Everyday we use tool to get jobs done. Whether working on the computer, on a production line or in outer space, it is the tools that enable us to get our work done. Unsurprisingly the main tools I use each day are those on the computer.

One of the things that surprises me every so often is how willing people are to adapt to inferior tool rather than try to find better ones. The case of web browsers mentioned in my last post is a prime example. On a computer you are not forced to use any particular program. For nearly everything you could want to do with your computer there are a plethora of programs avaiable, yet often we just use what is provided without thought to the other alternatives out there.

Quite often nowadays, there is a discussion on Linux’s sutability for genereal desktop use. In my opinion, some of this discussion is misguided, as ‘desktop user’ is used to cover many quite varying types of user. I would say that there are at least two different types of desktop user - home and office. The suitability of Linux for both of these area depends on very different factors.

In the office, the main needs for the OS are the ability to integrate many computers over a large area. This need tends to be above the usabiliy of the programs. Most people at work, given the programs they need to do their job, would not care whether the OS was Windows or Unix. Many would not even notice, especially if a desktop environment like KDE or Gnome was used. In the office it isn’t a case of ease of use for the user, more for the sysadmin.

For a sneak peak of ShellOn v3 beta9, check out my desktop shot and whet your appetites…

There’s a new ShellOn beta released today: beta 8. Have a look at my desktop to the left to see something nice =)

The changes are as follows:

• Shells are now stored in a global shells.ini file for all users.
• Each user of the PC now has their own settings file for timeouts etc.
• Option not to display launcher window for ‘silent’ shell loading
• Hopefully fixed the ‘buttons off the bottom of the window’ bug
• New style launcher window

Head over to the ShellOn v3 beta page to download and try it. As always, the beta releases of ShellOn should be used by advanced shell users and come with no docs. For this release, you will need to delete your old settings files.

Interesting piece of news (well for me anyway): book 5. Oh, okay, not just interesting, but exciting!