Xfce Forums / Picking a distro to use with XFCE

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (xfceforumorg1220) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 03:50:10 +0000

Don't dismiss OpenSuSE.
The default desktop might be KDE, but you don't have to install it. During the install, look for Patterns or Groups. Uncheck KDE and click on XFCE.

Checkout: http://en.opensuse.org/Xfce

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (jens) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:24:55 +0000

if you like debian-based systems but want to avoid the hassle (is it ?) of installing debian manually,
then you could go along with a distro named SalineOS.

it is based on debian stable, comes with xfce 4.6.2 by default, has add-on software and MM codecs and looks pretty.
visit

www.salineos.com

for further information.

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (rugar) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:20:36 +0000

i was using xfce back when it was 4.0 and 4.2 but switched to kde and later to gnome2. even when not actively using it, i always had an eye on xfce. caused by recent events with gnome3 i am back to xfce and i am happy with the most parts. i've was running xfce with xubuntu, arch and gentoo but i have to say i prefer gentoo since you can really choose about your xfce setup. i am currently running almost all of the applications on my gentoo system with gtk2 since i don't feel gtk3 to be stable outside of gnome3. the current situation is just a huge mess to me.

from my experience with xubuntu i can just say it feels more like some gnome2 version of xfce. this can be nice if you want it. but i don't really like the ubuntu way of handling things.

with arch, i always felt like fighting against gnome3 lately. even if you try to keep your system free of it, you'll end up having installed all almost of it and more and more apps depending on gtk3 which won't run to smooth with older themes. arch seems to be more focused on gnome3 then on any other DE. but this may just be my personal opinion.

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (wkr) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:29:03 +0000

I don't know if there are better ways but, as you do, I use Gnome and KDE applications in Xfce for years (either Ubuntu +Xfce or Xubuntu) and, so far ,my system is still fast and incredibly stable.

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (gigaday) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:02:22 +0000

Well, I didn't pick it specially to use XFCE but I am using the standard Ubuntu because that's what I've used for a few years and since the Unity/Gnome 3 (for me) debacle I have switched to XFCE 'cos I couldn't tolerate the lockups I was getting with Gnome 3 Shell extentions.

I've now settled into XFCE after about a week of tweaks but there were a few things that I liked so much with Gnome that I have kept them as all the Gnome libraries were installed anyway, for instance:-
- I am still using Nautilus because it gives me folders and files in the right pane and once it's launched I get my Gnome desktop with the thumbnails on the images and videos. I did have a problem with my USB memory sticks not automounting but I have fixed this with a launcher button to to run pmount.
- after much switching back and forth with sound and video players I settled for Gnome MPlayer some time ago and I'm reluctant to go back to searching again when this does everything I want.
- I am still using gedit and Gnome Terminal because I can and I can't see any reason why I shouldn't.

All this at what cost? Well, I have to have all the libraries for Gnome and XFCE installed, but as I still have room on my 80GB drive and will soon be buying a laptop with at least 500GB, do I care? I have put nautilus and firefox in my session start up as I always want both them and that way I get the Gnome desktop right away and the wife doesn't see the nautilus because firefox fires up too and that's all she uses.

But in the interest of knowledge if anyone has any ideas on whether there are better ways for me to do things I am open to learning.

Tony

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (kbd47) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:30:23 +0000

I would recommend Linux Mint Debian Xfce, or Linux Mint 12 with Xfce4 installed. I was amazed at how much faster and cooler Mint 12 ran on Xfce desktop compared to Gnome Shell.
KBD47

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (lifeinthegrey) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:06:48 +0000

I personally recommend straight Debian Testing. You can actually choose it as an alternative desktop to be installed with the installer for squeeze, and if you just modify your apt sources from squeeze to testing and update you'll be good to go. And a lot of people will say LMDE is the same thing, but ... I was an LMDE user since it first debuted, and its not the same thing. MUCH more lightweight, and LMDE hasn't updated for nearly 5 months now.

If you decide to go this way, PM me, I'm happy to help however I can.

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (netonardin) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:49:24 +0000

My favourites are: arch, sabayon and lmde

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (Ion Silverbolt) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:48:06 +0000

If you don't need 64-bit, I would give Vector Linux Standard a try. It comes with a pretty nice Xfce setup, although it loads cairo dock. That's easy enough to remove though if you don't like it. It also thankfully uses wicd instead of network manager, which is a buggy piece of crap at times. Vector also comes with the needed codecs by default.

There is a fair amount of packages to pick from the package manager in VL, which is easy enough to use. You can also add Slackware repositories if you're feeling bold as it's based on Slackware.

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (Sideburns) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:20:56 +0000

From the main menu, go to Applications, Accessories, Search for Files. It has quite a few optional filters you can use if needed.

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (aga) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:01:02 +0000

Nov-Dec 2011
xubuntu didn't impress me (to each his own, eh?)

linuxmint "debian+xfce" suited me pretty well as a starting point.
Yes, issues with the updater (and changing horses/repos mid-stream) ware a PITA.
I changed to using debian testing repos... and am having a tough time feeling much "love" toward Mint. Users of the "debian+xcfe edition" aren't well-represented in the forums & the whack-azzed docs have incorrectly steered me to "do XYZ..." multiple times (the released docs were never changed & reflect stuff only available in the "main", ubuntu-ized, Mint distro).

dreamlinux4.6b as well as the recently released dreamlinux5
^---- VERY nicely done (and is setup to use debian testing repos)
(the choice of preinstalled, presetup, software on the LiveCD includes mysqld and apache)
(and IIRC MidnightCommander)

PCllinuxOS Phoenix
^---- very nicely done (but I'm not keen on the more recent 'phinx' build)
This distro doesn't play the "sudo game". LiveCd includes both guest and root user accounts.

=================

Really, though, IMO none of the current "Live" debian-based xfce distros cut the mustard.
How the hell can anyone rely on JUST thunar (er, thunar+catfish) for file management?
Unless I've overlooked something, user has no ability to "find files *.php modified within the past 2 days..."

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (wkr) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:17:56 +0000

Xubuntu is fast, full featured and very stable (and if someone don't like some gnome services such as policykit authentication or doesn't need one of them, he can disable them, it's just a one minute process )

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (stqn) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:25:22 +0000

I've had problems with the update process of Linux Mint Xfce (Debian Edition), apparently it ships (or shipped) with a non functionnal updater that was nonetheless launched by default, maybe that's why it broke here, I don't know, couldn't find any information about my problem on the web. Anyway I wouldn't recommend Mint, but I don't know yet which distro to choose for my netbook... Maybe I'll end up installing Arch like on my desktop (but I would have liked something a bit more stable.)

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (blueoyster) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:30:02 +0000

Well, if you are just dying to terminal so you can load codecs and other stuff, then you don't want Mint.
Mind you that most people LOVE the distro they are using, no matter how many times they have to fix/update.
They are married to it.

And for some reason, linux people LOVE to tweek to death a distro. Me, I want something that I can just get up and running,
and is nice to use.

Pick the distro with the least amount of work. Like they say, you can always TWEAK it, it is constipates you.
You want to go Xfce because all the old ladies on <<>> playing farmville and frontierville have long load times,
which is cut in half by going Xfce. I am from Gnome 2, and I have used Gnome 3 and Unity, which are fine. But once you feel the speed
of Xfce, it is hard to go back.

So I install linux for old ladies who just use a browser, and some mrdd types, who again, just want a browser. It loads
the browser and they are off an running.

I use Mint because I don't have to mess with it.
I use Mint Debian so I don't have to reinstall one day,
like I had to do in the past.

Re: Picking a distro to use with XFCE

dummy@example.com (ilena) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:36:43 +0000

Agreed. xubuntu looks like a heavy weight gnome distro with just the destop changed.

Like Fedora, OpenSuze has commercially supported sister distro. Its well engineered.
But there are live CD's for Gnome and KDE only.
I believe suze 12.1 uses systemd as well as fedora.