PCLOS Beautification Project?

[devnet]

Hey all,

I gave a .93a disc to a friend who had not used linux since Red Hat 7.2 and was a die hard Mac fan.  They loved it.

The only thing they didn't like was how to beautify the desktop, change iconsets, instalingl a single icon (he makes his own icons), getting SuperKaramba to play nice, modifying and changing your own theme.

So...I poked around on the wiki last night and was shocked to find that these topics are not covered (mostly touched on) by the wiki!  We're lacking quite a bit in this department...

So, what I'd like to do is pitch a project geared at bridging this gap.  This will be an easy project because it can be developed here or at the wiki...it will be to develop how-to's for beautifying your PCLOS desktop.

Anyone think this would be a good project for the community?

[nintendofreq]

I do

[Archie]

Of course it is. It would be able to fill in some missing gaps. Might I suggest that you can make a list of tasks that needs to be done, and anyone interested can just PM you stating what task they are committing themselves to. Just a suggestion.

[Underdog45]

This would be much easier once a final logo is chosen. After that, well, just go down the Look 'N Feel list in the KDE Control Center to see what would need to be done.

[Papawoob]

I also like the idea and would be willing to help write something up as I get quite a few questions on this sort of thing.

[devnet]

jaydot...I fixed it for you

[gryphen]

It would be extremely helpful to everyone invovled in the GUI-fication process if there were a list started and maintained as to specific  items that need to be 'updated' in order to present a unified PCLinuxOS default desktop.

And while I'm always for any and all members of the community providing feedback and ideas, I think it would be beneficial to have a core group of artists/developers handling the overall decision making process and publication of the finished project. This of course with the blessing of Texstar.

[devnet]

Even without a logo I think it can be done.  In fact, it would be good to develop around the top three logos that won.

The thing is, I won't be able to lead this project...I just pitched it.  I might be able to participate but I've got a full plate lately so I'm not heading to the front of things for quite a while until I can get into a groove again  

[gryphen]

I would be happy to lead this project ~ mostly in an organizing capacity. I re-read my previous post, and realized that I might have come across as wanting to exclude people and that isn't at all what I would encourage. But we're a very diverse community and users in India probably have things that they find aesthetically pleasing that someone from Brazil might find hard on the eyes.

And there of course are going to be the inevitable discussions regarding it's too 'Vista' or 'Mac OS' looking. I know for myself that nature or 'Blissfull' wallpapers are getting kinda old.  (you gotta love the Mac commercial where the B.Gates-ish character is in the wheelchair and talking about having visions of sunlit wheat fields and the Mac guy teases him that it's his screensaver, lol)

Part of this GUI project might also include the Gnome desktop environment as well, plus XFCE and Fluxbox. I have to say that I'm certainly looking forward to the Gnome project taking off.  Right now I'm making this post while using Ubuntu (in an effort to get better aquainted with Gnome) and I'm liking how well  the overall look of the GTK apps .   

[devnet]

gryphen,

Congrats!  You're now at the head of your very own mypclinuxos sponsored project

You've got your own forum of which you are the moderator (for stickies and announcements).  I suggest that you organize a task listing (or solicit feedback on what one should encompass) and gather helpers to your cause...put the feelers out if you know what I mean

We'll slowly be moving toward an 'announcement' for all new projects...I've got something in the works that will blow everyone away (portal page)...until then, congrats and hopefully we see some cool new kdm themes, backgrounds/wallpapers, icon sets, themese, bootsplashes, etc!

BTW, if you guys need any gallery software or a site, let me know.  We'll make it immediately available.

[jmiahman]

I created a simple How-to a long time ago for really new people on changing the desktop image. You can use that if you'd like.

What I would really like to see is some screen captured video and a dvd or cd menu type deal that we can package with PCLinuxOS. They insert the CD or DVD it auto runs and shows how to configure the desktop. Maybe this can be integrated into a icon on the desktop with the Live CD not even on a cd or DVD. That would be cool and it would be a first.

[gryphen]

I created a simple How-to a long time ago for really new people on changing the desktop image. You can use that if you'd like.

What I would really like to see is some screen captured video and a dvd or cd menu type deal that we can package with PCLinuxOS. They insert the CD or DVD it auto runs and shows how to configure the desktop. Maybe this can be integrated into a icon on the desktop with the Live CD not even on a cd or DVD. That would be cool and it would be a first.

That's a great idea!  Don't know right off the bat how it can be accomplished, but I'll certainly look into it.