FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.5.0_01"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0_01-b08)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.5.0_01-b08, mixed mode, sharing)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
SuSE 9.2:
Linux io 2.6.8-24.11-smp #1 SMP Fri Jan 14 13:01:26 UTC 2005 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

or

RHEL3:
Linux dio.tomosw.bruker.de 2.4.21-27.0.2.EL #1 Wed Jan 12 23:46:37 EST
2005 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :
SuSE 9,2:
kde-config --version
Qt: 3.3.3
KDE: 3.3.0
kde-config: 1.0

or

RHEL3:
GNOME 2.2.2

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
The method java.awt.GraphicsEnvironment.getMaximumWindowBounds() does not consider the task bar of KDE or GNOME as documented. Running the attached small program on a Windows machine gives the size of the desktop without the task bar which is correct. On a linux system the test program always returns the size of the root window without taking the task bar into account.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Compile and run the attached test program which prints the rectangle returned from java.awt.GraphicsEnvironment.getMaximumWindowBounds().

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
It is expected that the rectangle returned from java.awt.GraphicsEnvironment.getMaximumWindowBounds() gives the size of the desktop without the task bar.
ACTUAL -
The rectangle returned from java.awt.GraphicsEnvironment.getMaximumWindowBounds() does not take the size of the task bar into account.

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;

public class MaxWindowBounds {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        MaxWindowBounds mwb = new MaxWindowBounds();
        JFrame frame = mwb.createFrame();
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        frame.pack();
        frame.setVisible(true);
    }

    public MaxWindowBounds() {
    }

    public JFrame createFrame() {
        JFrame frame = new JFrame("MaxWindowBounds");
        GraphicsEnvironment env =
            GraphicsEnvironment.getLocalGraphicsEnvironment();
        Rectangle bounds = env.getMaximumWindowBounds();
        System.out.println("bounds = "+bounds);
        return frame;
    }
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------