made-up rule about what is or isn't a "desktop". I currently use five computers at home not counting my iPhone: A HP EliteDesk set up as a Windows gaming system, a Dell PowerEdge T310 server running Slackware Linux, converted into a workstation by adding a GPU and sound card and tweaking the BIOS, a mac Mini for music production and general Mac-specific things, a Raspberry Pi 3B+ for experimenting with IoT, and a HP Elite X2 convertible laptop for quick tasks away from my desk and occasional use at work. Now, according to your logic apparently I can't possibly have a "desktop" setup because I use more than one computer, of more than one form factor, for more than one task at a time, and not always glued to my desk. That's total bullshit.
- PurpleRamen 8y ago
  Gatekeeping...I just explained why some people consider the the usage of a term wrong. If you are triggered by people having different knowledge and opinion, then maybe you stay away from communications, instead of starting to insult others...
  - morganvachon 8y ago
    You claimed that the author had no right to call his desktop setup a desktop setup based on your own made up rules. That is the very definition of gatekeeping. Also, please tell me where I insulted you. I called you out for gatekeeping and did so rather politely. If you consider a rebuttal to be an insult I’d advise you to grow a thicker skin before interacting with others or you’re in for a lot of disappointment.
lostjohnny 8y ago
I would call it a PRO setup. Definitely not Desktop.

pmarin 8y ago

It is not a Desktop because does not follow the desktop metaphor [1]. He is using just a window manager. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_metaphor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_metaphor

dmos62 8y ago
That's an interesting point, but I think it's fair to say that usually when you're talking about a desktop computer you mean a computer whose interface is on your desk, similarly to how a laptop relates to a lap. For what it's worth, I find the desktop metaphor in UX design a pretty tiring historical artefact. A desk, as a workstation, is the way it is because of physics. Computationally driven user interfaces don't have those constraints and it's awkward, not to mention short-sighted, at least in my opinion, to force one upon the other.