Hi everyone

 

I am a Linux user and am thinking about getting back into XP after a long hiatus . I used to actually be a Linux support contact for XP on version 7, 8, and 9.

 

Anyway, I have been wanting to get back into XP but having not used the software for a while, I was wondering what other Linux users use for their desktop environment and which offers the best performance.

 

Currently, I use Kubuntu 12.04 and am quite happy with KDE - although, am becoming impressed with Unity.

 

Is KDE a good environment for XP or would there be a better DE to try?

 

A little about my system:

 

AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Processor

Linux 3.2.0-34-generic #53-Ubuntu SMP Thu Nov 15 10:48:16 UTC 2012 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

8 Gigs of ram

NVIDIA Corporation GF110 [GeForce GTX 570 HD] (rev a1) with the 310 driver

 

Pretty default install with a couple of extra PPAs installed for good measure .

 

I have not purchased XP 10 yet, but do plan too. How does the 64 bit version run?

 

So, what are some of your thoughts?

 

Thanks!

Joe

Hi

on KDE you have to turn a switch alike:

 

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=ubuntu_1210beta_desktops&num=1

 

Or maybe try bleeding edge as some improvements are on the way.

I personally prefer OpenSUSE to Kubuntu

Hello and welcome !

 

I'm using Ubuntu Precise Pangolin without Unity: GNOME Classic (No effects)

 

sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback

Linux Mint user here, love it. You can dowload it, burn to USB flash and try it out, see if you like it. I use MATE desktop but XFCE and KDE versions are available from Linux Mint.

I'm using Ubuntu Precise Pangolin without Unity

 

Same here! Unity is the worst!

Hi

on KDE you have to turn a switch alike:

 

http://www.phoronix...._desktops&num=1

 

Or maybe try bleeding edge as some improvements are on the way.

 

I have been trying out Unity all day, and I have to say that with the new nvidia drivers and kernel, most games now run on par with my KDE install. I have enjoyed using KDE, but looking for something a little less heavy on my system. Not sure how "Light" Unity is though :-D.

 

I personally prefer OpenSUSE to Kubuntu

 

I might give OpenSUSE a try; I'm taking their CLA and CLP class atm and am quite intrigued by the OS on the server side. The Desktop look interesting too, but last time I tried OpenSUSE, I had a nightmare of a time trying to add simple repos to install software that I needed to use.

 

Reminded me of the RPM dep-hell back before yum came out for RHEL :-D.

 

Any tips on package management for OpenSUSE?

 

Linux Mint user here, love it. You can dowload it, burn to USB flash and try it out, see if you like it. I use MATE desktop but XFCE and KDE versions are available from Linux Mint.

 

You know, my Wife uses Linux Mint KDE version and she really likes it a lot - very little trouble at all with it!

 

Thanks so much for the replies... I have the next week off from work, so I think I will plan to do some benchmarks and see what is best.

 

I would stick with KDE, but like I mentioned, I don't like the heavy feel of the OS with things like virtuoso-t consuming a whole cpu core for 45 mins while it searches though my imap mail, or installing and useing a fully installed MySQL server for its database - seems a bit rediculious and way too much overkill for a desktop!!! When you are looking for pure performance from an OS for gaming, you don't like to see back-end processes running all the time on a desktop. Kind of feels to me like running Windows with all the virus scanning software all the time :(.

 

Plus, it seems like Unity is catching the majority of the major vendors eye now seeing as Steam is porting its clients and games to Ubuntu with Unity (Fully supported.) I know we will more than likely be able to run the client on anything, but I feel, personally, that its time for Linux to settle down some and come to grips with a standard desktop, among other things, so commercial development houses feel more comfortable programing for ONE desktop instead of 5 or 10 :-P.

 

Just seems like Unity is becoming that standard.

 

Anyway, thanks again for the replies!!! I will do some testing and see what I come up with.

 

Joe

 

Same here! Unity is the worst!

 

Yeah, its definitely not aesthetically accurate from what I am used too, thats for sure, but its not HORRIBLE like it was when it first came out

 

Joe

OP:

 

I have very similar system specs as you (same CPU and RAM but I have a GTX 460 video card), and X-Plane 10 works very well with KDE. Desktop effects are suspended when a program goes full-screen, so it shouldn't affect performance.

 

Regarding your concerns about developers having to support multiple desktop environments, the Linux community tackled that beast years with the Open Desktop Initiative that created basic standards that all desktop environments should adhere to to promote compatibility across multiple platforms. It's worked out pretty well, too. You mentioned Steam which runs just as well in KDE as it does in Unity or Gnome or whatever.

OP:

 

I have very similar system specs as you (same CPU and RAM but I have a GTX 460 video card), and X-Plane 10 works very well with KDE. Desktop effects are suspended when a program goes full-screen, so it shouldn't affect performance.

 

Yes, I agree. KDE seems to have the best performance over Unity. Gnome 3 also has pretty good performance as Mutter (the Gnome 3 compositor) automatically unredirects full screen apps - whereas KDE, you have to select this option, but its a small check box.

 

Regarding your concerns about developers having to support multiple desktop environments, the Linux community tackled that beast years with the Open Desktop Initiative that created basic standards that all desktop environments should adhere to to promote compatibility across multiple platforms. It's worked out pretty well, too. You mentioned Steam which runs just as well in KDE as it does in Unity or Gnome or whatever.

 

Yes, there are "Standards" for desktop protocols and file system standards for configuration locations, etc..., but for the programmer, they have to choose which platform they want to code in.. Be it GTK(2 or 3), QT, or Vala+GTK(3) (What Unity is coded in), they have to select what to use and it does make a difference in user experience.

 

I use GTK apps in KDE and I use QT apps when I have used Gnome, but they do not look or act the same as when they are in their native environment. Also, you usually have to install an insane amount of dependencies when you try to install a GTK app in KDE and, likewise, the other way around; it's usually more troublesome to use cross platform engines, but can be done.

 

This is quite discouraging for developers, especially young developers just starting out. I just think its time for the Linux community to set in stone a standard desktop environment and stick with it. Look how popular Windows and Mac is - why, because they are consistent with their UI. Heck, look at how popular Android is - they don't have multiple environments and "Choice" AND its based on Linux. Google choose one DE platform and stuck with it. Now, Android enjoys 74% market share.

 

Experienced users like you and me will always enjoy the choice, and I feel much more at home with KDE (Especially after spending the last couple days testing out Unity and Gnome 3). But, if Unity brings the masses to Linux and corporate developers and game companies feel its a standard base to code for, I'm excited for that too .

 

Joe

If a programmer does his job right, a program can run in multiple desktop environments with only minimal dependencies. But like you say, that could be daunting for a beginner, and every once in a while I stumble across a GTK application (for instance, Banshee) that requires me to install practically the whole Gnome desktop just to run it.