India shows how a Deskop should look

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A new Desktop using 'Ubuntu' as a base is now available as a free download from 'SuperX-grace'. This has been modelled on the Android or iOS look and a great deal of thought has gone into making the Desktop extremely easy to use. There are basically only two screens, one for 'Favourites' and one for 'All Applications' that are split into logical groups. The Icons can be shifted around easily from favourites to all applications. There is no control panel, just another category in the 'All Applications' screen. Preloaded applications include Firefox, Chrome, Thunderbird, VLC, Libreoffice and Gimp. There are thousands of other applications that can be downloaded from their own App Store.

Windows 10 and what is wanted

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Windows 10 is reported to be what the users want in the way of a desktop. Microsoft is bringing back the Windows 7 menu interface but I suspect the users really want the easier to see and use, old Icon configuration instead of the floating 'Tiles'. Other Operating systems such as Android, iOS and chromeOS have removed the 'Menu' completely and just use a 'Single Click' to launch an Application. They have considered that the rest is totally unnecessary and over complicated for the average user. The Technicians utilities are still there but are hidden. When the Windows 10 computers arrive they will be locked down so no other operating systems can be installed including older versions of Windows.

Intel's Compustick

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Intel has just released another HDMI computer stick for TV's or Monitor's. This one comes in two versions. Windows 8.1 with 2Gb RAM and 32Gb storage for US $150 or Ubuntu with 1Gb RAM and 8Gb storage for under US $100. The RAM and storage differences is due to Ubuntu requiring less than Windows to run smoothly. Both options use a wireless keyboard and mouse and have a full size USB port plus a SD card reader.

Chromebook, Chromebox now the Chromebit

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Google and Asus have announced a third device for the Chrome Operating system. Known as the 'Chromebit' it will be a computer on a stick that is plugged into the HDMI port of a TV or Monitor for less than US $100. It has one full size USB port for extra storage and the keyboard and mouse are connected via bluetooth. There is 2Gb of RAM and 8Gb of local data storage built in. Although ChomeOs is designed for Internet use it does have an offline media player for movies, music, pictures and pdf files.