Good looks was never supposed to be a priority for Linux apps. It wasn't so long ago that we seemed to be struggling to get even basic eye-candy such as anti-aliased fonts to work on the Linux desktop, but things have changed almost beyond recognition. It's now fair to say that the Linux desktop is at the forefront of visual effect, a cornucopia of eye-candy overflowing on to your desktop.

For Windows users trying out Ubuntu, one of the first things you will notice with the GNOME desktop is how icon-less it is. Most Windows users are familiar with many icons on their desktop, including the default icons - My Computer, Network and The Recycle bin.

There seems to be two different types of users: those who love eye candy, and those detest it. This article is for those who love to see the glitter, glamour, and special effects and want to pimp their Gnome desktop.

2010 is going to be a good year for Linux on the desktop. No, tens of millions of Windows users aren’t going to see the light and suddenly switch. On the other hand, there is no doubt that Linux will continue to make steady gains.

Here are some tips for Ubuntu users who use notebook computers, including how to sync files effortlessly between a laptop and desktop, how to switch CPU speeds on the fly from the desktop, how to power-save your hard disk, and more.

A Linux desktop screen need not look drab. Linux distro users can get just as much function-rich eye candy through Screenlets, miniature applications that reside on the desktop and provide constant information.

Over the past few years, 3-D rendering in window managers has become a new trend in the desktop environment. OS X was the first to make fancy visual effects prominent in the way users interact with the windows in their desktop. Windows Vista has also jumped on the bandwagon with its Aero interface, though it has some performance issues to work out.

One of desktop Linux’s chief selling points is its near-immunity to malware. Whether this superiority is due to the Unix security measures that Windows lacks, or to the mere fact that comparatively few people use Linux on desktop computers, it makes Linux attractive in an era when all manner of nasty things can be done to computer users by exploiting bugs in the software they run.

I like eye candy. One of the aspects of eye candy I like more than any other is transparency. With the right Linux desktop there is almost no limit on how you can configure the look and feel of your desktop. And that means you can have as transparent a desktop as you like.