Which desktop environment is optimized for work?
 

Hello. I am currently on the job of customizing my laptops for different usage areas. I am very new to Linux (~2-3 weeks) and have not yet developed a solid understanding of the purpose of the different desktop environments.

This is why I came to you. I assume most DE's can perform the same tasks as any other DE if you tweak stuff enough, but I am currently lost in this wilderness, and would love to hear the strengths and weaknesses for the different DE's so I can settle for something and get good at it... (I'm going to mainly use it for programming, if that's any vital information.


The question:

Which DE do you use, and why?

Thanks in advance, all :)

Krys

I use Fedora xx (currently 14) for work. I use the 32bit version, even though my Dell Xps 16 is a 64bit processor, because I haven't found any performance increase in the 64bit version, and in fact have found that simple things like "Flash player" works for ship because of the ndiswrapper.

Aside from that, Fedora works great for work. It has access to what has to be trillions of programs at the click of a button or the sweep of a keystroke. I use the default Gnome install. I also use VirtualBox to run an XP VM for anything that might not run on Linux natively (e.g Vmware Client, Visio)

I have some other cohorts here who use Windows still, and one that is using Ubuntu. I suggest against Ubuntu for the workplace. Aside from a personal "pride" about not using a beginner OS, I can't fault it that much, except to say "Remember the old SSL vulnerability."

So, +1 Fedora for workplace.

-Edit-

I would also mention that, If your workplace has tons of "Centos" servers or the like, then go with Fedora. If you have a ton of slackware servers, go with slackware. That sort of thing.

I prefer XFCE 4.6. It's clean and no-frills, and hasn't succumbed to excessive feature creep unlike some of the other DE I could mention. I'm equally happy with Flux/openbox or my old favourite WinodwMaker though.
I guess I'm a minimalist. I really don't care for the Gnome file-manager, Nautilus. And KDE has gone down the path of 'heavy integration', which is something I'm philosophically opposed too.

any distribution that updates there release every 3+ is not suitable for a workplace in my opinion. I use Slackware as my desktop and I manage 40+ servers/cluster running RHEL5 and SuSe so the above statement about use the os your server running is as your desktop is only a personal choice. The only thing I think you will gain is that you can learn how your servers can be configured?!? other than that look for a stable distribution and make sure is not super bleeding edge that can run you in to issues at some point....

:)

Guys, she asked about Desktop Environments, not Distributions.

I really like XFce 4.6.2 on my main Slackware stations, it has good functionality without a lot of system overhead. On older PIII units I like Fluxbox, it is very light and fast. :)

I use lxde, but for my work I need terminals, firefox and thunderbird and occasionally some other apps that are desktop-environment-indipendent.

I suppose the answer for me is: "it depends on what you need for your work".

I second that :)

I was like whaaat! When I read first answer. :) but he did mention he uses Gnome ;)

I decided to explore and use KDE (despite it's ever evolving nature and some crashes :S ), I like also Gnome for it's stability in the same time rich functionality and funny or no but will say simplicity(looking from simple everyday desktop system user opinion)

For some time I used FluxBox and actually if you use your pc for work and don't need to use all nice extra features that KDE and Gnome has, then I think, for real work:
FLUXBOX IS BETTER THAN GNOME OR KDE (yes they are much ritcher in functionality, but there are also much more distractions, that actually might be bad for your workflow and off course they are slower, if you use older system)

fluxbox will let you actually to concentrate on work you are doing (note: to use workspaces in fluxbox is absolute joy :) )

And may be many will hate me for this :) , but I don't really like xfce, because it is like some kind of a middle product (much less functionality and ease of use than KDE or GNOME, but in the same time heavier than fluxbox or other boxes, some other window managers)

may be, I left something out, but I am running away, have no time anymore :)

This is all very interesting feedback, I appreciate it all very much, so keep it coming :)

NB:I'm very surprised to see this few Gnome / KDE'ers though, as I have only tried KDE myself so far.
I should mention though, that I have seen a surprising amount of crashes and bugs in KDE 4.4 in just these 2 weeks..

Ops sorry I guess I was replying base on szboardstretcher's reply :)


As far as a desktop env I am with ponce.
+1

Edit: 2

I stand corrected yet again.... LOL

Thanks GazL the thrid one is the charm...

OpenBox with Tint2. It looks nice and its keyboard shortcuts are very efficient. I'm as fast with a terminal as I am with a GUI, so not having certain things done for me (like auto-mounting flash drives) isn't a problem for me.

I think you mean, szboardstretcher. Splinter was on topic, no foul there.


Neutral-zone infraction, szboardstretcher. 5 Yard penalty. ;)

Anyway, no worries. Just didn't want to see this devolve into a "My distro is better than your distro train-wreck".


@Splinter, Which file-manager (if any) do you use with fluxbox?

For ease of use and most similar to a windows environment choose KDE or Gnome.
For reasonably complete lightweight systems that you want to customize choose xfce/fluxbox/lxde

That covers the most used desktop environments. They can all be used for pretty much whatever you want. You can set them up how you want by choosing the programs that you want to use.

I, for example, use KDE for multimedia/office/internet. I choose KDE because I am comfortable using it, however I am equally capable of using any of the other desktops or the command line, but I choose to use KDE.

Try loads of different desktop environments, choose the one you feel comfortable with, then modify it by loading the programs that you want.

That's the nasty thing about choice, it forces you to choose.

samac

I am finding xfce4 very easy to use and customize. It is probably the best WM for a newbie.

A more advanced user might prefer fluxbox or even fvwm2 but these take a lot of learning to master.

KDE reminds me so much of microsoft that I refused to install it on my computer.

Me too - I have always used KDE and am very comfortable with it. It runs fine on my main system, (Core 2 Duo with 3GB Ram), but for a system that has low memory and not a very powerful CPU I choose XFCE but don't like it as much as KDE.