Replacing windows XP at home.

[Garrett Cooper]

Peter wrote:
> --- Joshua Lewis <joshua.lewis at familyfunzone.net> wrote:
>
>   
>>    I have a hard question to ask and I realize that there are a
>> thousand
>>    answers to this question.
>>
>>
>>
>>    I am replacing my XP system with a FreeBSD 6.1 system. I finished
>>    installing it last night and cvsuped. Now I need to choose a
>> window
>>    manager.
>>
>>
>>
>>    There are what seems like hundreds of different WM in the ports
>>    collection and there is no way I will be able to find the time to
>> read
>>    them all and get any kind of good idea on what each one does.
>>
>>
>>
>>    I am hoping a few people form the list could e-mail me what they
>> like
>>    and for what reason.
>>
>>
>>
>>    I want something lean and fast but I want to have my cake and eat
>> it
>>    to because I do want something that is not strait up ugly and is
>>    functional.
>>
>>
>>
>>    KDE seems like it is bloated so I was considering Gnome. I have
>> also
>>    been reading about enlightenment and it sounds interesting. I have
>>    looked into Fluxbox and it also seems like it would do the trick.
>>
>>
>>
>>    Would I be better off just going with Gnome or KDE? I realize once
>> I
>>    start installing apps that I will probably wind up installing
>>    something that uses Gnome or KDE libraries so I am going to wind
>> up
>>    bloating my system any ways right?
>>     
>
> I know both KDE and fluxbox quite well.  They provide two entirely
> different experiences.   Installing KDE will give you applications and
> a heavy desktop environment (with menus everywhere) while fluxbox will
> just give you a light window manager.  I suggest you go for KDE first
> just to convince yourself that it is possible to have a Microsoft-like
> experience within an Open Source OS and then go for fluxbox.
>
> If you want something in between KDE and fluxbox then you may want to
> try XFCE.
>
> Of course, there are many more alternatives but these are the ones I
> have used a fair amount.
>
> Peter
Something else coming around the turnpike soon for FreeBSD I assume: 
<http://www.xpde.com/>
-Garrett