I voted for runlevel 4, since that's how the box I use most is configured currently, but this all depends on my mood

Sometimes I spend months starting X with startx from the CLI, then I change to play with configuring the KDM "greeter" (mine starts with an Xfce logo and background ).

But I also have an entry in lilo.conf to start with "init 3", so that I can boot to the console when I want to, without changing /etc/inittab

Indeed I use both: startx for my good-N-old faithful laptop and runlevel 4 with my desktop, which is more likely to be used by my family.

Sometimes I just want to launch tcpdump, minicom or a shell script, so booting up with runlevel 4 would be a big waste of time. On the other hand, if my parents might spot a command prompt they would be scared to their bones.

Anyway, if I change my mind after launching a job (I change my mind very often so I preventively login on tty6 as an habit), I run startx on tty1.

Nevertheless, on my 64-bit desktop, I frequently find myself typing 'telinit 3' for performing some intensive computations.

I use runlevel 4, but using a modified rc.4 that runs startx for me, and allows me to switch to any other user or runlevel using "echo SOMETHING > ~/.xrestart;pkill fluxbox" in my fluxbox menu file. It even switches to runlevel 3 if X restarts too quickly.

Great if you use fluxbox and want to be logged in automatically.




STARTASUSER=herb
CONFIG=/home/$STARTASUSER/.xrestart

# Tell the viewers what's going to happen...
reset
echo "Starting up X11 session manager..."

while true
do [ -f $CONFIG ] &&\
echo restartx > $CONFIG

STARTTIME=`date +%s`
su - $STARTASUSER -c "bash -l -c startx"
FINISHTIME=`date +%s`

if $( let " $[ $FINISHTIME - $STARTTIME ] < 7 " )
then exec /sbin/telinit 3
fi

if (grep poweroff $CONFIG)
then exec /sbin/poweroff
fi

if (grep reboot $CONFIG)
then exec /sbin/reboot
fi

if (grep init3 $CONFIG)
then exec /sbin/telinit 3
fi

if (grep "user=" $CONFIG)
then NEWUSER=`cat $CONFIG | awk -F= '{print $2}'`
if [ $NEWUSER != "root" ]
then STARTASUSER=$NEWUSER
fi
CONFIG=/home/$STARTASUSER/.xrestart
fi

sleep 2
done

I dunno, but when it hits 88 mph, you're going to see some serious sh*t!

On my desktop machines, I start in runlevel 5, but on servers I only use startx on extremely rare occasions and almost always run from the command line or Webmin to do all the administration.

Mike E.

startx
In a way it keeps me from depending on GUI too much. This lets me learn Linux more instead of GUIs.

startx.
weather it looks pretty or not when I type in username and password doesn't matter to me. Besides, it would intimidate some of my Windows using brothers if they wanted to use my laptop without my knowing it

Startx always, actually I'm using X for browsing (where are all good only html old sites, that doesn't need JS, flash and similar ..censored here .. and can be used with links/lynx ) , playing bzflag and to start terminals . As I remember first reason for people that created X11R6 to create it was to start more terminals.

i already voted last week, but i forgot to mention i have the login screen set up with a picture of a Blackhawk control panel... now if i could make a KDE startup splash where some of the instruments on the panel did something while KDE was loading......

I'm too lazy to startx, so runlevel 4 with gdm for me.

Have a read of the startx script (found at `which startx`). You'll notice you can pass options to both the X server and to the command X runs once it starts. You'll also see you can specify those options in various scripts and config files that startx calls as it runs. A possible candidate is perhaps .xserverrc. `man xserver` could also help.

Also, I seem to remember dpi is one of the options in xorg.conf if you are using that.

I boot on level 4 by default, since I use grub and can easily boot in level 3 if needed.
In any case, since Slack handily provide access to the console using Ctrl-Alt-F6, I'm never in jeopardy because of a faulty X config.
And even when coding, I like to have several consoles in windows.

Both. I have one slackware 13 for me which I startx as required. Run level 4 for ease of use of the family on another.

(And a quiet hello and thanks for much lurked help over time).

startx

It really suits me well that I don't need X for much.

I setup about 7 virtual consoles, and can do stuff in each of them. Play mp3's, chat on msn, use torrents, and use the various programs I need to. I only really use startx if I want to watch a movie while something is playing, or need firefox.

startx for me, it confuses the hell out of anyone who has no idea wtf they are doing.