From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Aug 2 15:56:34 2006 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 6C9A216A4DD for ; Wed, 2 Aug 2006 15:56:34 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from joshua.lewis@familyfunzone.net) Received: from smtpout12-02.prod.mesa1.secureserver.net (smtpout12-02.prod.mesa1.secureserver.net [68.178.232.4]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with SMTP id C5D1743D58 for ; Wed, 2 Aug 2006 15:56:33 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from joshua.lewis@familyfunzone.net) Received: (qmail 4955 invoked from network); 2 Aug 2006 15:56:33 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO gem-wbe17.prod.mesa1.secureserver.net) (64.202.189.221) by smtpout12-02.prod.mesa1.secureserver.net with SMTP; 2 Aug 2006 15:56:33 -0000 Received: (qmail 5607 invoked by uid 99); 2 Aug 2006 15:56:33 -0000 Date: Wed, 02 Aug 2006 08:56:33 -0700 From: Joshua Lewis To: Andrew Gould Message-ID: <20060802085632.e72c8bd2fa3c8298c4bf39a8c4c61b77.6d8590511d.wbe@email.secureserver.net> User-Agent: Web-Based Email 4.4.11 X-Originating-IP: 65.193.202.231 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.5 Cc: Jerry McAllister , tech.junk@verizon.net, freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: RE: Replacing windows XP at home. X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 02 Aug 2006 15:56:34 -0000 I am actually not looking for a Windows look alike. I am simply replacing my XP system with a BSD solution. I am looking for a fast easy to configure and fun WM. I am absolutely looking for something new to use. not Windows like. That is why I was looking at enlightenment and fluxbox. but there are just so many I was hoping to get ideas as to why one would choose one over the other. Other then personal preference. I have been using enlightenment for about a week and perhaps it is something I did but my resolution is stuck at 1600x1280 at 65Hz. My monitor keeps getting mad at me and telling me that is not the recommended solution. I have been trying to figure out how to change it and I have updated the xorg.conf as the handbook says but it still defaults. Unless anyone has an idea why I am going to switch to fluxbox and see how that feels. I did want to mention that I do agree with your point. I am looking for something new and I am looking to experiment with other ways of doing things. But at the same time I would like a little eye candy. After all with today's power full systems there is nothing wrong with waisting a few CPU cycles to make the experience a little more enjoyable. I will certainly give XFCE a try I have seen allot of recommendations for that as well. Sincerely, Joshua Lewis -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: Replacing windows XP at home. From: Andrew Gould Date: Tue, August 01, 2006 12:27 pm To: Jerry McAllister , tech.junk@verizon.net Cc: Joshua Lewis , freebsd-questions@freebsd.org --- Jerry McAllister wrote: > > > > Joshua Lewis wrote: > > > > > > Would I be better off just going with Gnome > or KDE? I realize once I > > > start installing apps that I will probably > wind up installing > > > something that uses Gnome or KDE libraries so > I am going to wind up > > > bloating my system any ways right? > > > > > > > Look at them both and make a choice if you like > either. > > I tried both in the past, but found they were not > for me for various > > reasons, so I went looking, also tried Xfce as > has been mentioned, but > > I decided I wanted to try something really > different from things that > > seemed Windows like. > > > > Tried WindowMaker and have been using it now for a > long time. Here is > > the url www.windowmaker.info if you are > interested. > > As you requested lean and fast, little slow > getting started, only > > because it is very different in the approach of > say Gnome, KDE, or Xfce, > > but once you get used to it, works great. I also > like dock apps, which > > you can get more info at http://dockapps.org/ > > Gee, I just use AfterStep. Of course, that isn't > really an MS-Win > environment replacement. It doesn't even attempt to > be. But then I > really do not want to have the look and feel of > MS-Win. I want something > more straight-forward and less icky. > > ////jerry > > > Good Luck, > > Sean This is a good point here. Whereas it's good to have something familiar for immediate productivity, it's also good to explore different options to experience benefits/drawbacks that you hadn't considered before. In *nix (includind BSD's and Linux), you're not limited to one window manager. You can install several and use whichever matches your mood at the time. I used to use KDE and Gnome simply because the menus contained so many applications that were new to me. Once I knew which applications I wanted to use, I switched to XFCE because it's faster. I still use XFCE for my office productivity; but I'm still experimenting with icewm and windowmaker on an older computer because they "feel" so much faster. Definitely choose a window manager that will give you a positive experience now; but take time to browse *nix's other offerings. If you don't try new things, how can you make an informed decision? Andrew L. Gould