best desktop environment?

coolpyrofreak · 2006-11-18 23:43:50

I've been using Arch for a while, but I still can't seem to figure out which desktop environment I like. I love the eye candy on KDE, but GNOME and XFCE seem to be much faster. Is there anything that can combine both eye candy and speed?

xterminus · 2006-11-19 00:06:03

coolpyrofreak wrote:

I've been using Arch for a while, but I still can't seem to figure out which desktop environment I like. I love the eye candy on KDE, but GNOME and XFCE seem to be much faster. Is there anything that can combine both eye candy and speed?

Enlightenment maybe. Lots of eye candy, and it's always been blazing fast. The current stable version (e16) screams.

That said, I tend to just use OpenBox. I'm tired of the WIMP interface, and it's easier to come up with unique layouts and experiment with other interface when using WindowManagers.

once · 2006-11-19 01:07:45

try this
http://lxde.sourceforge.net/

pauldonnelly · 2006-11-19 05:52:44

I'm more of a "no desktop environment" kind of guy. I just configure my WM to look fairly pleasant and leave it at that.

skottish · 2006-11-19 06:08:34

As far as desktop environments go, choose that one that has the most "native' software that you want to use. If you like Konqueror as a file manager and a web browser and you like KOffice, use KDE. If you like Epiphany, Nautilus, and GOffice, use Gnome. But...

If you have enough harddrive space, you don't exactly need to make a choice. I use KDE for my day-to-day operations, and I find that Enlightenment is great for huge graphics rendering projects. I like Enlightenment because it's more than a window mananger, but less than a desktop environment. (I'll probably switch to E17 when it's closer to being "done", but it's too unstable right now.)

You only have to make a choice if harddrive space is at premium.

Kenetixx · 2006-11-19 12:40:07

If you have the room and cpu try em all
Im in the process of doing a comparison of them all.

brazzmonkey · 2006-11-19 14:48:33

nobody will help you on that one, you'll have to make your own opinion. skottish is probably right though, choose the one that has the most native software you need.

delphinen · 2006-11-19 15:01:40

I like Gnome, but KDE its great too. Even Window Maker is nice. Its your choice.

Gullible Jones · 2006-11-19 15:23:23

They've all got their faults.

XFCE: wonderful, but XFWM could be faster (and Thunar's FAM dependency is annoying). Also, the standalone browsers we have thus far aren't so hot.

(Note to self: send something to the Kazehakase devs about user interface improvements.)

Gnome: kind of bloaty file manager, but good multimedia support and a nice browser. The window manager, Metacity, is (still) very slow, but there's compatibility with other window managers.

KDE: lots of features and not too slow if you have enough RAM, and konqueror is a really cool browser. On the other hand, support for streaming and embedded multimedia is *BROKEN*.

E17: looks beautiful, promises lots of features and nice apps... and, as of right now, crashes a lot. Sentiments about standalone browsers also apply.

Borosai · 2006-11-19 17:30:00

Like others have mentioned, only you can decide what is "best" for your needs. But in my case, if I want a full-blown desktop, I go with KDE. However, I really hate the fact that they include so many programs that do the same exact thing and clutter the menu. In my experience, KDE is not slow...it's just as fast as any other DE/WM, but it's in dire need of some housecleaning. As soon as I learn how to make my own KDE package, and eliminate all of those useless programs, I will use KDE.

Until then, I will be using OB3 or ruby-wmii.

Kurous · 2006-11-21 00:23:42

skottish wrote:

As far as desktop environments go, choose that one that has the most "native' software that you want to use. If you like Konqueror as a file manager and a web browser and you like KOffice, use KDE. If you like Epiphany, Nautilus, and GOffice, use Gnome. But...
If you have enough harddrive space, you don't exactly need to make a choice. I use KDE for my day-to-day operations, and I find that Enlightenment is great for huge graphics rendering projects. I like Enlightenment because it's more than a window mananger, but less than a desktop environment. (I'll probably switch to E17 when it's closer to being "done", but it's too unstable right now.)
You only have to make a choice if harddrive space is at premium.

I used to think that as well, but I find I really like Gnome just for the layout and look. But am absolutely addicted to KDE apps (Amarok, Kopete, K3B, filelight...and the list goes on).

Honestly, I think you just have to use each one, play around with it, and see what you like, I"ve gone through almost every WM/DE at one point, and one day I may even change from Gnome... that's really a nice thing about Linux, its pretty easy to switch and play around. So try them out, at least for a couple weeks, and see what you like!

funkyou · 2006-11-21 13:17:13

Kurous wrote:

I used to think that as well, but I find I really like Gnome just for the layout and look. But am absolutely addicted to KDE apps (Amarok, Kopete, K3B, filelight...and the list goes on).
Honestly, I think you just have to use each one, play around with it, and see what you like, I"ve gone through almost every WM/DE at one point, and one day I may even change from Gnome... that's really a nice thing about Linux, its pretty easy to switch and play around. So try them out, at least for a couple weeks, and see what you like!

I also like Gnome for its soft look, it just looks so less cluttered than KDE (i hope that this will change with KDE 4)... But i also love KDE's apps and the nice integration and features. I am absolutely addicted to Konqueror (only as file manager) for example, and whenever i use another fm, i will go back to Konq after some time and frustration... KMail is also very nice and very powerful, but it lacks one feature that Evolution has -> converting a Mail to a task...

So i use KDE everyday because it gives me the best workflow, and play around with the others... Currently i have KDE, Gnome and FVWM installed and switch between them. KDE for the Work, Gnome and FVWM for the rest...

skottish · 2006-11-21 16:06:52

funkyou wrote:

I am absolutely addicted to Konqueror

It is and will continue to be the biggest hurdle to me ever switching to anything else. For me, Konqueror by far the best file mananger around. It's also turning out to be a major contender in the broswer market; It's my primary browser now.

superstoned · 2006-11-21 23:56:22

funkyou wrote:

I also like Gnome for its soft look, it just looks so less cluttered than KDE (i hope that this will change with KDE 4)... But i also love KDE's apps and the nice integration and features. I am absolutely addicted to Konqueror (only as file manager) for example, and whenever i use another fm, i will go back to Konq after some time and frustration...

i agree, i love the look of gnome. but when it comes to actually using it, i prefer KDE...

funkyou wrote:

KMail is also very nice and very powerful, but it lacks one feature that Evolution has -> converting a Mail to a task...

drag'n'drop a mail on the korganizer icon. but indeed, the integration of the apps in kontact could be better. the fact the apps are seperate is nice, but it shouldn't hinder integration, esp in the light of KDE's great framework...

Zoranthus · 2006-11-27 10:45:22

I guess it also depends on the time you want to invest. The *boxes for example don't look and feel that well until you have fiddled around with the slit and added some nice wm-programs, made your own menu, shortcuts and workspaces.. but a well-confgured fluxbox can be a good-looking, super-fast and effective environment to work in (if you like the general style ). After some weeks of work that is.

iphitus · 2006-11-27 11:19:08

Gullible Jones wrote:

KDE: lots of features and not too slow if you have enough RAM, and konqueror is a really cool browser. On the other hand, support for streaming and embedded multimedia is *BROKEN*.

gnome uses about the same amount of ram, believe it or not.
support for streaming and embedded multimedia workedforme last time I used it. Either problem exists between keyboard and chair, or there's a new bug.

James

superstoned · 2006-11-27 11:27:52

iphitus wrote:

Gullible Jones wrote:
KDE: lots of features and not too slow if you have enough RAM, and konqueror is a really cool browser. On the other hand, support for streaming and embedded multimedia is *BROKEN*.
gnome uses about the same amount of ram, believe it or not.

even more... http://ktown.kde.org/~seli/memory/

iphitus wrote:

support for streaming and embedded multimedia workedforme last time I used it. Either problem exists between keyboard and chair, or there's a new bug.
James

works fine here as well...

pelle.k · 2006-11-27 14:07:26

gnome uses about the same amount of ram, believe it or not.
support for streaming and embedded multimedia workedforme last time I used it. Either problem exists between keyboard and chair, or there's a new bug.

It's not broken. Maybe legacy or old is a better word for it.
I may be (?) arts, kaboodle, noatun and those freaky codecs in kde-multimedia he/she is talking about. I can mention quite a few quirks in
their behaviour and functionality.
I guess kde4 will clean up, and remedy most of this.

superstoned · 2006-11-28 10:54:36

pelle.k wrote:

gnome uses about the same amount of ram, believe it or not.
support for streaming and embedded multimedia workedforme last time I used it. Either problem exists between keyboard and chair, or there's a new bug.
It's not broken. Maybe legacy or old is a better word for it.
I may be (?) arts, kaboodle, noatun and those freaky codecs in kde-multimedia he/she is talking about. I can mention quite a few quirks in
their behaviour and functionality.
I guess kde4 will clean up, and remedy most of this.

well, there you have a point. there are a few useless media apps still in there, and arts isn't bad, but far from perfect either - i know i've dumped it for xine-lib. he should install kmplayer, which focusses on konqueror integration for online media playing.

Lontronics · 2006-11-28 20:44:25

Just TWM in combination with virtual desktops and theme management: http://www.lontronics.nl/index.php?m=0011

May be an idea for the small systems with low resources

TWM is outdated and not as nice looking as today's window managers, but very fast and stable.

Jan

Gullible Jones · 2006-11-29 02:55:52

iphitus wrote:

Gullible Jones wrote:
KDE: lots of features and not too slow if you have enough RAM, and konqueror is a really cool browser. On the other hand, support for streaming and embedded multimedia is *BROKEN*.
gnome uses about the same amount of ram, believe it or not.
support for streaming and embedded multimedia workedforme last time I used it. Either problem exists between keyboard and chair, or there's a new bug.
James

Last time I tried it, Noatun would crash instantly on trying to play streams and Kaboodle (which Konqueror uses for embedded videos) would simply not play anything that hadn't been downloaded, both with no console output. I remember it being like that since 3.4. IIRC other people reported the same problems... Might have been something stupid on my part, I guess, but if it was it wasn't very obvious.

Kenetixx · 2006-11-29 03:02:52

AFter tryin nearly all WM i could get to work in the last few weeks i still ended up back at Openbox. Its nice and simple and very customizable.

benplaut · 2006-11-29 09:52:31

.

Last edited by benplaut (2021-06-25 12:32:17)

superstoned · 2006-11-29 10:47:26

Gullible Jones wrote:

iphitus wrote:
Gullible Jones wrote:
KDE: lots of features and not too slow if you have enough RAM, and konqueror is a really cool browser. On the other hand, support for streaming and embedded multimedia is *BROKEN*.
gnome uses about the same amount of ram, believe it or not.
support for streaming and embedded multimedia workedforme last time I used it. Either problem exists between keyboard and chair, or there's a new bug.
James
Last time I tried it, Noatun would crash instantly on trying to play streams and Kaboodle (which Konqueror uses for embedded videos) would simply not play anything that hadn't been downloaded, both with no console output. I remember it being like that since 3.4. IIRC other people reported the same problems... Might have been something stupid on my part, I guess, but if it was it wasn't very obvious.

noatun and kaboodle where both once nice media players, but haven't been maintained for several years. their current versions should've been removed, but i guess just nobody took the initative to do that... more current video applications like kaffeine, kmplayer and codeine, and amarok and juk for audio work much better. i suggest you try those, and hope kaboodle and noatun get some love, or removed from kde 4 ;-)

Gullible Jones · 2006-11-30 01:43:26

They will be gone in KDE4, along with aRTs.

Arch Linux

#1 2006-11-18 23:43:50

best desktop environment?

#2 2006-11-19 00:06:03

Re: best desktop environment?

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