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In this time and age, do we really need "desktops"? If you only need a full-screen terminal and a full-screen browser (as is the case for many people), the who

In this time and age, do we really need "desktops"? If you only need a full-screen terminal and a full-screen browser (as is the case for many people), the whole desktop thing is unnecessary clutter.

AnIdiotOnTheNet 6y ago
Someone is living in one hell of a computing bubble.
etaioinshrdlu 6y ago
Terminals are probably never again going to be the primary computing interface for most people.
- mgreenly 6y ago
  Without question I think that's true, but they certainly will be the primary interface of some people forever.
- enriquto 6y ago
  > Terminals are probably never again going to be the primary computing interface for most people. So what? Neither are desktops! The question is that the total number of terminal users is certainly increasing year after year.
  - nl 6y ago
    > the total number of terminal users is certainly increasing year after year Perhaps, but the proportion of them is certainly decreasing (especially if we include devices like tablets and phones in "computing interfaces").
guerrilla 6y ago
Yes, I want to be able to look at more than one thing at a time.
- enriquto 6y ago
  Then you need a window manager, not a desktop.
  - santoshalper 6y ago
    You mean like the literal desktop, the icons and whatnot? What does that even have to do with this article, which is about a file picker?
branon 6y ago
A desktop for most people is a crutch (plunger) for their disorganized computer (clogged toilet). I think the suggestion that desktops aren't necessary is a good one. Several years ago, I started turning desktop icons off (both GNOME and Windows make this easy) and it really helped my organization, as I was then forced to competently organize files into Downloads, Documents, Pictures, Videos directories instead of vomiting everything onto the desktop. Simply _knowing_ where files are located is faster than scanning a cluttered desktop. As a bonus I don't ever have to worry about the positions of my desktop icons changing. File picker definitely needs thumbnails though.
- mmplxx 6y ago
  The OP is talking about desktop environments, not the desktop with your wallpaper.

In this time and age, do we really need "desktops"? If you only need a full-screen terminal and a full-screen browser (as is the case for many people), the whole desktop thing is unnecessary clutter.

AnIdiotOnTheNet 6y ago

Someone is living in one hell of a computing bubble.

etaioinshrdlu 6y ago

Terminals are probably never again going to be the primary computing interface for most people.

mgreenly 6y ago
Without question I think that's true, but they certainly will be the primary interface of some people forever.
enriquto 6y ago
> Terminals are probably never again going to be the primary computing interface for most people. So what? Neither are desktops! The question is that the total number of terminal users is certainly increasing year after year.
- nl 6y ago
  > the total number of terminal users is certainly increasing year after year Perhaps, but the proportion of them is certainly decreasing (especially if we include devices like tablets and phones in "computing interfaces").

guerrilla 6y ago

Yes, I want to be able to look at more than one thing at a time.

enriquto 6y ago
Then you need a window manager, not a desktop.
- santoshalper 6y ago
  You mean like the literal desktop, the icons and whatnot? What does that even have to do with this article, which is about a file picker?

branon 6y ago

A desktop for most people is a crutch (plunger) for their disorganized computer (clogged toilet). I think the suggestion that desktops aren't necessary is a good one. Several years ago, I started turning desktop icons off (both GNOME and Windows make this easy) and it really helped my organization, as I was then forced to competently organize files into Downloads, Documents, Pictures, Videos directories instead of vomiting everything onto the desktop. Simply _knowing_ where files are located is faster than scanning a cluttered desktop. As a bonus I don't ever have to worry about the positions of my desktop icons changing. File picker definitely needs thumbnails though.

mmplxx 6y ago
The OP is talking about desktop environments, not the desktop with your wallpaper.