fangbite Posted March 15, 2005 Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 In the years I have work with linux (egads its 2 years now that I ahve been using linux) and I've come across several linux desktops. Right now KDE is my favorite because it has a multitude of great programs and is appealing to look at. I've tried gnome (can't stand it), ICEWM and XFCE (I think...). What I was wondering if there were any other desktops? I use ICEWM for my slow computer (although thinking of changing it to XFCE since it looks better) and KDE for my better computers since they can handle the extra load. Basically I want to try out a few new desktops to see if there is something I like more than KDE. Aside from plain x windows (which I couldn't figure out how to use), are there any other gems to look at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkelve Posted March 15, 2005 Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 I'd check out at least: - XFCE; latest stable version. I love Xfce Xfce is great because it also lets you use KDE and Gnome apps easily. - WindowMaker -> this is such a true hidden gem and have used it for quite a while on Mandrake. It works very 'different' from all the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulSe Posted March 15, 2005 Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 Fluxbox is a lot of fun... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gowator Posted March 15, 2005 Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 I think KDE and Gnome are just an extra level and frankly incomprable with anything else. (/flames) There's looking glass to play with on the heavy side and simple stuf like waimia and ratpoision on the light side but they all do the same in different ways... I honestly think you just gotta try em... but then you miss out on the details because they are often less easy to experimientally click and configure than KDE/Gnome... I just installed KDE3.4 and it ROCKS big time .. I don't have Gnome though its just unfamiliar to me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qchem Posted March 15, 2005 Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 twm. No, really! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamw Posted March 15, 2005 Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 enlightenment is the oddball desktop. fluxbox is popular with minimalists. I run GNOME...what couldn't you stand about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fangbite Posted March 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 In regards to gnome: 1)my first appearance with it was with redhat7 I think it was. It just looked bland and ugly. 2)Lack of Konquerer like ftp program (can't figure out the others) 3)The new open a new window with every double click "feature" 4)gnome utilities to me seem clunky 5)don't care much for the general appearance of theme's i've tried. Gnome is a good desktop to use (use it with beatrix at work jsut because I'm too lazy to switch it to something else) but at home I'm KDE all the way. XFCE I've tried and actually enjoyed. I'm concidering switching to that since it takes a little less memory (well just for the laptop, thats slower than my great gaming machine). I'll take a look at those other ones listed: rat poison looking glass window maker (isn't that ICEWM???) fluxbox waimia twm enlightenment Thanks for the suggestions (and any more that may come). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulSe Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 In regards to gnome: 1)my first appearance with it was with redhat7 I think it was. It just looked bland and ugly. Gnome is highly flexible and you can make it look anyway you want it to really. Look around here for iphitus' and other's screenshots.2)Lack of Konquerer like ftp program (can't figure out the others) gftp couldn't be easier to use, I can help you with it if you want. Nautilus has ftp support now as well, but I'm not sure if it's in the stable tree yet.3)The new open a new window with every double click "feature" That is annoying, but only applies to the desktop icons (like home). Which, if you think about it kinda makes sense. I'm sure this could be changed with gconf though, but I don't know how (haven't tried).4)gnome utilities to me seem clunkyWhich ones? In general I have found them to be far more streamlined and less frilly then KDE's.5)don't care much for the general appearance of theme's i've tried. Some of our users have made awesome themes and there are heaps on http://art.gnome.org/ and http://www.gnome-look.org Gnome is a good desktop to use (use it with beatrix at work jsut because I'm too lazy to switch it to something else) but at home I'm KDE all the way. Linux is always about choice, if KDE works best for you, why move to something different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qchem Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 3)The new open a new window with every double click "feature" <{POST_SNAPBACK}> This can be switched off in the latest versions of nautilus (certainly in my 2.8.2 gnome), in the preferences there's a tick box for browser mode. As you might have guessed, theres many gnome fans around here :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Scrimpshire Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 IceWM and WindowMaker are not the same thing. I prefer Fluxbox myself. Don't really like XFCE. I went from KDE to IceWM to Fluxbox, where I've stayed. The mention of a desktop environment called looking glass is appealing. Is this the same fabled one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iphitus Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 ion3 is my favourite wm today, i dont know what ill be using tommorow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theYinYeti Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 I think Ion and Matchbox are interesting. Yves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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