[clug] Alternative desktop view for Ubuntu 16

[George at Clug]

John,

I see people have provided you with many suggestions.

I don't use a computer like you describe below, but I want to let you
know that I use XFCE and enjoy it.

I use Debian and usually install Cinnamon, Mate, and XFCE. I tried
others GUIs but they are just not my tastes.

I get frustrated that I cannot change the colours of the Cinnamon
borders, but I can in XFCE (I use kiwi template which gets installed
from Mate).

I don't use the bottom menu, I just use a top menu bar, though XFCE is
very configurable and allows one menu bar or two (and either top and
bottom, or both).

I sometimes switch between Cinnamon, Mate and XFCE, but always end up
going back to XFCE, as it is the way I like to work (a simple, easy to
use and effective GUI). I dislike using keyboard shortcuts, instead
preferring visual clues that I use a mouse to click on.  I realise
that others have their own preferences and I won't encourage them to
change unless they want to.

I like Debian for its stability and I don't need to change too often.
And it works on my hardware.

Hope the above is useful info for you. And if you decide to give XFCE
a try, but get frustrated configuring it, please let me know, maybe I
have found an easy way.

Do you think you make it to Thursday's meeting?  I will be curious to
learn what GUI you eventually settle on. GUIs are one of my interests.
I was very sad when Microsoft abandoned Windows 7's GUI, this event is
waht caused me to use Linux for my personal computers' OS. 

George.

On Tuesday, 24-04-2018 at 11:43 jhock via linux wrote:


Hi All,

I have finally bought myself a 64 bit computer to replace my old 32
bit
one since Ubuntu no longer supports 32 bit architecture. 

I have loaded Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and copied my data onto the new
computer
but I still don't like the Gnome 3 or Unity looking desktop. I rather
liked the old Gnome 2 or Mate version of Ubuntu but found that Mate
had
little problems that weren't on the standard Ubuntu version.

I've tried to put up with the Gnome 3 desktop but after a week of
frustration I've had enough. I want the following:

1. A panel at the top that shows in a drop down menu all the
applications that I have on my computer. Cairo provides this but
applications crash for no apparent reason.

2. Add to the top panel applications that I often use. 

3. Four windows that I can switch between with Alt + ctrl left and
right arrows. I don't like the two above and two below layout because
I
have to think in which window I'm in when I want to switch between
them.

4. A panel down the bottom that shows the applications that I have
open
and allows me to switch between them by clicking on their icons in
that
panel.

Can my requirements be configured in Gnome 3 or do I need to install
another desktop?  I've tried Cairo but it just doesn't quite make the
grade and I don't like applications crashing all of a sudden.

I've tried Docky but I can't seem to configure a drop down menu as in
requirement 1. above.

Thanks in advance for any helpful suggestions.


John.

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