Xfce - a great alternative to KDE and GNOME

[Liviu Lalescu]

Note: this message is highly subjective. It reflects my personal opinions/wishes. It concerns only my need to work on FET and other programming problems in a decent decent environment. If anybody considers it inappropriate to this forum, I may consider changing/removing this message.

I have lost many hours/days and had many nerves on a simple problem, so I am documenting my experience with this so that others may avoid these problems, if their opinions about desktop usage are convergent with mine:

1) If you want a simple, configurable, fast, usable, "normal", GNU/Linux desktop manager, use Xfce. Features:
        a) Starts very fast;
        b) Everything is configurable, in a very pleasant, intelligent and natural way;
        c) It has very good default functionality.

I mean, I just want a task bar with icons for usual programs, and nice relaxing colors. Why anything more or less?

2) I will probably never again use GNOME, unless it is the last possible alternative. If GNOME 2 had some possibilities of choice for settings (though very few), GNOME 3 is revolting! Nothing can be changed, and the functionality is zero for me. I will never agree with their reasons. But I agree that I use their programs in Xfce (which is compatible with GNOME).

3) KDE - I used it for a long time. It was good. But starting with version 4.7 (I think), KMail wants you to keep the emails in a bloated database, there appeared weird daemons running, and other things. I may reconsider KDE, if forced. But only if Xfce really lets me down.

4) Fluxbox - may be good, but I don't have the time to add all the needed functionality (you get zero default functionality). Also, I don't like that the task bar is very small and cannot be increased.

[Silver]

thanks.
regards

[Zsolt Udvari]

If you have more free time and lust you can try awesome window manager.
I think if you don't disturb about "new" concepts and some learning (programming in lua) you will like it

[Liviu Lalescu]

OK, I'll remember this option and maybe try it when I'll have the time.