The Xandros DesktopXandros 1.0 is built on KDE 2.2, a proven, relatively solid desktop environment. Gnome fans should note that Xandros does not come with or support use with Gnome. While you can download and install Gnome on your own, you'll find that some of the Xandros stuff does not work with it, which is not surprising. Still, KDE 2.2 offers pretty much everything you need to be productive. Combining that with the big-time functionality of the Xandros-specific stuff, you'll find yourself wanting to stick with KDE in Xandros.During your first run of Xandros Desktop, you'll want to go to the 'Control Center' (like Windows 'Control Panel') to tweak out your working environment. As nice as the stock Xandros wallpapers are, you will find it very easy to install your own custom ones. Xandros comes with some great hi-res pics, as well as several desktop themes from which you can select. You can also use your own pics.I did run into an error when right-clicking on 'Properties' on the main desktop (which should give you the display options). I could still access my display options via the Control Center.You can configure your video resolution and color depth pretty much on the fly, albeit not as elegantly as in Gnome 2.0. Just make your selections in Control Center, and Xandros will restart your X-Server with a test screen, asking you to confirm or discard your choice. In a matter of less than 30 seconds, you're up and running at your new resolution and color depth.Another nice feature of Xandros/KDE is the ability to precisely define your mouse pointer behavior. I've always found this to be a major miscue in Gnome. In Xandros, you can set not only set your mouse wheel scrolls, pointer acceleration, threshold and double-click threshold, you can set your drag start time and drag start distance. This is crucial for gamers, as you need to have this level of precision within modern 3D games like Unreal Tournament 2003.
The Xandros File ManagerThe real beauty of Xandros, beyond how it so adeptly installs, is the Xandros File Manager. Using an 'Explorer'-type interface, you can access and manage all of your local storage devices, Windows network shares (including printers) and NFS shares. Copying files to and from shares is as simple as drag and drop. It also functions as a web browser and a very handy way of connecting to FTP servers.You can control what you want to share from your computer to the rest of the network from here as well. Right-click on a folder to which you have control and select 'Sharing'. You can share your folder via Network File System (NFS) or Windows sharing. You can also mount network shares from here, if need be. I did not find I needed to mount shares manually - Xandros took care of that for me. You can also easily set permissions and ownership on shared and local folders/files you control via the 'Properties' option from the right-click menu.Xandros File Manager also allows you to create symbolic links, gives you a wide variety of display options, the ability to add bookmarks, and the ability to view other file systems. For instance, if you have a dual-boot system, you can still tap dance between your NTFS, Linux and network shares.In short, there's nothing quite like the Xandros File Manager for overall power and ease of use. New to average skill level computer users will find it simple to use, and power users will not be left wanting. This is the most elegant file management solution I have seen in a Linux distribution, and is almost worth the $99 price of admission in and of itself.