Archived thread 1048340 from Recurring Discussions. Markdown source: Recurring_Discussions/thread_1048340_Which_Desktop_Environment.md
Sometime soon I'm going to be switching over and giving Arch a try. But before I do, I want to get some opinions on what some of the benefits / perks of using certain desktop environments might be. (KDE, fluxbox, openbox, Xfce etc)
I've been using GNOME with Ubuntu, so I'd like to try and hear opinions on any other desktop environment. Thanks in advance!
Welcome to the Recurring Discussions :KS
I'd say try them all. Trying just one, and not liking it, could end up causing you to become frustrated and not like Arch, rather than disliking the desktop environment.
I'd also suggest trying KDE 4.x *and* KDE 3.5. They're both KDE, but behave different enough that it is possible to despise one and enjoy the other.
Openbox is nice. If you're going to Arch for the lean, minimal, and totally customized setup, it just could be a good match.
If you're into minimalistic things, I suggest a *box window manager. If you're into more flashy looks or you just prefer the kde apps, take KDE.
if you want to just have access to your apps, openbox, fluxbox and dwm will do it. fluxbox has window tabs, dwm is a tiling wm and openbox doesn't have any annoying panels. other than that, best of luck.
I'm kinda biased to KDE recently, right now it's the only DE I use. I was kinda unhappy with it's theming abilities but a cople of styles have come up so I'm happy with it now.
Me I would use gnome and try kde 4.2 when it comes out
I use Ratpoison :KS
I've tried them all (err, just about), and have finally settled on Openbox.
I agree that you should try a few and see which one best serves your needs. You can probably tell which one I favor ;)
The poll lacks an option to vote GNOME, so I voted other.
I use GNOME because it's clean, professional and has sane defaults. It's also dead sexy but that's sugar on an already appealing package.
Voted "Other" because you didn't list Gnome.
i am really impressed with kde 4.1, though i used to dislike kde 3.5.
but, keeping in mind the total resource usage, i think i'll stick with gnome. though i would try kde 4.2 when it comes out, heard a lot of good things about it :D
My "journey" through WMs went like this:
KDE -> GNOME -> Fluxbox -> Openbox -> Xfce
I think I'm going to stick with Xfce, because it's perfect for me. I still really like Openbox, so I keep it installed and go back for a bit every now and then. In the end, I always just use Xfce.
*Some* of you didn't read the OP.
Gnome ... In my opinion its the best...
Other: AwesomeWM 3, otherwise I'd pick KDE
I run Compiz by itself. Imagine all the eye-candy with OpenBox's simplicity. :) Specific perks?
1) It looks cool. To me this matters. 2) Light on the system generally (FAR less than GNOME did). 3) Great menu system if you install it. 4) Pretty easy to configure. 5) Uses GTK, which I prefer. 6) Once again, it looks cool. I get most of the benefits of running OB but I can still "wow" people.
Sure it's slightly more CPU intensive, but I'm not complaining.
Half the people here have voted GNOME, the only problem with that is the OP said he was looking at GNOME alternatives.
I've been using GNOME with Ubuntu, so I'd like to try and hear opinions on any other desktop environment.
I guess that If I was to make a poll asking how many people bother to read threads it would show only 50% of users here do.
@OP If you have time try them all, I'll vote KDE4 though since It seems to be a hot topic and is really a fairly decent DE and probably worth becoming familiar with.
Aenoble said: *Some* of you didn't read the OP. RichardLinx said: Half the people here have voted GNOME, the only problem with that is the OP said he was looking at GNOME alternatives.
The OP should have titled this thread more appropriately, then. Not just that, but if so many here are saying they use Gnome out of preference to the other DEs, then perhaps that's saying something worthy of consideration by the OP.
Speaking as a Gnome user myself who has tried the two other major DEs, I think if general opinion and external validation or dissension are valued, then our opinions should be, too.
I've found that Openbox + pypanel + some Gnome services works best for me.
To find out what works best for you start with Openbox and add components as you need them. You might end up using something like Gnome/KDE or you might find a combo like the one I use works best for you.