I ♥ Multiple Desktop Environments!

I love my Ubuntu greatly, and most of what I do on it is theming -- I change my wallpaper every time I login, and more often than not I change my whole theme!

So today I decided to expand my GUI customization -- I installed xubuntu-desktop. And I must say, it's quite refreshing to learn how to use something new, and to see what works best for me.

The ability for Linux to be so customizable is one of the reasons for its success, and it couldn't happen without the open-source model. It's great to have these two pillars of desktop environments (GNOME and KDE), each of which "compete" with each other, not for profit, but to make the GUI better. And the smaller GUIs also benefit from this competition.

A closed-source, monopolistic system like Microsoft's could never offer this kind of customization. Yes, it's possible to hack your way into a new look for WinXP, but it's just not something that Microsoft supports or makes easier. And when there's only one desktop environment (and a broken one at that) in Windows, what incentive is there to innovate and make it better?

It's interesting that one of the most decorative features of an OS has shown me the advantages of the open-source system.

So, a hearty thank-you to Linux, (x/k/?)ubuntu, and the open-source model!

And one question -- what other good desktop environments are there, and how can I install them in Ubuntu?

There are several desktop environments for Linux. I prefer GNOME because of it's simplicity; put another way, it does not have a lot of eye-candy that makes using a computer frustrating for many.

I've been playing with E17, which is actually a window manager, which is in development, and it looks very promising--it's modular and extremely customizable, but it looks like they're trying to make it so that a lot of the customization is done largely with graphical tools. And they have some very aesthetically pleasing backgrounds and themes, along with instructions on how to make your own backgrounds (the backgrounds are not just an image--they are some kind of file that can have animation). Also, you can port over your Gnome menus, so you can get some decent functionality out of it now, although it's not perfect.

There are shots of E17 desktops, including mine and others, in the gallery.

And one question -- what other good desktop environments are there, and how can I install them in Ubuntu?

XFCE has been mentioned, which you can install by opening a terminal and typing sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop. When you get more comfortable with Linux and want to do some serious tinkering, I'd look into window managers like Window Maker, Openbox, and FVWM.

Fluxbox for me, IceWM (with the SilverXP theme) for the rest of the users on my machine.

the first time I booted linux (slackware), the thing that attracted me the most was the ability to use multiple enviroenments. As I installed everything in Slackware from within Slackware (first install, did not want to miss anything), I was amazed how many options I had. A couple for desktop environments, a couple for office, a couple for browsing etc. I just loved it.

That's why I keep downloading packages I wont use form synaptic with my poor dial up. I love those applcation menus getting full!! I will soon download xubuntu just for fun :) I am a consumer heavily spoiled by open source software :P

Mine have to be GNOME and XFCE. XFCE is just such a simple environment that can keep a computer cool and running for weeks. GNOME is just great of its simplicity. Although less customizable than the rest, it just makes for a great environment.