Hey Everybody,

They just released the latest edition of Linux Mint. I have always loved how Linux Mint has work and I've never had any problems with it. However, Linux Mint, since I've started using it, has only been available with Gnome. The new release has a Gnome version, a KDE version, an Xfce version, a Fluxbox version, and a LXDE version. Does anyone know what the main difference is between these desktop environments are? Does anyone have an opinion about which one is best? Since I am familiar with Gnome, do I lose anything from not switching? Back when I used to use Fedora 5, I started using K9Copy, K3B, and still play some KDE games. Would it be to my advantage to switch back to KDE?

Thanks for any advice or information any of ya'll have.
Randy Skaman

Linux Mint 9 (Isadora) has been out for a while now. You don't need to run the KDE desktop to use KDE apps. The links below will explain the differences between the desktop environments.

Xfce

Fluxbox

LXDE

The desktops differ a bit in what they offer, and a bit more in how they offer it. As desktop environments, LXDE and fluxbox will likely lack a few of the features you've become accustomed to in GNOME. Those features are likely present, in one form or another, in XFCE and KDE.

If you're curious, check out a live CD or USB flash drive with the DE of interest. It'll be much slower than a hard drive installation, but you will be able to experience the features of each.

Most if not all of them are live cd's. Download them and try them either on a disk or with a virtual machine.

Thanks for all the advice, I never thought to look at Wikipedia, that helped a lot. I played with them all a little bit and I am going to stick with Gnome.

Thanks Randy Skaman