1) I have XFCE, Fluxbox, Blackbox, WVM, etc. installed (no KDE). How can I create some kind of menu that would let the user select which window manager to use when they login to X? Or, at least an easy way to change from one to the other within any of the WMs.

2) Rather than ask a nebulous question about package management and installation, I'll ask a pointed one and learn from the case scenario: How can I upgrade Firefox to the latest version?

3) Is there any kind of package manager for Slackware that DOES check dependencies? An auto-update feature is a plus. I won't be the only admin for these old Slax boxes I'm setting up, and while I have the patience to figure out these things, I can't vouch for the other admins' willpower

If you enable a runlevel 4 login you will get that X-based login you want with an already-existing menu of window managers. Questions 2 and 3 can be combined - download and install SWARET. That is the nicest way, in my opinion, of keeping your system up to date or just keeping certain packages up to date. If you need more help, let us know.
Also, if you download and install Dropline-Gnome you'll get that automatic updater. It will check daily for updates. However, I like SWARET more.

Firstly are you talking about SLAX the liveCD, or Slackware?

1) Slax and Slack both have xwmconfig a tool to change the window manager. Or you could change the default runlevel to 4 in /etc/inittab, but i cant remember XDM allows you to choose WMs at startup You will be using XDM as KDE is not installed, so no KDM.

2) Yes, FireFox 1.5.0.7 is available for Slackware 10.2 . Go to slackware.org click on 'Packages' and follow your nose from there to download it (or just download it directly from a mirror, there is a list on the site). I don't really understand how packages work for Slax, I'm afraid so I can't help you there. There will be an updated FF at the Slax site though.

3) No automated package management for Slax (that I know of). There are several 3rd party automated package managers for Slackware, including swaret, slackpkg and slapt-get. Unfortunately using them can be hit and miss and result in an unusable system.

Before deciding to use any of these package managers I would read the man pages very carefully, all the posts here about problems with automated package managers and only then make a decision.

For Slackware 10.2 following the changelog is probably as efficient as using automated package management, as it usually only updates when security fixes are released.

Note I speak from personal experience. I have used swaret, slapt-get and slackpkg, have made my system unusable with all of them and _still_ use slapt-get, but _only_ to download packages.

PS: swaret and slapt-get have elementary dependency resolution, but the systems are not compatible as far as I know.

PPS: A good idea is to look at what swaret, slackpkg and slapt-get blacklist by default, combine the blacklists and add any other package you don't want to auto-update and use that.

Thanks everyone. I will give SWARET a try. To clarify, I am talking about Slackware. It had slipped my mind that SLAX is the name of the live CD project. :S

@Vincent: I'm using XDM, which doesn't have that built in menu.

@Newbie: I know how to configure my inittab, I was looking for a KDM/GDM-like window management menu. I will use xwmconfig for the time being. Thank you for pointing that command out to me.

Why don't you install KDE? I use several window managers depending on what I'm in the mood for, and I have learned that KDE is probably the best one to have when it comes to total functionality out of the box.

Well, even if you don't run KDE, the libraries and KDM etc. would be nice. I'm not sure how your system would handle just that aspect of KDE but I do see why you chose not to install it.

How little can I install and be able to use KDM instead of XDM?

I'm not sure but you can install swaret and then, once you have it running and set to version 10.2, do `swaret --get kde'.
That should give you a list of each kde package available and let you decide which to install. Try just kdebase first if you want, with maybe the kdelibs and kdeutils. That should be enough but if not you can either continue to add others or just remove all of it.