Hi,

I'm using Debian Etch and I use Gnome. I'm relatively happy with it, but sometimes it's not all that stable ('shares-admin' crashes, add a printer doesn't work, and what not) and I'm looking for alternative options.

Preferably something a bit more compact and stable. The main thing I want is for it to interact properly with programs running under WINE.

I do 3d modeling and it's important it runs Cinema 4D, enlightenment runs this just fine (the camera controls don't work when using gnome) but I hate enlightenment.

What are my options? (not KDE please ) Thanks.


I was looking for IceWM because I had heard of it before; but the links from google (icewm.com / .org) no longer work.

It depends what you want to do. If you're looking for something as feature-rich as KDE or Gnome then you're pretty much stuck with KDE or Gnome. The only other windows managers I've ever used have been stripped-down minimalist window managers.

If you're looking for something minimalist then you've got quite a lot of choice. Ones I've used include:

TWM
Very lightweight, but really too stripped-down to be much use. Could be useful if you rarely use anything other than terminal programs.

IceWM
Superficially very similar to the Windows desktop, but lacks anything but the basic features of Windows.

XFCE
GTK-based. Feels very much like a stripped-down version of Gnome, with most of the basic features.

Fluxbox
Interface is very intuitive, but very different to any other desktop. Productive when used properly, but does require some relearning.

Not to mention fvwm.

(http://www.fvwm.org - don't let the appereance fool you, fvwm is extremly powerfull..)

There are many windowmanagers out there you can try - window maker would be another choice, but if you're looking for something similar to Gnome and KDE - which are desktop systems - there's only Xfce.

For adding just some keyboard shortcuts and virtual desktop switching and some windowborder around your application, nearly all window managers will suit your needs.

I for example simply don't have any use for all the glue desktops like Gnome and KDE add to my GUI.

Hi!

As Virtuality and Hand of Fate said, the decition depends on your needs.
Besides Gnome and KDE If you want a full Desktop environment then Xfce is a good choice. I've been using in some Debian box with excelents results it and its advantage is that it is really lighter and faster when it runs in modest hardware.
With any other window manager you can get speed and eye candyness.