A Productive Desktop Environment for Scientists and Engineers - Part I

Introduction

Over the years of computer use for my work, I have settled down for certain practices that make my tasks a bit easier. Whether I am analyzing data, rigging-up a crude model, editing computer programs, writing a paper, creating a presentation or trying to keep my things organized. (Here, 'things' are strictly limited to 'things' that are stored in computer storage media. Anyone who has been to my office know the situation on other 'things'). In these pages I attempt to go through my 'tools of the trade' with the hope that someone in a similar situation will find them to be useful.

You need a good web browser

Simple! Just download Firefox browser and be happy ever after :-) (at least for the foreseeable future!). I am not just trying to be different from the 'masses' here. Simply trust me on this one, install it, load a web page and press 'Ctrl+T'. Tabbed browsing is one of those simple improvement that endear a tool to the user. I have been using this feature on my browser (first Mozilla and then wikipedia:Mozilla Firefox since 2001 and I can not imagine browsing the internet without it.

Spell checker for your browser

When was the last time you have opend up one of large textarea on a web page. (a good example is using a webmail service like gmail or wikipedia:Yahoo! Mail.) Before submitting the 'Go' button, it is better to correct those misspelled words. This can be done by copying and pasting the text in your wordprocessor (e.g. Microsoft Word), checking spelling and pasting back. But that is a lot of work! It is better to have a built-in spell checker in the browser, always at service.

Spellbound is an extension for Mozilla firefox, for just doing that.

• How to Install Spellbound in Latest Version of Firefox