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LXDE -vs- XFCE4

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BoDiddley
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LXDE -vs- XFCE4

#1 Post by BoDiddley »

As a Debian LXDE user, from the start - which began as a fan of Knoppix. I wanted to say that I have been full blown Debian (not dual) for over a year now, during this entire time I have struggled trying to make LXDE work for me. I tried to stay with LXDE, because I like the combination of LXDE on ReiserFS. My system runs like greased-lightening.

Yesterday, I got fed-up with the kinks. After searching on the subject, XFCE4 purportedly was a drop-in for LXDE. So I dropped it in.

XFCE4 is BadA, in a good way. My system response is improved, without all of the noisy ticks - (which may have been caused by a poorly clocked sound chip/card, which I corrected). The processor does not work as hard (i486). And I only had one complaint, well two. 1) Thunar (FM) does not allow you root access. 2) There is no root terminal, and lxterminal is translucent. No problem - I have always been a fan of XFE, so I use it as a file manager when I need root switching on my folders. And then I made XTERM my primary terminal (for root I simply do "SU").

My external devices mount swiftly. And as an added bonus I might be able to dismiss CUPS, because XFCE4 comes with built-in LPD support. I have not tested my camera, or scanner - but there is no real concern. As we know, the desktop manager does not interfere with the preinstalled software, or files. It just manages them.

Win/Win.
"Wisdom is justified of all her children."

Bulkley
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Re: LXDE -vs- XFCE4

#2 Post by Bulkley »

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think LXDE is a one man development team. He did many things right including OS independent utilities like PCManFM. However, one developer teams usually drift away to other interests. That's why I prefer something like Openbox with wich I can use some of the LXDE utilities. As I say, I may be completely wrong about LXDE. I did notice yesterday that their download was doing 404.

XFCE4 is good. I've used it and like it. Development seems to be keeping up.

vbrummond
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Re: LXDE -vs- XFCE4

#3 Post by vbrummond »

BoDiddley wrote:I tried to stay with LXDE, because I like the combination of LXDE on ReiserFS.
People still use reiserfs? :o
1) Thunar (FM) does not allow you root access.
?? http://www.susepaste.org/99656571
2) There is no root terminal
??? http://www.susepaste.org/62575219
Win/Win.
Edit: I meant KDE to xfce for me. Glad you found something that works for you.
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nadir
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Re: LXDE -vs- XFCE4

#4 Post by nadir »

If i want to fiddle i do things not related to the environment.
Hence i like xfce.
Install it, make a few clicks, forget about it
(for the same reason i don't like lxde or openbox. But i know that many, many like it. So it must be me).
"I am not fine with it, so there is nothing for me to do but stand aside." M.D.

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BoDiddley
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Re: LXDE -vs- XFCE4

#5 Post by BoDiddley »

LXDE is a one man team. I agree he did many things right, and then drifted-off.

ReiserFS is as old as my notebook. They work well together; two friends from the same time warp.
"Wisdom is justified of all her children."

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dasein
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Re: LXDE -vs- XFCE4

#6 Post by dasein »

BoDiddley wrote:1) Thunar (FM) does not allow you root access.
Actually it does, if not exactly the way you expect.
BoDiddley wrote:2) There is no root terminal
Any terminal is a root terminal, with just 3-4 keystrokes.
BoDiddley wrote:and lxterminal is translucent
Um... "lxterminal" isn't part of xfce. And the appearance of xfce's terminal program (aptly named "terminal") is fully configurable.

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nadir
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Re: LXDE -vs- XFCE4

#7 Post by nadir »

dasein wrote:
BoDiddley wrote:and lxterminal is translucent
Um... "lxterminal" isn't part of xfce. And the appearance of xfce's terminal program (aptly named "terminal") is fully configurable.
xfce's terminal emulator is called xfce4-terminal, not terminal.
Of course it is better than lxterminal ...

Else there is roxterm too. But most of all i use tilda. Oh, and some like terminator (i think cause one can easily split the screen, but as i use screen or byobu anyway ... ).
"I am not fine with it, so there is nothing for me to do but stand aside." M.D.

vbrummond
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Re: LXDE -vs- XFCE4

#8 Post by vbrummond »

No, it used to be called Terminal upstream until only quite recently. The Debian package has been named xfce4-terminal for quite a while though.

http://git.xfce.org/apps/xfce4-terminal ... 5111cfd09a
- Rename the package from Terminal to xfce4-terminal.
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dasein
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Re: LXDE -vs- XFCE4

#9 Post by dasein »

vbrummond wrote:No, it used to be called Terminal upstream until only quite recently.
Still is. (Screenshot from Wheezy)

Image

toomanyhobbies
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Re: LXDE -vs- XFCE4

#10 Post by toomanyhobbies »

The program calls itself Terminal.
The package is actually called xfce4-terminal.
http://packages.debian.org/wheezy/xfce4-terminal

But looking at the experimental changelog for the package:
http://packages.debian.org/changelogs/p ... /changelog
It has quite a few bullet-points about some kind of renaming, changes applied just december 30th from a newer upstream release.

Still called "terminal" in stable and testing though.

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nadir
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Re: LXDE -vs- XFCE4

#11 Post by nadir »

$ terminal
bash: terminal: command not found
$ xfce4-terminal &
[1] 12269
$


That is what matters to me, so that i can run it from command-prompt.
Well: first of all i will want to install it. So that is what matters in the first place.

Strange enough
man terminal
will work.

Edit: In case there is any doubt: Yes, i didn't know that upstream is called terminal. New info for me.
Last edited by nadir on 2013-01-06 14:08, edited 1 time in total.
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Pednick
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Re: LXDE -vs- XFCE4

#12 Post by Pednick »

There is a root terminal as soon as you apt-get install gdebi, then you can just type thunar in the root terminal for your root access.
BoDiddley wrote:As a Debian LXDE user, from the start - which began as a fan of Knoppix. I wanted to say that I have been full blown Debian (not dual) for over a year now, during this entire time I have struggled trying to make LXDE work for me. I tried to stay with LXDE, because I like the combination of LXDE on ReiserFS. My system runs like greased-lightening.

Yesterday, I got fed-up with the kinks. After searching on the subject, XFCE4 purportedly was a drop-in for LXDE. So I dropped it in.

XFCE4 is BadA, in a good way. My system response is improved, without all of the noisy ticks - (which may have been caused by a poorly clocked sound chip/card, which I corrected). The processor does not work as hard (i486). And I only had one complaint, well two. 1) Thunar (FM) does not allow you root access. 2) There is no root terminal, and lxterminal is translucent. No problem - I have always been a fan of XFE, so I use it as a file manager when I need root switching on my folders. And then I made XTERM my primary terminal (for root I simply do "SU").

My external devices mount swiftly. And as an added bonus I might be able to dismiss CUPS, because XFCE4 comes with built-in LPD support. I have not tested my camera, or scanner - but there is no real concern. As we know, the desktop manager does not interfere with the preinstalled software, or files. It just manages them.

Win/Win.
"An it harm none, do what thou wilt"

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Re: LXDE -vs- XFCE4

#13 Post by ComputerBob »

You could also add a Thunar custom action to add "Open Root Terminal Here" to your Thunar context (right-click) menu:

http://docs.xfce.org/xfce/thunar/custom-actions
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BoDiddley
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Re: LXDE -vs- XFCE4

#14 Post by BoDiddley »

Good point about lxterminal.... There might have been some cross-over from lxde. However, my solutions are in place. And, I look forward to doing more in the terminal environment (xterm is good), not the desktop. Also, I have always preferred xfe - even under lxde. The desktop's seem to lead us to expect a sense of perfection that is really not necessary on a good OS.
"Wisdom is justified of all her children."

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