Xfce or KDE?? Any input?

[mroconnor]

I have been using KDE for a long time and gotten used to all those little KDE apps that make life easier(?) like kmail/kontact/kgpg, Amarok(I love it), smb4k, etc etc. So basically no complaints about KDE, but I was thinking about moving to something lighter like Xfce or Fluxbox(I think Xfce).

My multipart question is:
- SHould I stick w/ KDE knowing it works for me and KDE4 will be brilliant?
- Do I switch to Xfce and can I run my fav KDE apps in it? (I could switch to Thunderbird and give up kmail, but I wont give up Digikam or amarok! )
- Do I quit using a WM/ Desktop Env and go super hardcore!

Thanks for any input, especially on the XFce front.

Cheers.

[Ehnvis]

Thats like asking do I lik icecream or do I like icecream. It's only yourself that can decide which one you like better, emerge em and try em out. You can still run your kde apps if you like nothing stops you there.
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[mroconnor]

agreed. I see your point. I was just hoping that there might be some people out there that have been in the same spot and have some good/bad input about switching not switching.

[i92guboj]

[mroconnor]

Well just finished emerging xfce and I must saythat on my laptop it takes up more more memory(as in RAM used) then KDE 3.5.8. BUT it seems faster then KDE inmaking changes. I think I may try Fluxbox now and see if that tickles my fancy.

But overall, Xfce is kind of nice.

Thanks for the input.

[widremann]

And light only really matters for when you first start up the desktop. After that, it doesn't really matter. You will have more wait time from individual programs starting up and also when they require lots of CPU or IO. That is not affected by the desktop environment.

If you have limited RAM, then using something like XFCE, or just a plain WM is actually a reasonable choice. But since you've been using KDE for a while now, it sounds like you're probably fine in the RAM department.

[mroconnor]

I am fine in the RAm dept 1GB and a nice Core2Duo.

Ok...after a reboot Xfce takes up about 50MB less RAM then when I first emerged it....interesting.

Wow.....How long does it take to configure Fluxbox or am I just being lazy?! lol

[NeoWolf]

If you really like your KDE apps you might just want to stay in KDE honestly. Xfce is substantially lighter than GNOME and KDE. (Though as noted, still heavier than just a WM as it IS a full desktop environment.) However loading up your favorite KDE apps also means loading up the KDE libraries and when all's said and done your memory usage might even be higher than running KDE straight up!
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[mroconnor]

I am trying to keep an eye on that. Xfce seems light on start up but load opera, have a few tabs in Xfce's Terminal app and the memory usage jumps.
I am emerging digiKam and amarok right now and I'll see how Xfce holds up compared to having just a pure KDE environment.

Right now aside from aside from some configuration differences, I can't say too much bad about Xfce, but I am not sold on switching yet.

[Earthwings]

Moved from Desktop Environments to Duplicate Threads, see Common Threads
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