I'm researching background and font choices in Fedora Core 4.
 

I don't actually use Fedora Core 4. I need 3 background/font combinations as part of an assignment for a Computer Operating System class. I also need to know how various fonts and icons fair on different backgrounds as well as some tips for choosing backgrounds and fonts.

I've found bits and pieces of information regarding fonts and font sizes; but, I'm coming up empty on the backgrounds. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Superfoot2

A Computer Operating Systems class is wasting time on fonts and backgrounds? I thought that's what secretaries did.
And, really, background to what? A desktop wallpaper? an xterm? a title bar?
--- rod.

You didn't provide nearly enough information about your goal for anyone to help you. The assignment is likely to be related to ergonomics but you haven't said what you need to know.

Keep in mind that FC4 hit EOl(End of Life) something like five years ago. There have not been any updates of any kind since then. Because of this virtually no one is currently running FC4(so no one will be current on that version) and it is likely most who do reply will be hazy as to which information applies to which version (was that FC4, FC5, or FC6 that they changed that).

background to what?
the 5 year old gnome desktop?
the 5 year old kde3 desktop ?

or for the old and no longer used version of grub ( the old fedora 4 boot screen )
if the boot this changed back in ? fedora 6 to 8 i think


fonts ???
fonts are fonts so what fonts ?

I can just advise to use a background that contrasts well with the text. For example, very light color for the background, and very dark color for the font.

Perhaps that's why so many web sites are configured for a light grey font color on a slightly lighter grey background--very difficult to read at such low contrast.
I encourage students to read up just a little on legibility, eye strain, and the visual appeal of a text display. Don't forget that publishers had hundreds of years of experience in "displays" before the computer screen.

A class about operating systems is about choosing fonts and icons?!?!? That has nothing to do with operating systems.

Maybe that shouldn't be so surprising, since I read that many "computer science" classes are actually about how to use MS Office.

On the basis of what you have said, you seem to be looking at the legibility of various fonts and icons. I presume the course uses Fedora 4 as an example of Linux?

The way to do this is to look at available fonts and icon sets in any convenient Linux version and draw your own conclusions. Second-hand opinions are no real substitute. If they say use Fedora, then download the live CD version (Fedora 14, currently) and use that: you have to exercise a bit of personal judgement!

This sounds like a very simple exercise that you should be doing yourself. It seems that they would like your opinion. And they would like you to explain your opinion. That is what school is for, learning. So take the opportunity to figure this out for yourself.

I still have most of the older FC distros. If/when I need them, I pop them into a VM. (I've also archived a couple complete HD images w/ updates installed while they were available)

I agree with the gang, this appears to be a 'how to approach & solve it' type exercise if I understand the thread correctly.

IIRC, the older fonts for X were mostly 75 dpi fonts (if you were using X at all) and 100 dpi was just becoming popular as we got 1280x1024 resolution displays... Prior to that it was 1024 x 768.

As for colors / fonts, et. al., I would be doing some Human Factors searching for the direct info it sounds like you need.

I can bring up FC-5 right now if needed and still have the distro disc set in the book.

C.

The assignment is researching background and font combinations in Fedora Core 4. I am supposed to prepare a presentation on the poor choices users make when working with desktop backgrounds and fonts. I haven't found much information on this topic. Let me guess why...could be because Fedora Core 4 is quite outdated! Gee, ya think?! The presentation is to include 3 researched examples of desktop backgrounds, each with a different font. I don't have any access to Fedora so that I can actually "play" with the available desktop backgrounds and fonts. I'm just going to give this my best shot and see how it turns out.

I have a great professor, he's not responsible for the cirriculum.

there is a fedora 4 set of install cds and a dvd in the historical archives
one of the ONLY 8 mirrors that are still working
32bit
http://archive.kernel.org/fedora-arc...re/4/i386/iso/
-- EXPERIMENTAL!! 64 bit--
http://archive.kernel.org/fedora-arc.../4/x86_64/iso/

ps WILL NOT install on a new computer !!!- there is no i5 or i7 support
install on a 5 year old machine

way back fedora 4 was the first linux install that i used

and it had kde3 or gnome for the desktop

LQ dose have a "screen shot" thread and so did fedoraforum

you might look at the forum archives
http://www.fedoraforum.org/

This definitely sounds like an assignment that concentrates on those subjects, so forget FC4; get yourself F14 (free on the web) or really any Linux and write a paper on those keywords I've quoted. The principles of choosing fonts/colours widely are a generic ergonomic/HCI issue, regardless of OS.

You can get Fedora 14 (the newest version right now) free online. And you can change icons and backgruonds on any GUI desktop, not just Fedora 4.