Where to download various desktop environments from ?

[arifalisyed]

Hi
I have Xubuntu 13.04 and i want to try out different desktop environments like

- Unity 6.6.0
- GNOME Shell 3.6.2
- GNOME Classic 3.6.2
- KDE Plasma 4.9.90
- Xfce 4.10
- LXDE 0.5.11

feel free suggest more if i have missed any :).

I couldn't find them in my synaptic Package manager.
perhaps i need to add their repository first.
but i dont their repository, it would be good if we could create a sticky thread here which contains the list of desktop environments and their repository links.

following blog inspired me to try them all on my PC [Intel Pentium 4 , 2 Gig RAM , Intel 915 Motherboard]

[matt_symes]

Hi
I have Xubuntu 13.04 and i want to try out different desktop environments like

- Unity 6.6.0
- GNOME Shell 3.6.2
- GNOME Classic 3.6.2
- KDE Plasma 4.9.90
- Xfce 4.10
- LXDE 0.5.11

feel free suggest more if i have missed any :).

I couldn't find them in my synaptic Package manager.
perhaps i need to add their repository first.
but i dont their repository, it would be good if we could create a sticky thread here which contains the list of desktop environments and their repository links.

following blog inspired me to try them all on my PC [Intel Pentium 4 , 2 Gig RAM , Intel 915 Motherboard]

Many are in the repos.

matthew-S206:/etc/update-manager % apt-cache search 'tu-desktop'
ubuntu-desktop - The Ubuntu desktop system
mythbuntu-desktop - The Mythbuntu standalone system
edubuntu-desktop - educational desktop for Ubuntu
kubuntu-desktop - Kubuntu Plasma Desktop/Netbook system
lubuntu-desktop - Lubuntu Desktop environment
xubuntu-desktop - Xubuntu desktop system

You install them with


sudo apt-get install <package_name>

For gnome shell look at this link

http://www.ubuntuupdates.org/ppa/gnome_3

You are also more than likely using Xfce 4.10 when using xubuntu.


matthew-S206:/etc/update-manager % xfwm4 --version
This is xfwm4 version 4.10.0 (revision cc70567) for Xfce 4.10
Released under the terms of the GNU General Public License.
Compiled against GTK+-2.24.14, using GTK+-2.24.17.

Build configuration and supported features:
- Startup notification support: Yes
- XSync support: Yes
- Render support: Yes
- Xrandr support: Yes
- Embedded compositor: Yes
- KDE systray proxy (deprecated): No
matthew-S206:/etc/update-manager %

There are many more window managers, some floating, some tiling and some both.

There is also a distinction between a window manager and a desktop environment.

Have a read of this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_window_manager

If you want to try something a bit different then try a tiling window manager as well such as awesome. It can actually be used as both a tiling and floating window manager.


matthew-S206:/etc/update-manager % apt-cache search ^awesome
awesome - highly configurable X window manager
awesome-extra - additional modules for awesome
matthew-S206:/etc/update-manager %

EDIT:

You may want to add some more memory for the heavier window managers.

Kind regards

[ibjsb4]

Gnome-Classic :D


sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback

[matt_symes]

Hi

Here are two more popular ones; openbox and enlightenment.


matthew-S206:/etc/update-manager % apt-cache search -- '^e17$'
e17 - Enlightenment DR17 Window Manager
matthew-S206:/etc/update-manager % apt-cache search -- '^openbox'
openbox - standards compliant, fast, light-weight, extensible window manager
openbox-dev - development files for the openbox window manager
openbox-themes - Themes for the Openbox window manager
openbox-xdgmenu - Xdg menu for OpenBox
matthew-S206:/etc/update-manager %

Kind regards

[Peripheral Visionary]

It isn't really necessary to download the metapackages (kubuntu-desktop, xubuntu-desktop, etc) since they pull in much more than just the desktop environments. You can simply install Xfce4, KDE, LXDE, etc without all that extra fluff. However, the mixtures xubuntu-desktop, kubuntu-desktop, etc do include some awesome settings and configurations that make using the different desktops more fun!

[Resistent]

Your PC is very old, avoid Unity ! TAKE ONLY Leightweight !
Unity was a horror on my old Notebook with Intel Celeron M 430 @ 1.73GHz (http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=Intel+Celeron+M+430+%40+1.73GHz&id=701)

I am using now Lubuntu, this PC is a HP Compaq DC 7600 SFF (Intel Dual Core Processor 840, Intel® 945G chipset
and works very good.

[matt_symes]

Hi


It isn't really necessary to download the metapackages (kubuntu-desktop, xubuntu-desktop, etc) since they pull in much more than just the desktop environments. You can simply install Xfce4, KDE, LXDE, etc without all that extra fluff. However, the mixtures xubuntu-desktop, kubuntu-desktop, etc do include some awesome settings and configurations that make using the different desktops more fun!

Agreed and I'll elaborate for the OP.

@OP. I should make it clear that installing the meta-packages will install the applications that those desktop environments also use.

If you want to see what is included in the fully fledged desktop then install the meta-packages.

Kind regards