Xfce

[linux12414]

What does everyone here think of XFCE?

[The Anti-Void]

I've used it before. It's very lightweight compared to other desktop environments like KDE & Gnome. If you've got a slower computer, its a good choice to use (or perhaps blackbox) I've got a fast computer myself so I can use all the newest bloatware at reasonable speed.

[hop-frog]

I am using it. I would use KDE, but my computer isn't fast enough. The default settings are somewhat ugly, but if you spend a little time with it and give it nicer icons and a good background, it can look real good. Because it can have so many launch buttons it is much quicker and easier IMO to launch programs than it is using an expanding "start" or root menu. XFCE also has smart window handling. Out of the +130 window managers available for linux and XFwm places in the top 10 for smartest hint handling. There are a few cosmetic problems when resizing windows, but I've seen far worse in more popular window managers.

[JohnT]

A fast configurable window manger is "FVWM".
I would choose it over xfce.

[Mnemonic]

I am running currently running Xfce and would recommend it to anyone interested in trying it.

[hop-frog]

Originally posted by JohnT
A fast configurable window manger is "FVWM".
I would choose it over xfce.
I've seen configurability: it looks like ****. I have seen only one good looking FVWM setup and the author obviously spent a long time on the theme.

[JohnT]

Originally posted by hop-frog
I've seen configurability: it looks like ****. I have seen only one good looking FVWM setup and the author obviously spent a long time on the theme.

To make a statement as such reflects a close-minded opinion that is not shared by many. If you just like point and click set-up then FVWM isn't for you. It can be configured to express the authors taste and style in a desktop environment of his choosing. Your only limited by your imagination.

FVWM homepage
http://fvwm.org

A few screenshots
http://fvwm.org/screenshots/

Just a few more

http://themes.freshmeat.net/browse/929/?topic_id=929&orderby=&filter=928

[theevilblah]

Im running fvwm2 and it great....

[hop-frog]

A few screenshots
http://fvwm.org/screenshots/
ugh!

[JohnT]

Originally posted by hop-frog
ugh!


You don't have to settle for those. Come up with your own. Tap into your creativity. Those are examples that it can be done, without any programming skill..

[jglen490]

Back to the original question, yes I have tried Xfce and I do like it. It is somewhat customizable and you can end up with a very pretty desktop. I've worked on using it for my own system as well as IceWM -- and in my mind it's really a toss up. Xfce is better at some things and IceWM is better at others.

Without trying to sound like some other threads and posts, it is possible to use almost any window manager, or GUI, or desktop and come out with something that suits your own personality or processing desires, but it must be yours.

A very good starting point to look at, compare, and contrast various wm/GUI/DT offerings is the X Window Managers (http://www.xwinman.org/index.html) site. He does a good job of linking to many of the current possibilities. There are others, I'm sure, along with the themes at http://themes.freshmeat.net to make your system a little more "you".

[linux12414]

Originally posted by hop-frog
I am using it. I would use KDE, but my computer isn't fast enough. The default settings are somewhat ugly, but if you spend a little time with it and give it nicer icons and a good background, it can look real good. Because it can have so many launch buttons it is much quicker and easier IMO to launch programs than it is using an expanding "start" or root menu. XFCE also has smart window handling. Out of the +130 window managers available for linux and XFwm places in the top 10 for smartest hint handling. There are a few cosmetic problems when resizing windows, but I've seen far worse in more popular window managers.

Did you try Blackbox or Fluxbox? They are very light-weight and highly configurable.

[mindless666]

I am able to run a lot of WMs on my computers including KDE, Gnome, etc. I like Xfce enough to still use it although a lot of people just use it on slow computers... I never keep the same OS or Linux distribution or Window manager on my computer for more than like 2 days so I have not developed a preference... I really like it and I think it looks good but I am sort of a minimalist who thinks aqua clones look crappy as hell so my sense of style is severely warped... I would also recommend Xfce to anyone even with a pentium 4 and a gig of ram...

[mrBen]

One of the things to remember is that strictly speaking XFce is a Desktop Environment, not just a Window Manager, unlike the majority of other progs mentioned other than KDE and GNOME.

It's the fastest Desktop Environment I've seen under Linux.

[z0mbix]

This one's a joke right?:

http://fvwm.org/screenshots/GlenLeeEdwards-desk4-1024x768.gif

[mindless666]

Originally posted by hop-frog
I've seen configurability: it looks like ****. I have seen only one good looking FVWM setup and the author obviously spent a long time on the theme.

I would like to see that setup if you remember where you saw it please tell me... or link me to the image...

[hop-frog]

Originally posted by mindless666
I would like to see that setup if you remember where you saw it please tell me... or link me to the image...

http://www.nord-com.net/goedeke/fvwm/
It belongs to someone on the forum named demian.

[JohnT]

Originally posted by hop-frog
http://www.nord-com.net/goedeke/fvwm/
It belongs to someone on the forum named demian.

Well, each to his own, when it comes to preferences.