What is Full Desktop (Advanced Mode)?

Full desktop mode is a standard windowed desktop, as opposed to the non-standard tabbed launched, which is the default interface on the EEE. The full desktop mode uses the KDE Desktop Environment, while the Easy Desktop mode uses the IceWM window manager and a special tabbed interface. Once installed, you can switch between Full and the default Easy Desktop whenever you like. When you turn the EEE on, it starts up in whichever mode you used last.

Full desktop allows access to much of the software that is hidden in the Easy Desktop mode GUI. It is also much more customisable. As one user put it, using Full Desktop mode is using a computer, while using Easy Desktop mode is like using an appliance.

Full desktop is particularly useful for people who are used to Linux, Windows or Mac OS interfaces, or those who prefer a more traditional windowed desktop environment.

Switching from Full to Easy is via the Launch menu.

Simple instructions on how to install Full Desktop are on Enabling Advanced Desktop Mode. Installation takes a few minutes. Uninstall instructions are also included.

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• Everything you can do on a computer that is difficult or impossible in Easy Desktop.
• Saving files to the desktop,
• Easy access to all software (e.g. the character map, all parts of Open Office, text editor…) from the Launch menu (like Windows' Start Menu)
• Much more scope for customization
• You can switch back to Easy Desktop, and back again, easily in seconds, at any time.
• It's very easy (and harmless) to install, and easy (and harmless) to uninstall

• Having it installed takes up a little extra memory on the SD drive
• You will use more RAM
• Start up time is a little slower when starting up in Full Desktop
• Some keyboard shortcuts are different between modes - for example, the home key opens the launch menu, rather than showing the desktop. (There's a show desktop button on the task bar however, like in Windows)