Summary

The GNOME desktop is an easy-to-use graphical user interface that provides both end-user and system administration functions through a familiar Windows-like interface. Users can take advantage of features such as drop-down menus, icons, and mouse movements to select applications to run, access devices, folders or files, move about the desktop, and perform system routines.

This chapter described how the GNOME desktop is accessed via a login screen, as well as the items contained on the login screen. It also discussed each of the basic desktop components, and how they are accessed and used. Further, it discussed how a user can customize the desktop environment to personalize it and make the things most useful to the user readily available on the desktop. Finally, it discussed some of the key applications and built-in tools that make GNOME easy to use, including assistive-technology applications.

Remember, the best way to learn any desktop interface is through use. While you are learning to move around the GNOME desktop, take advantage of the online help features available within applications as well as the online guides that come with your GNOME distribution.