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The KDE4 desktop environment represents a significant departure from “traditional” user interfaces. To begin with, the desktop has been re-conceptualized as more than a place to store shortcut links. Although application shortcuts are still placed on the desktop, they are now limited to a small section. The rest of the space (that would otherwise be mostly wasted) may be used for small interactive widgets called plasmoids that provide additional functionality like post-it notes, resource monitors, RSS feeds, etc.
KDE4 is much more attractive than its predecessor, which looks rather dated in comparison. In terms of complexity, KDE 4.2 is essentially a compromise between GNOME and KDE 3.5. While 4.2 does not have quite as many features as its predecessor, it has slightly more than GNOME. Early in KDE4's development, many early users have criticized it for a lack of features (4.0 was a proof-of-concept release and was not ready to replace 3.5) but 4.2 has made significant improvements in this area and is adequate for production use. However, many KDE applications are still in the process of being ported to KDE 4 and may not quite fit the rest of the desktop environment in an aesthetic sense. However, this does nothing to adversely impact their usefulness.
Fortunately, the version of Dolphin included in KDE 4.2 is much better than the KDE 3.5 version. Many of the sorely needed features that the previous release was lacking have been added, and this goes a long way towards making Dolphin a viable replacement for Konqueror's file management functionality for most users.
KDE4 holds the middle ground between GNOME and KDE 3.5. If you prefer a healthy blend of features and simplicity, then KDE4 may be for you. In some distros, it is possible to install KDE 3.5 and KDE 4 side by side, so there is no reason to give up one for the other.
Fluxbox is a simple window manager instead of a full desktop environment. However, Fluxbox is extremely lightweight and adds virtually no additional overhead to what you already have. As such, Fluxbox is best deployed on systems that have extremely limited resources or in instances where only a very lightweight window manager is preferred. Alternatively, Fluxbox is ideal for people who don't want any sort of user interface getting in their way at all when they work.
Unlike KDE and GNOME, Fluxbox acts more like some traditional Unix/Linux window managers from years past. There are no panels, icons, or anything else like that to click on; all interaction is done through the mouse. Right-clicking brings up the application menu, and middle-clicking brings up desktop settings. Fluxbox includes a bare-bones taskbar suitable for switching applications and desktops. Although it is extremely simple, Fluxbox still manages to be stylish with several different color themes to choose from.
If you enjoy truly minimalistic interfaces or can only allocate meager system resources to your window manager, Fluxbox may be perfect for you.
IceWM has been popular on Debian-based systems in the past and has an appearance inspired heavily from classic versions of Windows. It is more intuitive than Fluxbox and has similar system requirements. During our tests, IceWM consistently started faster than Fluxbox did. While the IceWM interface is not going to win any beauty awards when compared to modern desktop environments, it is very neutral and won't get in the way when you're trying to work. IceWM also includes a CPU and Ethernet activity monitor on the taskbar as yet another testament to rugged usability.
IceWM is a good choice if you want your window manager to be simple and as close to Windows as possible while expending minimal system resources.
Comments are closed on this article
grayscare0
March 24, 2009 at 8:27pm
Fluxbox all the way. I haven't bothered with KDE4 at all, and GNOME is okay but doesn't have enough customization options.
Keith E. Whisman
March 24, 2009 at 9:05am
I prefer whatever the Distro uses as it's main desktop. Usually that desktop will have all the tweaks and good looks and support and just plain look the best. I've experimented with different desktops in different distros and pretty much the only distro that I know of that gave full support did it's best to make it look cool for both KDE and Gnome was Fedora Core. I like Mandriva, Open Suse, Fedora Core and Ubuntu as my favorite.
For me at least I can look at a Distro's default desktop and decide if I like it and if not I'll move on. Remember the Default Desktop environment is always going to look the best and be the easiest to use.
That's why there is a seperate KDE version of Ubuntu instead of just using KDE one day and Gnome the next it's best with Ubuntu to either install KDE Ubuntu or Kbuntu or standard Gnome Ubuntu.
praetor_alpha
March 24, 2009 at 8:29am
Almost forgot... Where's Compiz?
Although this is great for an introduction to desktop environments and window managers, this artice should include at least a mention of Compiz. Sure it requires a desktop environment to run on top of, but it's one of the coolest things ever on Linux.
Keith E. Whisman
March 24, 2009 at 8:55am
I believe they covered Compiz in their last article or was that number 1. Oh well it's just an application that gives you some nifty 3D desktop effects and turns your desktop into a giant cube that allows you to use all the side of the cube as different desktops. Very excellent virtual desktop.
AntiHero
March 24, 2009 at 8:44am
Compiz isn't really a desktop environment, it's more just an application like RocketDock is to Windows. It's just special effects to lure someone to finding linux cooler and more aesthetically pleasing, or making linux a little simpler to use (the cube function is what makes it a tad simpler to use multiple workspaces) however the thing is, like you said, it needs a desktop environment to run on, since it isn't one of its own.
cfmwarren
March 24, 2009 at 10:49am
From what people are saying, Compiz sounds like Deskspace for windows. Rocketdock is not nearly as good as ObjectDock BTW.
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AntiHero
March 24, 2009 at 12:17pm
Yes and no to it being deskspace. Linux has integrated desk space. adding extra "Workspaces" which by default are transferrable, by a click on the bar, where there can be as many as you'd like. There is the option in Compiz to make it a cube, (or pentagon, or hexatuplemegagon or whatever you want depending on the variable of sides (workspaces) you have.) you can also have compiz display every window as a 3d object when you go into the cube mode, and you can pick ones behind other ones, and bring them up (mainly an aesthetic thing, not very efficient) and you can also instead of a cube, bring all workspaces into the monitor as a grid (think multiplayer on one tv with consoles..) The cube works with 3 or more (if you have 2, it flips like a piece of paper), so not really a cube, but it's cube because most of the time people have 4 workspaces, like myself. The rest of compiz, is visual effects like burining windows, fire writing on the screen, raindrops while you're working, with wipers to remove rain ripples, water effect like dropping the windows into a puddle, folding windows when you minimize/close (same for the fire really) and a whole slew of visuals, like making the cube see through, so you can watch a movie (a little backwards mind you) on the opposite side of the cube, or having an aquarium in the cube when you go to rotate it. It's all for making it flashy, you need to have special effects enabled through the display settings.
Tagge
March 24, 2009 at 5:25am
I personally pefer Xfce. I ended up having it forced on me when I installed MythDora back in the day, and slowly it grew on me. It became that odd flavoured bevage that you slowly start to love over time. Finally about a year ago, I switched to using it on my main Desktop machine, and also my Netbook. Now? Well it's all I use. Simple, fast, and very little overhead. Lets me run Linux in all its glory w/out the large footprint Gnome and KDE leave... though comparative to Windows? They're pretty small too.
praetor_alpha
March 24, 2009 at 6:42am
Once I discovered a serious security flaw with the (hidden) emergency partition on my notebook, I began to look for distros the could fit in about 4 gigs. I eventually settled with Xubuntu, and I love it. Can't wait for 9.04, with EXT4 and Xfce 4.6!
MAXPCreader07
March 23, 2009 at 10:03pm
I like my Openbox. Its blazing fast compared to Gnome and KDE.
justinmc
March 23, 2009 at 9:37pm
Xfce has a different file manager, different system apps, and a whole hell of a lot less resource usage. Just because it uses GTK doesn't mean it's the same thing!
