Panels

Panels are the two bars that are shown on the top and bottom of the screen. By default, the top panel shows the desktop main menubar, a set of application launcher icons, the notification area, the volume control, and a clock. The bottom panel includes the Show Desktop button, the Window List applet, the Workspace Switcher applet, and the Trash applet.

Panels can be customized to contain several tools such as other menus and launchers, and small utility applications called panel applets. For example, you can configure your panel to display the current weather for your location. For more information about panels, see Chapter 4, Using the Desktop Panels.

Windows

Most applications run in one or more windows. You can display multiple windows on the desktop simultaneously. Windows can be resized and moved around to accommodate the workflow. Each window has a titlebar at the top with buttons which enables you to minimize, maximize, and close the window. For more information about working with windows, see Working With Windows.

Workspaces

You can divide the desktop into separate workspaces. Each workspace can contain several windows, enabling you to group related tasks. For more information about working with workspaces, see Workspaces Overview.

File manager

The file manager provides access to files, folders, and applications. The file manager manages the folder contents and opens the files in appropriate applications. For more information about using the file manager, see Working With Files .

Preferences

You can customize the computer using Preferences, which can be found in the System menu. Each Preference tool enables you to change a particular aspect of computer behavior. For more information about Preferences, see Chapter 10, Configuring the Desktop.