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Post by Lynnrose on Sept 27, 2012 16:59:20 GMT
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Post by mikkh on Oct 1, 2012 7:53:56 GMT
With Ubuntu having lost it's lofty position in the charts, it seems lots don't like the new style, including me. Mint is the new Linux distribution of choice, with Ubuntu down to third and due to drop further by the look of it
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Post by vikingken on Mar 26, 2013 16:57:43 GMT
Another bloody spammer.
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Post by johnnybee on Mar 26, 2013 21:17:00 GMT
I wonder if this prat has noticed that we probably know more about Linux than HE does?
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Post by mikkh on Mar 27, 2013 21:13:18 GMT
Haha grumpy old gits :-p
Back to the original post, Linux is very flexible regarding desktops because it's more akin to Windows 98 than later versions of Windows, in that it's command line driven with a GUI on top but unlike Windows the GUI could be one of many not just one.
The two most developed and fully featured (read most bloated) are KDE and Gnome and the majority of 'distros' use one or the other normally, but there are quite a few more - all of them designed to be lighter alternatives to KDE and Gnome
XFCE, yes they all have weird and wonderful names mostly based on acronyms, is probably the third most popular desktop, and it is much lighter than the big two without a doubt. Probably not as user friendly but if you're struggling on an old machine, it's much faster
LXDE is one of my favourites and uses very little resources but still manages to look good
IceWM another ultra light one but a bit geeky to set up. Worth the trouble though and for distros that use it as a default desktop, most of the hard work has been done already
Enlightenment, usually shortened to just E with it's version number (E17 currently) is proof that eye candy doesn't have to mean bloat. A desktop with real WOW factor but extremely quick
Fluxbox used to be a popular one on micro distros (less than 50 MB) but I think only nostalgia geeks use it now. I never quite took to that one myself, I found the interface a bit irritating and much preferred JWM as used in Puppy for an ultra light desktop.
You can have several installed and pick at login but it's not wise to have both Gnome and KDE installed because the menu gets awfully big and confusing. But there's nothing to stop you having KDE and say IceWm installed and getting the best of both worlds - a light desktop but with access to KDE specific programs
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Post by elvis on Mar 31, 2013 13:32:09 GMT
I use Linux mine XFCE i find i much better for me then the others
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Post by johnnybee on Mar 31, 2013 22:09:21 GMT
Still getting to grips with Mint V.10, but getting there. Once you learn where everything is and the names of the apps and what they do, it's really quite easy; trouble is, my memory isn't what it used to be so I've had to resort to writing down the programme names! One thing that does do my head in though; I keep getting nags coming up telling me to update this and that, so I go onto the update page and I find something like 300 possible updates / upgrades available on a list that extends from the ceiling to the floor! How the hell they expect anyone to choose relevant downloads from all that lot, without giving you any idea of what they do or why they're needed I really don't know; the upshot is that I wind up deffing all of 'em and pouring meself another glass of Scotch!
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Post by elvis on Apr 1, 2013 13:21:03 GMT
H! Johnnybee,
I just download all the updates for Linux mint and i have never had a problme yet.
But check with Mikkh before you do it just to be safe.
I use Linux Mint 14 XFCE
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Post by johnnybee on Apr 2, 2013 0:50:00 GMT
Thanks for that Elvis; don't get me wrong, I do like Mint but I've been playing around with Sabayon V.10 as well, and the graphics on that one have to be seen to be believed. Most of the apps are the same as Mint (with a few exceptions) so from that POV I'm getting well up with it; however the "geography" of Sabayon is different to Mint in lots of ways, and like I said, my memory is failing fast to older I get! I just love getting into something new, but it's always reassuring to be able to drop back into the Windows rut from time to time!
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Post by elvis on Apr 2, 2013 8:22:45 GMT
H! Johnnybee, It dose not matter what verson Linux you like with 300is out ther for free you can try them all, it's just like a candy shop Sabayon V.10 never use it so i may have a look just too see how good the graphics are. I think Mikkh has used it a few years ago. Thank for the tip. And i still use W7 now & again
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