KDE vs. GNOME vs. Any Other Window Managers?

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Posted by RocketMan26, 06-15-2007, 06:48 AM
Hello, I am a beginner when it comes to window managers. However, my family wants to use Linux, but they want it user friendly, which is why I need a window manager (before anyone asks). I have installed Gentoo Linux on an G4 White "PowerPC" Macintosh iBook with 512M RAM and a 27G HD. Which system do you recommend? I would like posts that describe why you would choose this system. Thanks.
Posted by dale, 06-15-2007, 07:35 AM
I would have picked Ubuntu.
Posted by The3bl, 06-15-2007, 07:53 AM
Linux purist here will scream but if you really want to use Linux as desktop for a novice and have all the bells and whistles then go for Linspire Since they license codec's media players etc.. you have almost the same functionality as you do with windows right off the bat with out having to hack and slash to get things running and they have their CNR warehouse instant installer of of over 2000 programs so even grandma that has never used a computer before can run and install programs. Any how Linspire and Ubuntu have merged and next month they release version 6, both built on the same back end and using CNR difference is that Linspire will still have the commercial codec's included Ubuntu will remain total open source.
Posted by sasha, 06-15-2007, 08:17 AM
gentoo might not be the best choice for beginner but that is not what you are asking about. By far, I prefer KDE to Gnome. Gnome feels a bit dumb down (as it is) so to beginner I would recommend it rather then KDE.
Posted by mwatkins, 06-15-2007, 09:35 AM
This sort of question probably belongs on a general purpose *nix forum, not a web hosting forum. Aside from that nit, if you really want to do your *nix up right with X, then you can't go wrong with dwm, a wm in the flavour of ion, ratpoison and the like. No eye candy. No overlapping windows (mostly). Auto tiling. Plain, plain, plain. And only 2000 lines of source. Your family will not be impressed. However, its about the most functional layout for actually getting real work done instead of fiddling with guis and such.
Posted by ub3r, 06-15-2007, 10:00 AM
I would have not posted. You might want to consider fluxbox. I ran it back during my unix-desktop days, and it's pretty much the fastest thing around.
Posted by RocketMan26, 06-15-2007, 12:40 PM
dale and Techark, I believe that you think I'm talking about Linux flavors. I'm talking about the actual window managers and their strengths/weaknesses. I suppose that I'm not a total novice at Linux, but I liked Gentoo because, as they say, it can be customized. Yup, I like options. Any more feedback?
Posted by SPaReK, 06-15-2007, 12:44 PM
I've always used icewm. Its very lightweight and doesn't have a lot of what I consider unnecessary bloat. Although its not that uncommon for me to have a desktop filled with open xterms. I think XFCE is a lot like icewm, and it may be more up-to-date, but I've never used it.
Posted by mwatkins, 06-15-2007, 02:04 PM
No, not really. If you are looking for a resource-light but "pretty" and somewhat Windows-like user interface, then XFCE is a very good choice. Its nice looking, works well, won't consume all your RAM just to run it, and is zippy. EDIT: The other redeeming feature of XFCE is that it builds fairly quickly (if you are compiling it... being on FreeBSD I rarely install packages myself but build everything on my own box - doesn't take long). It also doesn't pollute the machine nearly as much as a full KDE or Gnome install - if you decide you don't like it, wiping it isn't all that hard. YMMV. If you want a feature full but not so resource light UI, then either KDE or Gnome will do. KDE with all its supporting applications might feel more "windows like" out of the box. KDE and Gnome are more than Window managers; XFCE is somewhere inbetween desktop environment and Window manager. Simpler than that you have basic window managers like Fluxbox and the like - which are basically just overlapping window creators that do very little "managing" of the window, with pop up menu systems. Even simpler than that are the ion / ratpoison / dwm (which I use) window Managers which are meant mostly for grumpy old unix folks like me who can't stand having to move windows around on my two displays just to find the one I want. Plus almost all my RAM is available for actual applications, rather than pretty gui gunk. Last edited by mwatkins; 06-15-2007 at 02:12 PM.
Posted by RocketMan26, 06-15-2007, 07:47 PM
Speed is definitely very important, because as stated earlier, I only have 512M RAM. Also, it should look nice and professional.
Posted by mwatkins, 06-16-2007, 01:30 AM
Then try XFCE, or, step down a notch and run Fluxbox or whatever else is in that league. Personally I like Fluxbox over icewm but there aren't many differences. Last edited by mwatkins; 06-16-2007 at 01:33 AM.
Posted by dale, 06-16-2007, 02:01 AM
When I saw "system", I assumed that the distribution is subject to suggestions. I pointed out Ubuntu specifically because in its development it makes a conscious effort to consider the development cycle of GNOME, which (at least in the beginning) is something your family might appreciate. But now that I reread your question, I realised that I didn't quite catch the focus. thinksmart12 and ub3r, my apology.
Posted by The3bl, 06-16-2007, 02:53 AM
Sorry you are right I should have read better. Do you want a full desktop? Then Gome, KDE or xfce are your best bets. If a windows manager with out the desktop bells and whistles is what you after I like afterstep and enlightement. Here is good page that list many of the best managers. http://xwinman.org/
Posted by RocketMan26, 06-16-2007, 09:19 AM
It's OK, no harm done. Anyway, would it be possible to run, for example KOffice on XFCE? Like, running applications that are not native to the window manager?
Posted by anatolijd, 06-16-2007, 09:49 AM
Hm, why don`t install both KDE and Gnome, show howto switch between them, and let your family to try them both and to choose the most friendly from their point of view?
Posted by mwatkins, 06-16-2007, 11:20 AM
Is it possible? Yes, you can run KDE or Gnome / GTK based apps under any other window manager or desktop environment, however you'll need to install all the dependencies as well. In the end you'll have a big chunk of KDE installed, but not all of it, if you install KOffice. If you are looking for an all-in-one solution, pick either KDE or Gnome based on which ever seems to have the best collection of applications for you. Perhaps your RAM limitation will prove to be an issue but you won't know until you try. I would try to upgrade that RAM if its at all possible, regardless of what you do. Spreadsheets and PDF viewing, and Firefox on all three: KDE + KOffice + Firefox Gnome and Gnumeric, AbiWord(or openoffice), Gimp + Firefox XFCE + xpdf, gnumeric, abiword(or openoffice), gimp + Firefox Of the three, XFCE will be the least resource-hungry. Of the three, KDE will feel the most "integrated". Now stop asking questions and just do it. You can always reinstall the whole shooting match later. And you really should take these sorts of questions to the forums for whatever OS or environment you go with.
Posted by Leftblank, 06-16-2007, 11:29 AM
In addition to what mwatkins said I'd also like to note that you'll have a big advantage in terms of memory usage when you stick to applications specifically made for either Gnome, KDE or xFCE. As these managers all have their own libraries with similar functionalities you'll easily get a lot of redundancy when you combine applications from either of the two. In addition to that, just like the previous poster also pointed out, applications will tend to feel more integrated, which is especially the case withKDE as well as looking more a-like due to the different approaches of menu's and set ups.
Posted by mwatkins, 06-16-2007, 12:44 PM
That's a good point - I'd had it in the back of my mind to mention when I banged in my last response... but didn't. Whatever the OP does, avoid installing "some of each". Stick to either KDE/qt or Gnome/GTK based apps wherever possible. I don't install *any* KDE / qt based applications because I don't want the libraries for either installed. Additional libraries and dependencies just means more to keep updated. Adding qt alone or gtk alone isn't that bad, but a relatively inexperienced user isn't going to be able to tell whether XYZ application requires just the graphics libs or big chunks of the related desktop environment. Thus I swing towards GTK based solutions since they tend to be, still, somewhat more common thus for me Firefox, gimp get installed on my minimalist system, gnumeric more often than not, and occasionally abiword. I really hate openoffice but that's more of a java dislike than anything.
Posted by bytedynamics, 06-17-2007, 06:51 AM
icewm is cool. at least if you are doing sysadmin - 10 desktops with quick arrow switches and a patched screen will do the work perfectly. xfce can be seen as an enhanced icewm i believe
Posted by RocketMan26, 06-17-2007, 02:04 PM
I appreciate all of your feedback on the window managers, because like I've stated before, I'm not very familiar with them. I think I'll try out XFCE first, and then go from there. Thanks again.

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