In my previous post, I mentioned that I was tweaking my desktops, both Windows XP and Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex. I was supposed to post screenshots of my desktops but something delayed me in doing so. That something was Windows 7 Beta. I was finally able to install it on my system, and I now have a triple-boot system (XP, 7 Beta, and Intrepid). I made the mistake of installing the 64-bit version of 7 Beta, and I'm glad I did. It was definitely a lot faster compared to the 32-bit version of XP, but it wouldn't make much difference if both were 64-bit. So far, the beta version of Windows 7 is living up to the hype. [caption id="attachment_823" align="aligncenter" width="800" caption="Windows 7 Beta"] [/caption] It is fast, more responsive, and the UI is more intuitive. This realization made me think that Vista is, indeed, the pretty version of Windows ME. I didn't make any desktop tweaks (yet) on my 7 Beta install. I just changed the wallpaper to the one that I made based on the Aurora Borealis wallpapers. Just to give people a heads-up, I thought it best to mention here that Google Chrome does not work or has compatibility issues with 7 Beta. I'm not sure if this is because I'm using the 64-bit version, but Firefox and other apps were working fine. I didn't install iTunes as people have mentioned it crashing in 7 Beta. Also, Microsoft did not fail me as 7 Beta spewed its BSOD a few reboots after. It maybe caused by my system not fully 64-bit as the error it spewed was more reminiscent of a driver failure (Driver IRQL not less or equal). However, it should be noted that this issue should already be addressed, but knowing Microsoft, the seventh time's MAYBE the charm. All in all, I am looking forward to getting a copy of Windows 7 when it goes official. As for desktop tweaks on my XP and Intrepid installs, I went the minimalist route. I have long wanted to have a heads-up display (HUD) on my desktop, and Enigma paved the way for me to do just that. I installed Rainmeter, an app to provide the HUD, and patched my UXTheme.dll file for me to be able to use non-official themes, like SlanXP, which I now use. I was thinking of installing a dock-like app launcher, but it would defeat the purpose of having a minimalist desktop. I then turned to Launchy, so I can just launch any application I need to launch, and do more with it compared to having a dock. [caption id="attachment_825" align="aligncenter" width="800" caption="Windows XP"] [/caption] For my Intrepid install, I almost gave up on Conky, the Linux equivalent for Rainmeter. I was lucky enough to find Conky Colors. True, it's all bundled up on one side, but with a few tweaks, I settled on what it is now. I'm thinking of adding feeds to it, but I chose not to, at least for now. Gnome-Do is proving to be a very indispensable app, and I find myself using it more and more instead of going to the Applications Menu. It's quicker, and it does exactly what I want. Also, I used to have Avant Window Navigator (AWN) running as my app launcher/dock/window manager, but for a minimalist setup, I decided to let it go and put back the bottom panel, adding a number of apps to make it more productive/informative. The Deskbar Applet that I added acts much like Gnome-Do, and although it functions almost the same, I like having options. I also let go of my screenlets as it doesn't actually go with the minimalist look I'm aiming for. [caption id="attachment_824" align="aligncenter" width="800" caption="Intrepid Ibex"] [/caption] Triple booting was not a walk in the park, however. I used to have a dual-boot system, XP and Intrepid, and both are installed on their own separate partitions. Having a third OS may be too much, but it was an adventure I gladly took. After all, I had to find out if the hype was true, or close to the truth. With XP and Intrepid installed, I had to make space for 7 Beta. I burned a downloaded GParted ISO image and made enough space for 7 Beta (at least 16GB, but I allotted 22GB). Installation was a breeze. After the install, Windows places a boot manager for Windows 7 and "earlier versions of Windows," which leads to my XP installation. After some testing, I decided to resurrect Intrepid. After all, when installing Windows operating systems, it tends to stomp out the GRUB boot loader. I then proceeded to reinstall GRUB to my MBR and was successful with it. However, it doesn't change the configuration file to point correctly to both my Windows installs. It was a simple edit, but it's quite scary if you are not familiar with mount points and such. For my GRUB configuration file, it still has (essentially) two options: Intrepid and Windows. However, when selecting Windows, it then proceeds to load the Windows boot manager, with Windows 7 and "earlier version of Windows" as my choices. A couple more keystrokes to get to any of my Windows installs compared to what I had before, but I don't mind. As long as I can still use my Intrepid, I'm all set. Lifehacker's articles on Conky, Gnome Do, and Enigma, along with the helpful folks over at the Ubuntu Forums discussing triple booting, helped me a lot in customizing my system. These desktop tweaks, however small or extensive they may be, make me miss working with each one of them. But then again, their only a reboot away. What customizations or tweaks in your desktop have you done lately?