[geeks] Windows Revisited

[Jonathan C. Patschke]

Okay, I admit it.  I use Windows.  In fact, Windows 2000 is my primary
desktop OS, mainly because I have neat hardware in my PC that isn't
well-supported elsewhere, and I -like- having a 1600x1200x32 display, and
I like playing the occasional game.  This doesn't change the fact that
most of my -work- gets done via an ssh or X session into an SGI, or that
all my important files are stored on a huge XFS partition in my Octane,
but Windows makes a fine Xterm/Nintendo with the proper software.

Once upon a time, I heard of an AfterStep spinoff called "LiteStep" that
ran under Windows.  The last time I played with it was about two years
ago, and it crashed and was generally vaporware.  I installed the latest
version this morning, and, well, here's a (big) screenshot:

  http://jonathan.celestrion.net/crap/litestep.jpg

This is the "core" theme.  It requires some tweaking, if you install it in
a directory that has spaces, but it otherwise just works.  Also, the ssh
and X11 buttons are my own (which is why they're screwed-up).

Neat things worth pointing out in this screenshot:
  1)  The shrunken WinAmp in the button-bar.  It doesn't have volume
      control, but it has the other basics and takes up a lot less space
      than the real thing.
  2)  The system stats in the upper part of the button-bar.
  3)  The little "command" widget.  Click it, type a command, press Enter,
      and it's run.  It works just like the "Run As..." dialog, but is
      a lot faster by virtue of being right there.
  4)  8 desktops!  About damned time someone exposed the virtual desktop
      support that's been in NT since 3.5.
  5)  The toolchest is not included.  I'm running an X session on the
      Octane.  In fact, only the PuTTY window running Pine is a native
      Windows application, but all windows honor focus-follows-mouse,
      regardless of origin.
  6)  Damn!  Windows hauls ass when explorer/ie isn't present!
  7)  A root menu is so much more accessible than a start menu.  It's
      right -there-.  My mouse doesn't have to go anywhere.

Rough edges:
  1)  If you have a machine shared by more than one person, setting up
      things such that some people have Explorer and some people have
      LiteStep is more work than it could be.
  2)  If multiple people want LiteStep, and they can't agree on a theme,
      it needs to be installed in a separate place for each user.
  3)  The root window in this theme doesn't play nicely with XMouse.  You
      have to move the mouse carefully or you'll dismiss the menu
      prematurely.
  4)  I haven't figured out the voodoo dance that will allow me to use
      Explorer as a file manager, without having it want to be my shell,
      too.  This doesn't work the way the LiteStep docs say it should.
  5)  At least in the "core" theme, it's not always clear which parts of
      the LiteStep UI are always on top.  Moving a window into the area
      occupied by a LiteStep widget can have icky visual artifacts.

--Jonathan