Difference between revisions of "Install Desktop Environments"

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XFCE is a lightweight and versatile desktop environment that utilises a classic drop-down menu to access applications. It is also compatible with '''[[Compiz_and_Emerald|Compiz]]'''. Although highly configurable, XFCE does provide a somewhat basic interface that may lack some modern features expected (e.g. no built-in search bar in the menu). A little time and effort will also be required to properly customise the deskop to suit personal taste. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running XFCE uses about 200MB of memory. '''To install XFCE, enter the command:'''
'''[http://xfce.org/ XFCE]''' is a lightweight and versatile desktop environment that utilises a classic drop-down menu to access applications. It is also compatible with '''[[Compiz_and_Emerald|Compiz]]'''. Although highly configurable, XFCE does provide a somewhat basic interface that may lack some modern features expected (e.g. no built-in search bar in the menu). A little time and effort will also be required to properly customise the deskop to suit personal taste. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running XFCE uses about 200MB of memory. '''To install XFCE, enter the command:'''


  sudo pacman -S xfce4
  sudo pacman -S xfce4
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KDE is a feature-rich and versatile desktop environment that provides several different styles of menu to access applications. It is also compatible with '''[[Compiz_and_Emerald|Compiz]]'''. An excellent built-in interface to easily access and install new themes, widgets, etc, from the internet is also worth mentioning. While very user-friendly and certainly  flashy, KDE is also quite resource heavy and noticably slower to start and use than a desktop environment such as XFCE. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running KDE uses about 550MB of memory. '''To install KDE, enter the command:'''
'''[http://www.kde.org/ KDE]''' is a feature-rich and versatile desktop environment that provides several different styles of menu to access applications. It is also compatible with '''[[Compiz_and_Emerald|Compiz]]'''. An excellent built-in interface to easily access and install new themes, widgets, etc, from the internet is also worth mentioning. While very user-friendly and certainly  flashy, KDE is also quite resource heavy and noticably slower to start and use than a desktop environment such as XFCE. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running KDE uses about 550MB of memory. '''To install KDE, enter the command:'''


  sudo pacman -S KDE kdeplasma-applets-networkmanagement
  sudo pacman -S KDE kdeplasma-applets-networkmanagement
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Gnome 3 is an intuitive desktop environment that utilises a tablet or smartphone style interface to access applications. It is not compatible with compiz. Although Gnome is very easy to learn and use, its customisation options are quite limited, and it can be difficult to configure. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Gnome uses about 220MB of memory. '''To install Gnome, enter the command:'''
'''[http://www.gnome.org/ Gnome 3]''' is an intuitive desktop environment that utilises a tablet or smartphone style interface to access applications. It is not compatible with compiz. Although Gnome is very easy to learn and use, its customisation options are quite limited, and it can be difficult to configure. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Gnome uses about 220MB of memory. '''To install Gnome, enter the command:'''


  sudo pacman -S gnome
  sudo pacman -S gnome
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Cinnamon is a desktop environment based on Gnome 3 that utilises a large panel-style menu to access applications. It is not compatible with compiz. Despite being based on Gnome, it has more customisation options and is easier to configure. Users of Windows Vista or Windows 7 may find Cinnamon's interface comfortably familiar. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Cinnamon uses about 350MB of memory. '''To install Cinnamon, enter the command:'''
'''[http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/ Cinnamon]''' is a desktop environment based on Gnome 3 that utilises a large panel-style menu to access applications. It is not compatible with compiz. Despite being based on Gnome, it has more customisation options and is easier to configure. Users of Windows Vista or Windows 7 may find Cinnamon's interface comfortably familiar. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Cinnamon uses about 350MB of memory. '''To install Cinnamon, enter the command:'''


  pacman -S cinnamon
  pacman -S cinnamon
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Openbox is not a desktop environment, but a windows manager. Although a basic menu is available (and accessed by right-clicking on the desktop), absolutely nothing else is provided with Openbox's basic installation - not even its own themes or configuration application! One for the minimalists out there, or perhaps those who want to use Openbox as a foundation to build on. It will be necessary to install and configure your own choice of panel, file manager, background provider, and so on. '''To install Openbox, enter the command:'''
'''[http://openbox.org/ Openbox]''' is not a desktop environment, but a windows manager. Although a basic menu is available (and accessed by right-clicking on the desktop), absolutely nothing else is provided with Openbox's basic installation - not even its own themes or configuration application! One for the minimalists out there, or perhaps those who want to use Openbox as a foundation to build on. It will be necessary to install and configure your own choice of panel, file manager, background provider, and so on. '''To install Openbox, enter the command:'''


  sudo pacman -S openbox  
  sudo pacman -S openbox  
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Razor-QT is a lightweight, desktop environment still under development. It has no window manager of its own, although it can be configured to use Compiz as such (not using the Fusion-Icon, however). It is designed with lower-end computers in mind. At its current stage of development, Razor-QT may not be suitable for many users. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Razor-QT uses about 180MB of memory. '''To install Razor-QT, enter the command:'''
'''[http://razor-qt.org/ Razor-QT]''' is a lightweight, desktop environment still under development. It has no window manager of its own, although it can be configured to use Compiz as such (not using the Fusion-Icon, however). It is designed with lower-end computers in mind. At its current stage of development, Razor-QT may not be suitable for all users. A 64 bit installation of Manjaro running Razor-QT uses about 180MB of memory. '''To install Razor-QT, enter the command:'''


  sudo pacman -S razor-qt
  sudo pacman -S razor-qt