Windowmaker? KDE?

[Jr. Grommet]

I have a super newbie question. I am going to install Mandrake on my pc all by its self. Do I have to install a Linux related window manager after I install, or is there one provided in mandrake? Can someone explain this window manager thing to me in micro soft words (pun intended)? Thanx

[Dave's not here]

OK, I am by all means, not a linux veteran, but as far as mandrake goes, if you do not install a window manager, all you will have is a console. You may not be able to run programs that need a graphical interface (aka not text mode). If you are a newbie, install a window manager. I began with KDE because it is similar to the windows desktop and now I use Window Maker because it's fast and really cool! Also, there are a number of window managers included with Mandrake.

[ 18 August 2001: Message edited by: Dave's not here ]

[uriah.k]

Yah, mandrake comes with icewm(a window manager similar to winslows) window maker(yah!) xfce(which I don't like)
blackbox and others.
The fave of most people around lno seems to
be window maker and blackbox.
kde and gnome also come with mandrake.
kde(k desktop enviornment) and gnome(gnu network object model enviornment) are desktop enviornments. Which means that they have a default file manager, file associations, a panel and a taskbar. I think you will like window maker and blackbox the most, but I do encourage you to install all window managers and desktop enviornments that come with mandrake, so you can decide what you want to use.

[grendel_khan]

I think that KDE, GNOME, Sawfish, Enlightenment, WindowMaker, Black Box, Xfce, and Afterstep are installed by default. Lesstif and IceWM are optional.

[Telege3k]

I heard that Window maker are really good, it that better than the rest? and what is good about it? :confused:

[Col. Panic]

Well, whether it's "better" than the rest is really a matter of personal taste. If you're looking for something Windows-like and familiar, then it probably sucks! I use it because I like having something a little different (menu is displayed with a right-click anywhere rather than a start button of some sort), it's really easy to customize in terms of colors, themes, options, etc., and it's fairly lightweight. Also, dockapps are cool. :D

I wish there was a magic formula to tell you what would be best for you, but there isn't. If you're just starting out, play with them all. See what you like and what you don't. Have fun. :)

[jglen490]

You can check out what various window managers and desktops look like at this (http://www.xwinman.org/index.html)site. There are links to various screenshots of what others have done in this area.

An X window system requires an X window environment (i.e., XFree86), a window manager (Windowmaker, etc.), and (if you prefer, but not necessarily required) a desktop such as KDE or Gnome.

I've loaded Mandrake 8.0 a couple of times, updated it a couple of times, nuked it a couple of times, and reloaded. The GUI part of Linux is cool and fun to play with, but the keys to understanding Linux are ask, RTFM, invest in a book or two, and don't be afraid step on something!