Desktop

The GalliumOS desktop on a 1366x768 screen Chromebooks come pre-installed with Google’s proprietary operating system. It’s a perfectly good one, so long as you stick to web browsing. And partly thanks to its limited software, it’s very secure. Google manages all that for you automatically. A while back, I experimented with Linux on an HP Chromebook, using Crouton. It’s an excellent solution for running either a Google- or an Ubuntu-based operating system, depending your mood.

For those of us who dislike the Ubuntu Unity interface and its ugly dock, there are several options. The Cairo Dock is the most aesthetically appealing to me, with its Mac-OSX-like animations. But do I really need icons that bounce up and down, and dozens of other visual effects – especially when I’m running a lean desktop like XFCE? If you’re in this boat, take a walk on Plank.