hello community!
i haven't seen linux yet, not even from far, but i'm pretty decided to install it on the new pc i have just ordered.

thinking about the distro i should use, i've read some good things about ubuntu: growing fast, easy to install for a linux beginner, ... the only thing is: i do not like the sand/earth/grass looks.

is it possible, once i've installed it, to make it look different, with thin borders, transparent windows, fancy little icons, ... a little like the following screenshots:
commscentral.net/screenshots/linux-debian-unstable-4-9-2005.png
abbottdavid.com/screenshots/gentoo.jpg

i'm sorry if the question seems stupid to you, i just don't know! maybe i have to choose the distro from the looks i wanna have, maybe it is as flexible as it could be... ?

any answer will be greatly appreciated.

cheers!
fred.

OBJECTION!

I suggest you use a user-frendliness-criteria to make your choise---thus you'll get started faster....ubuntu sounds good....and may look good as well.


*it's lifestyle problem though.....

if it wasn't for lifestyle, i would maybe not even consider using linux at first place...

one of the reasons i want to have linux instead of xp is because of the cool looks you can get (or can't get, which is what i'm trying to find out right now ;-))

fred

new distros come with new versions of xserver(xorg), display/window managers and so on....the difference is mainly the defaults they come with. don't rely on that for your choise cuz you'll be able to customize the look of your OS and make it as pretty as you can imagine.
...Go for it!

*.....and still have in mind: architecture/hardware compatibility, installer ease, package management system......i must be the face of boredom, a?

cheers,
vlado

thanks Z, that's exactly what i wanted to hear. you a marketing guy, a?

seriously: i have not forgotten that it first has to work before i can try and make it look nice. just wanted to know if it was possible with ubuntu. now i know it is, that's cool.

going back to the compatibility, installer ease, ... do you reckon ubuntu is the right choice?
i use my pc to download stuff from the internet, process some pictures, use some music/dj software, burn dvd's... basically anything i wouldn't do w/ my pc at work ;-)

the components of my pc seem to be no major problem from what i've read.

fred

Shouldn't have any problem configuring your themes, desktop wallpaper, icons, etc. Linux has it over Windows when it comes to customization. So, no...you don't have to settle for the brown Ubuntu. Suggest you read the Ubuntu forms on customization tip and tricks.

Ubuntu is very easy to customize. Here is my desktop after messing around for maybe 20 minutes after a new install...

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6677/screenshot4om.png

how do you get the buttons at the bottom of your screen? or is that just with mac?

That would be the Gdesklets Starterbar.

http://gdesklets.gnomedesktop.org/index.php

mipia: looks great. now i'm convinced...

thanx a lot!

Also check out this site:

http://www.gnome-look.org

Which desklet is the desktop switcher? I can't seem to find it.