Is the MEPIS Desktop in Need of a Makeover?

Jon, I wonder if perhaps the opposite might be true too?
"First impressions" comes to mind - what we first see is often the image that long remains with us.

That first impression is the one that either attracts me or repels me - my fiddling & explorations & changes follow afterwards presuming the 1st 'pic' has been sufficiently enticing.

Sophistication without overkill?
Gee it's hard trying to convey this adequately in text.
As they say a ( good ) picture can be worth a 1,000 words.

Keep 'em coming guys.

Hi,
I do like sheilas, but not on my desktop.... I'm coming over (with my own sheila) to AU this weekend to personally look them over - for a couple of weeks. And enjoy the sunny WA beaches, wineries, and of course my family down under....

Regards, Ko

Ko Bros

We could consider a Male and Female version.

Mepis for Males Exquisitely Pictured in Sunshine
Fepis for Females ....

Take your pick....

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

Very creative, carlops. I'll be sure to mention that one to Warren.

Just wanted to let you all know that we are reading the comments, and there have been some great ideas and wallpapers.

Hi everyone;

How about this, guys 'n dolls?

http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mepiswallpgirlui1.jpg
http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mepiswallpboyls5.jpg

Ruud

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Compaq N1050v, Pentium 4 1.8 GHz, 1024Mb Ram, Syllable 0.6.1.
Shuttle SN41G2, AMD Athlon XP 3000+, 512Mb RAM Mepis 6.0.
Linuxuserreg # 417292 Tiocfaidh ár lá
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Ruud,
I like them a lot. The only criticism that I have is that you could probably choose a better font this looks a little bit jagged.

--
Check out Mepis wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

Okay AdrianTM;

This font is the "MEPIS original"...

http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mepiswallpboy2vl8.jpg

Erin gave me some hints, "More Simplicity"; so I have added these two:
http://img182.imageshack.us/my.php?image=simplymepiswallpeasy2bt1.jpg
http://img182.imageshack.us/my.php?image=simplymepiswallpeasynb9.jpg

Have fun

Ruud
=====
Compaq N1050v, Pentium 4 1.8 GHz, 1024Mb Ram, Syllable 0.6.1.
Shuttle SN41G2, AMD Athlon XP 3000+, 512Mb RAM Mepis 6.0.
Linuxuserreg # 417292 Tiocfaidh ár lá
=====

rudd, you're going better and better. I loved your wallpapers, even the "female" version (wait till my wife sees it...).
erin is right: simplicity, simplicity &...simplicity. So, my Oscar goes to:

http://img182.imageshack.us/my.php?image=simplymepiswallpeasynb9.jpg

congrats

Oh, I like it that way!

I hate to make comments... one more, I think MEPIS logo and the text should have the type of shadow effect.

The logo and text should probably be in the right side of the screen because KDE by default places icons in the left side
--
Check out Mepis wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

Okay;

I'm sticking to "sence and simplicity" now and try to fine-tune bit by bit.
So comment please, by name!
Don't be shy...

http://img299.imageshack.us/my.php?image=simplymepiswallpeasy4bl6.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/my.php?image=simplymepiswallpeasy3jx1.jpg

Have fun, again!
Ruud
=====
Compaq N1050v, Pentium 4 1.8 GHz, 1024Mb Ram, Syllable 0.6.1.
Shuttle SN41G2, AMD Athlon XP 3000+, 512Mb RAM Mepis 6.0.
Linuxuserreg # 417292 Tiocfaidh ár lá
=====

Hey AdrianTM;
I'm not sure which one you mean, could you refer to it by name?
Ruud

=====
Compaq N1050v, Pentium 4 1.8 GHz, 1024Mb Ram, Syllable 0.6.1.
Shuttle SN41G2, AMD Athlon XP 3000+, 512Mb RAM Mepis 6.0.
Linuxuserreg # 417292 Tiocfaidh ár lá
=====

I like for example this logo:
http://img182.imageshack.us/my.php?image=simplymepiswallpeasy2bt1.jpg

But I think the text should have the same kind of shadow (and as I said the logo should be in the right side of the screen)

--
Check out Mepis wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

I've been using Mepis for the last two years and, after some less than perfect experiences with other distros (Mandrake, SuSE, Vida) was pleasantly surprised by its excellent hardware detection and ease of installation. Also, the fact that you could run it from a live CD AND then install it was a great bonus (which, of course, everyone soon copied).
I admit the default desktop is pretty dull, but changing wallpaper, colour scheme, style, splash screen etc to something more exciting is hardly rocket science.
My major gripes with version 6.0 are:
1. Yes, those annoying applets that load by default. By all means make them available to people who want them, but leave that up to the individual users whether they want to see them on their panel.
2. Some of the styles/decorations are so 20th c. Polyester is great, but who needs RISC or CDE?
3. Standard splash screens are pretty boring. Get some Moodins in.
4. (My major gripe) Lack of decent graphics software installed by default. Get rid of that Xara rubbish. I don't care how many bells and whistles it has, any program that only opens and saves in its own format is no use to man nor beast. I'm not fond of PhotoViewer either. Bring back the GIMP and Kuickshow.
5. Bring back KGoldrunner. I've only got to Level 86!!!!

Love

catweasel

Okay;

There you go:

http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=simplymepiswallpeasy6gq5.jpg
http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=simplymepiswallpeasy5to5.jpg

Positioning logo or name wouldn't be the problem,
it's done in a sec!

Ruud
=====
Compaq N1050v, Pentium 4 1.8 GHz, 1024Mb Ram, Syllable 0.6.1.
Shuttle SN41G2, AMD Athlon XP 3000+, 512Mb RAM Mepis 6.0.
Linuxuserreg # 417292 Tiocfaidh ár lá
=====

I like it!!!
how about switching logo and text position? I think it's better to have log in upper corner (matter of balance). Sorry if I drove you nuts, hope other people like it too

--
Check out Mepis wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

Yes I do, good job, Rudi...
I think this one qualifies as a standard desktop.

I do however also like Adrian's earlier suggestion very much (the gnome desktop). A variant to that one, (with the mepis logo restyled in the center) would be a good choice for a more 'techie' desktop. I'going away on Saturday for a week, so I don't think I can get to it myself.... Maybe when I get back....

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

I like these Ruud:
http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=simplymepiswallpeasy6gq5.jpg

http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=simplymepiswallpeasy5to5.jpg

I like the smooth color gradient and the simplicity. It does remind me a little bit of "Hello Kitty" though

But I am attracted by the simplicity, since it's then possible to clutter up the desktop with all sorts of stuff, maybe even a bloke or sheila

Jon

The blue draws my eye, and the yellow (and all) seems to upset the whole thing....then again, if you dropped the bikini girl out, I could GIMP-in my wife...yeah! That would work real well.

"You done filled my wagon chock-full to burstin' with nonessentials. Look at this: Cinnamon, oregano, ci-lantro...What in the cock-a-doodle is ci-lantro?"
"I got your four basic food groups! Beans, bacon, whiskey and lard!"

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~julioa/downloads/snapshot11.jpg
and
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~julioa/downloads/preview191205.jpg

Strike me very well. I like those quite a bit.
I suppose I'm just a fan of the cooler colours.

"You done filled my wagon chock-full to burstin' with nonessentials. Look at this: Cinnamon, oregano, ci-lantro...What in the cock-a-doodle is ci-lantro?"
"I got your four basic food groups! Beans, bacon, whiskey and lard!"

I like this style better. But it's just a personal thing. I used this design for SphinxOS back in 2004 (this here is the basic screen without any logo design put in yet).

Maybe put in the stylized, abstracted "sun+pyramids" design that Rudi made?

Regards, Ko

Ko Bros

Frankly I've found SphinxOS a little too shiny for my taste.
--
Check out Mepis wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

I understand your point. But I want to stress another (related) point: our main consideration at that time for the 'shiny look' was to appeal to Windows-users that were considering to try a linux distro. A lot of things may have changed in the past 2 years, but the necessity to convey a visually attractive 'Mepis first look' to those users surely hasn't.....

I DO like the stylized, abstracted design for a new Mepis logo that Rudi made.

Regards, Ko

Ko Bros

Thanks guys, I guess if people like my style (glossy nuvola iconset look) I can work at it, but I guess it may look too cartoony for some people's tastes. Anyway I have got the wallpaper with that design and a moodin splash screen as well as seen on the snapshots. I don't use mepis anymore (ubuntu-gnome) but am happy to donate my time to mepis if people require any graphics work, just like ruud is doing!

Regards

Julz

Hmm, SphinxOS background with Mepis pyramids in the foreground. Could that work? Next, we'll need a TUTorial

Jon

Hi Ko;

Have you seen the pyramids, they are allready in there!
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7637/sphinxosxe1.gif
So, that would be way too much of the same!
Sorry...

Ruu
=====
Compaq N1050v, Pentium 4 1.8 GHz, 1024Mb Ram, Syllable 0.6.2.
Shuttle SN41G2, AMD Athlon XP 3000+, 512Mb RAM Mepis 6.0.
Linuxuserreg # 417292 Tiocfaidh ár lá
=====

a rough draft. Need to put perspective into the background and things need to be polished. Took some liberty with the mepis logo, see what you all think.

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

...?? Rudi, there is no logo anywhere on the blue background design that I showed in this thread.
Sure I know what was in SphinxOS. It was my very own linux distro.

I like your stylized Mepis logo design. Could you send it to me so I can put it in and use it myself?

Regards, Ko

Ko Bros

Hey Ko;
Just look at the url I enclosed in the former reply, or here:
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7637/sphinxosxe1.gif
It really has some Pyramids, or am I wrong?
That's why I think we should not do that, you can have it if you like but I don't think it'll work in MEPIS...
Ruud

=====
Compaq N1050v, Pentium 4 1.8 GHz, 1024Mb Ram, Syllable 0.6.2.
Shuttle SN41G2, AMD Athlon XP 3000+, 512Mb RAM Mepis 6.0.
Linuxuserreg # 417292 Tiocfaidh ár lá
=====

Yes Rudi there are, but those shots have nothing to do with this. I did not propose to use FINAL SphinxOS artwork in Mepis.
The blue, swirly background design that I showed in this thread does NOT have any logo or pyramids in it.
That swirly design may not be appealing to some, but it's certainly more appealing to me than any dull lightblue/greyish background design that I have seen sofar.

The 'make-over' discussion sofar seems to focus and stop at the desktop background.
There's much more graphics to consider. Whatever will be decided on in the end regarding this 'make-over' is fine with me.
I can change any graphic design element in Mepis to my own liking.

Regards, Ko

Ko Bros