I thought I'd write a post about desktop customization in Linux (GNOME). I am assuming in this post that you already have Linux installed.
FILE MANAGERS
In Linux, you can replace the default file manager. I have replaced Nautilus, the default file manager in GNOME, with Thunar http://thunar.xfce.org/index.html. Thunar is very fast and lean on memory usage (erm, well at least, that's the impression I get). I use PCFileMan http://pcmanfm.sourceforge.net/ as well, which is a tabbed file manager.
DOCKS
Avant Window Navigator https://launchpad.net/awn
This is the first dock I used in Linux. It features the reflection of icons (similar to Le