Two Linux apps with netbook-friendly user interfaces

anjal

Most netbooks have low resolution displays, which means that applications that may look good on desktop or larger laptop computers are difficult to use on a netbook with a 10 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel or or lower resolution display.

One upon a time, most applications were designed for 800 x 600 pixel or lower resolution displays, so of course you could always dig up old programs for your netbook. But a handful of developers are also updating existing applications to optimize them for small screens. Ars Technica has an article on a new version of the Banshee Media Player which has a custom “Cubano” interface designed specifically for netbooks. Banshee was originally designed for Linux, but it also runs on OS X.

Another netbook-friendly Linux app is Anjal, an e-mail application that has a tabbed UI designed for small screens.What are some of the best netbook-friendly Windows, Linux, or OS X apps you run on your netbook? Sound off in the comments.

via Portable Monkey


Posted on Thursday, July 16th, 2009, 4:17 pm by Brad
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  • dingbatt
    On my Dell mini 9 running Linux Mint 7, Exaile Music Player works perfect. It's also a favorite on my big computers as well.
  • Anjal
    I am serious when I say this: the Anjal project, while brilliant, really should consider changing its name.

    I am not joking.
  • BoloMKXXVIII
    There is nothing wrong with using older software. It was usually made to work on slower hardware so it is a double win. You can find some real jewels here: www.oldversion.com
  • trey
    Banshee=Mono= no thanks.

    Anjal, trust me, this is one of the better ones out there.

    I use a screencast app name Krut and the identi.ca/twitter client on my Mandriva2009/KDE4 netbook is Choqok.
    And no, I dont know how you say it but more than one person have asked what's that Choke-Cock program do on my netbook.

    And if you thought calling the OS by its kernel name, Linux, is confusing (and Gnu-Linux just doesnt slide off the tongue), how about Google who will call their inexistant OS the same name as their browser, Chrome?
  • zima
    Opera web browser.

    Not only you can "compress" all fields (adress field, tabs, buttons, menu) placed usually above webpage to one bar (which is sorta expected feature nowadays), getting compact UI.

    Also:

    a) it has superbly working "fit to width" function for webpages that wouldn't otherwise fit horizontally on small netbook screens (and zoom feature works well in tandem with it)

    b) complete navigation by keyboard

    c) it is generally very light on resources...usual CPUs and amounts of RAM found in netbooks are plenty even with really large number of tabs

    d) Opera 10 has Opera Turbo feature, which considerably lowers amount of data transmitted and speeds up browsing on mobile connections.
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