Volume 43 August, 2010 Xfce 4.6.2: Linux IS Ready For The Desktop Alternate OS: Haiku, Part 2 Xfce Settings Manager, Part 3 Command Line Computer Xfce 4.6.2: Interface Intro: Part 11 Languages A to Z: Modula2 Customize Your Xfwm Theme Video Encoding: Step­By­Step Game Zone: World Of Goo Xfce 4.6.2: Customize Thunar's Context Menu Firefox Add­ons: Inkscape Tutorial: Clipping Ob1jects Xmarks Marks The Spot OpenOffice 3.2: Calc And much more inside! TTaabbllee OOff CCoonntteennttss 3 Welcome From The Chief Editor 4 Linux IS Ready For The Desktop 5 Screenshot Showcase 6 Xfce 4.6.2: Xfce Settings Manager, Part 3 12 Screenshot Showcase The PCLinuxOS name, logo and colors are the trademark of 13 Testimonial: Greetings From A New PCLinuxOS User Texstar. 14 Xfce 4.6.2: Customize Your Xfwm Theme The NEW PCLinuxOS Magazine is a monthly online publication containing PCLinuxOS­related materials. It is 18 Double Take & Mark's Quick Gimp Tip published primarily for members of the PCLinuxOS community. The Magazine staff is comprised of volunteers 19 Command Line Interface Intro: Part 11 from the PCLinuxOS community. 28 Screenshot Showcase Visit us online at http://www.pclosmag.com 29 ms_meme's Nook: Linux Time 30 Xfce 4.6.2: Customize Thunar's Context Menu This release was made possible by the following volunteers: 33 Screenshot Showcase Chief Editor: Paul Arnote (parnote) Assistant Editors: Andrew Strick (Stricktoo), Meemaw 34 OpenOffice 3.2: Calc Consultants: Archie Arevalo, Tim Robinson Artwork: Sproggy, Timeth, Mark Szorady 37 Testimonial: PCLinuxOS ­ An Accidental Discovery 38 Alternate OS: Haiku, Part 2 Magazine Layout: parnote, Meemaw, ms_meme, Stricktoo HTML Layout: Galen Seaman 41 Video Encoding: Step­By­Step Staff: 43 Screenshot Showcase/Disclaimer Neal Brooks ms_meme Galen Seaman Mark Szorady 44 Computer Languages A to Z: Modula2 Patrick Horneker Darrel Johnston 46 Screenshot Showcase Guy Taylor Meemaw Andrew Huff Gary L. Ratliff, Sr. 47 ms_meme's Nook: PCLOLOLOS Contributors: 48 Forum Foibles: Fun With PCLinuxOS Peter Kelly Daniel Meiß­Wilhelm 49 Game Zone: World Of Goo Ryan Smith 52 Testimonial: Hi From Washington State The PCLinuxOS Magazine is released under the Creative 53 Clipping Objects Together To Create Cool Graphics In Inkscape Commons Attribution­NonCommercial­Share­Alike 3.0 56 Firefox Add­on's: Xmarks Marks The Spot Unported license. Some rights are reserved. Copyright © 2010. 60 More Screenshot Showcase 2 WWeellccoommee FFrroomm TThhee CChhiieeff EEddiittoorr As the dog days of summer bear down on us, things Additionally, PCLinuxOS has managed to garner Speaking of article series, critter continues his most are remaining "hot" with PCLinuxOS. Recently, much well­deserved acclaim in various reviews of excellent series, with Command Line Interface we've seen the release of the quarterly update for Linux distributions. Of course, the added benefit of Intro: Part 11. Eronstuc continues his series on the different desktop flavors of PCLinuxOS. These this recent flurry of good reviews is the influx of new computer programming languages, with Computer bear a new naming schema, where "2010.07" refers users to the PCLinuxOS ranks. Languages A to Z: Modula2. djohnston continues to the 2010 release, from the seventh month, or July. his series of articles that take a look at alternate In fact, we are seeing lots of new users in the operating systems, with his Alternate OS: Haiku, PCLinuxOS Forum. We are seeing users moving to Part 2 article. PCLinuxOS from the various versions of Windows. We are seeing users moving to PCLinuxOS from OS Leiche walks us through using jMencode in his X. And we are seeing users moving to PCLinuxOS Video Encoding: Step­By­Step article. Xyus gives from other Linux distributions. As PCLinuxOS us another installment of Game Zone, with his receives all of these new users, it's important to Game Zone: World Of Goo article. Wamukota lists remember not only our Forum manners, but to also the reasons he feels that Linux IS Ready For The make them feel welcome to our Linux home. Desktop. I detail yet another Firefox add­on, with my Firefox Add­ons: Xmarks Marks The Spot article. This month, I'd like to announce that Meemaw will And, we have three new testimonials this month. fulfill the role of a second assistant editor for the And Timeth provides us an Inkscape tutorial, to help PCLinuxOS Magazine. She has been an invaluable us learn how to clip objects, in his Clipping Objects asset over much of the past year, helping with Together To Create Cool Graphics in Inkscape articles, editing and layout of the magazine. Without article. her assistance, I'm not sure I'd have had the time or energy to focus on (or implement) the improvements Of course, ms_meme's regular columns, Forum in The NEW PCLinuxOS Magazine that you have Foibles and ms_meme's Nook are back, as well as seen over the past year. So, congratulations georgetoon's Double Take & Mark's Quick Gimp Meemaw, and thank you! Tip. And, this month's cover is by Timeth, commemorating Spain's win in the FIFA World Cup. We have plenty of items that we hope will keep your interest this month. First, I conclude my series on the Until next month, I wish you peace, happiness, Xfce 4.6.2 desktop environment. I provide Xfce serenity and tranquility. 4.6.2: The Xfce Settings Manager, Part 3 article, as well as Xfce 4.6.2: Customize Your Xfwm Theme and Xfce 4.6.2: Customize Thunar's Context Menu. Meemaw continues her look at the OpenOffice office suite, with a look at OpenOffice 3.2: Calc. 3 LLiinnuuxx IISS RReeaaddyy FFoorr TThhee DDeesskkttoopp by Alain Baudrez (Wamukota) * Burn CD/DVD and Windows being pre­installed anyway, we always * Write a few letters have a fall­back for the few things that can not be * Keep budget in check with a simple spreadsheet done through Linux. Should Windows not come pre­ I've read many postings and rants about Linux not * Make small posters for festivities installed, Linux would struggle, especially in the being ready for the desktop, while my experience * Create and maintain a website games area. But the simple fact that Windows tends to state the opposite. Linux is – and has been * Play games comes pre­installed plays into the hands of a dual­ for the last couple of years – ready for the desktop. * Install new software boot Windows/Linux solution. * Interact with wireless networks and bluetooth devices It all boils down to the type of audience you speak What should the same Jane Doe not have to do? to. * Tamper with the system Windows has been developed with the industry in * Bother about the legal status of the OS mind. That implies that you have a group of well­ * Fight malware and other nastinesses of the trained IT guys who do the Windows laundry while Internet you, at your desk, can work without bothering * Be responsible for maintaining system integrity whether the latest patches are applied, the AV is up through updates and patches to date, Anti­malware filters are in place, … * Buy new hardware every 3 years to be able to accommodate the latest imposed upgrades * Buy expensive software But let's look at a typical home user. When using Windows, this is just what Jane Doe has What does 'Jane Doe' do (or would like to do) to do to keep her box running. The problems and with her computer? performance loss inherent in the Windows system are a far cry from the fun and joy of having a * Browse the web Alain Baudez, a.k.a. Wamukota computer she expected. * Send & Receive eMail * Instant Messaging Those actions seem familiar and they 'can' all be A modern Linux distribution is much simpler to * Twitter done with the pre­installed Windows. Correction. Not maintain. Its concepts prevent a user crippling the * Skype if you stick to your pre­installed Windows. For most system by disallowing her to venture in typical * Rip audio to MP3 of those actions, you need to buy expensive system folders. There are no legal issues. The * Play and organize her music collection software, which for most of us is not tax deductible. distribution can be copied, passed on, etc., without * Transfer music between PC and MP3 player problems. * Upload pictures/movies from a digital camera * Red eye removal and minor enchantments of Looking at that list through Linux glasses, with the pictures exception of some games, all can be done using a There are almost no risks that viruses or malware * Watch movies on DVD free modern state of the art Linux distribution. will cripple the system. * Edit her own video recordings So, Linux clearly has the edge on Windows here, 4 Linux IS Ready For The Desktop Installing software is free and comes from a certified single set of servers. Linux runs much longer on the same hardware. SSccrreeeennsshhoott SShhoowwccaassee All in all, Linux has the edge on Windows here too. The general consensus is that Linux is hard to install. One cannot expect an average user to install Linux to dual­boot with their current Windows installation. In fact, Linux is no harder to install than any other Operating System. But since Windows comes pre­ installed, all the user must do is to activate the end user license to get going. The only thing we – Linux users ­ must do, is to install it on their computer in dual­boot mode, and give them a few how­tos on how to work with it. Isn't that something we all have done in the past many times? Linux is ready for the desktop if you never hear back from those converted users again.