Your entry to Linux is probably through Gnome as the most popular distribution Ubuntu and the most user friendly distribution Linux Mint both use Gnome as their main desktop environment.
Gnome gives you your desktop, windows, look and feel and many useful features such as some basic tools and programs. Great, stick with it.
Why all the alternatives? why change? why so people say gnome sucks?
Some consider Gnome boring, some say it is slow, and so on. Why all the choice and voice? Well Linux = Choice. Only you know what is best for you.
In windows you had 3 very similar themes, most Windows computers looked the same. in Linux you can alter every detail, get creative. Linux Mint offer Gnome, KDE, XFCE and Fluxbox alternatives, possibly LXDE soon too.
Gnome, you can add themes to gnome and use the popular Compiz to have cool and useful effects.
KDE is the daddy. It looks as highly polished as Windows Vista but has the solid underbody of Linux, so great looks and stable. It is going through a big transition right now and depends on a powerful computer and compatible graphics hardware.
XFCE is lighter weight than KDE and Gnome and better for lower powered systems or users who enjoy high speed. It takes a little more setting up as the options are spread out in the control panel but it can be made to look very nice while still offering a full desktop environment, speed and great looks. The composting for example gives very nice transparencies, shadows and so on without slowing the system.
LXDE Is a full desktop environment using the Openbox Window manager (see below). It is very much quicker than the above 3 choices but is much more basic than Windows users would expect. It takes work to make it look nice but is light and fast so people love it for this. It is also a contender for lower powered systems, giving life to old systems, and a tweak geeks dream.
Fluxbox One for those who like other light window managers to try. Has Window placement, a panel and the rest is up to you.
Openbox My weapon of choice. This is purely a Window Manager, it can place windows on the screen. It offers no desktop as you'd know one, no panel, very little - It is a tweakers dream, fast, so fast, and you have to customize every detail.
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So maybe gnome is for you?
To install an alternative the best choice is to look for a Linux distribution that has the alternate desktop environment. Ubuntu and Linux Mint offer several. You may also add one environment to an existing setup - beware though as it will potentially mess up what you have so I wont cover that in this blog.
Gnome gives you your desktop, windows, look and feel and many useful features such as some basic tools and programs. Great, stick with it.
Why all the alternatives? why change? why so people say gnome sucks?
Some consider Gnome boring, some say it is slow, and so on. Why all the choice and voice? Well Linux = Choice. Only you know what is best for you.
In windows you had 3 very similar themes, most Windows computers looked the same. in Linux you can alter every detail, get creative. Linux Mint offer Gnome, KDE, XFCE and Fluxbox alternatives, possibly LXDE soon too.
Gnome, you can add themes to gnome and use the popular Compiz to have cool and useful effects.
KDE is the daddy. It looks as highly polished as Windows Vista but has the solid underbody of Linux, so great looks and stable. It is going through a big transition right now and depends on a powerful computer and compatible graphics hardware.
XFCE is lighter weight than KDE and Gnome and better for lower powered systems or users who enjoy high speed. It takes a little more setting up as the options are spread out in the control panel but it can be made to look very nice while still offering a full desktop environment, speed and great looks. The composting for example gives very nice transparencies, shadows and so on without slowing the system.
LXDE Is a full desktop environment using the Openbox Window manager (see below). It is very much quicker than the above 3 choices but is much more basic than Windows users would expect. It takes work to make it look nice but is light and fast so people love it for this. It is also a contender for lower powered systems, giving life to old systems, and a tweak geeks dream.
Fluxbox One for those who like other light window managers to try. Has Window placement, a panel and the rest is up to you.
Openbox My weapon of choice. This is purely a Window Manager, it can place windows on the screen. It offers no desktop as you'd know one, no panel, very little - It is a tweakers dream, fast, so fast, and you have to customize every detail.
~~
So maybe gnome is for you?
To install an alternative the best choice is to look for a Linux distribution that has the alternate desktop environment. Ubuntu and Linux Mint offer several. You may also add one environment to an existing setup - beware though as it will potentially mess up what you have so I wont cover that in this blog.
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