How to configure my system so that all windows start maximized?

Install maximus from the Software Center or from the Terminal:

sudo apt-get install maximus

Then run this command from the Terminal:

maximus

All the new windows will be maximized with that.

Finally, just like in the screen shot at the 5th point in Isaiah's answer, add an entry in the Startup Applications. The name can be whatever you want, and the command will be simply maximus.

1. Install devilspie.

   sudo apt-get install devilspie
   

   Devil's Pie is:

   A window-matching utility, inspired by Sawfish's "Matched Windows" option and the lack of the functionality in Metacity. Metacity lacking window matching is not a bad thing — Metacity is a lean window manager, and window matching does not have to be a window manager task.

   Devil's Pie can be configured to detect windows as they are created, and match the window to a set of rules. If the window matches the rules, it can perform a series of actions on that window. For example, I can make all windows created by X-Chat appear on all workspaces, and the main Gkrellm1 window does not appear in the pager or task list.

2. Create the directory ~/.devilspie if it doesn't already exist:

   mkdir -p ~/.devilspie
   

3. Now we'll create the script that will maximize all windows:

   gedit ~/.devilspie/maximize.ds
   

   Paste the following code into maximize.ds:

   (begin
       (maximize)(focus)
   )               
   

   

4. Run the following command from a terminal:

   devilspie       
   

5. All your windows should now be maximized. Now add devilspie to your Startup Applications so you won't have to run it manually every time you login:

   • System ➜ Preferences ➜ Startup Applications

   • Click Add and enter Devil's Pie for the Name and /usr/bin/devilspie for the Command.

   • Click Add and close Startup Applications.

   

For regular Inkscape users which get annoyed by that problem there is a solution.

1. Start up Inkscape.
2. Maximize it.
3. Go to File ➜ Inkscape Preferences ➜ Windows.

4. Select Remember and use last window's geometry.

   

5. Always close it in maximized mode.

Now every time you fire up Inkscape it will load up with its saved geometry.