The Panel

Like much of GNOME, the Panel is highly configurable (see Figure 2-4).

From the Panel, you can launch applications and applets, small applications and utilities which are meant to be docked into the panel. Among the applets already running on the Panel are the GNOME Pager and clock applet.

Like KDE, you can hide the Panel by clicking on one of the arrows at either of its borders. You can also auto-hide the Panel, making it appear to sink beneath the frame of your screen (it will return when you hold your cursor over the minimized space). To enable the auto-hide feature, right-click on the Panel, select panel, properties, hiding policy and choose auto hide.

	Elements of the GNOME Pager
	The GNOME Pager consists of the Desk Guide, which is a visual representation of your desktops, and the Tasklist, which shows your running applications -- either minimized or opened on the desktop. For more on the Desk Guide and GNOME Pager, see the section called Multiple Desktops.

Other applets which can enhance productivity and enjoyment range from a mail checker and a CD player to system monitors. Applications, folders and applets can be docked on the Panel, so that they can be launched with a single click of the button.

To add an applet:

• Right-click on the Panel; select Applets (see Figure 2-5)

  

  Figure 2-5. Adding an Applet

• Right-click on the Panel; select Panel => Add to panel (see Figure 2-6)

  

  Figure 2-6. Adding an Applet

• Choose Applets from the main GNOME footprint menu

You can also customize the Panel, add more than one Panel to your desktop, or convert the current orientation of the Panel from horizontal to vertical. By clicking on the arrows which appear at either end, you can "shrink" the Panel to appear in a corner of the Desktop, rather than extend across the screen (as in Figure 2-4).

	Switch tasks quickly
	One way to bring currently running applications to the front is to press Alt-Tab. To scroll through the tasks, hold down the Alt key, while pressing the Tab key in succession. When you've found the task you want to bring to the front, stop pressing the Tab key and release the Alt key.