Different panel for Mint 9???

[Kendall]

I've had a couple of requests to consider using a different panel for the Mint 9 Fluxbox edition. Honestly I can't entirely disagree as the stock Fluxbox panel is rather dated looking and has rather limited functionality when compared with some of the other offerings.

There are a few options here: the Xfce panel is installed by default in the Fluxbox edition and it isn't difficult to have it working very nicely. The LXDE panel has some good plugins and is easily configured. And then there's tint2, which is why I really made this post in the first place as it's highly configurable, very easy to work with, and rather good looking.

Tint2 is very commonly used in Openbox setups and has a very good list of features. It's also very light. This would be my first choice when dealing with something like this.

What do you guys think?

[Zocko]

Sorry I'm a bit new and a bit slow but what do I click on to see what the "panel" is please.

[shane]

Sorry I'm a bit new and a bit slow but what do I click on to see what the "panel" is please.

The panel is the thing at the bottom of the screen that has the task bar (the buttons with the running applications), the desktop switcher, the system tray, the clock... and in the KDE and Gnome editions the menu as well.

[Zocko]

Thanks Shane, I did do a quick click on things and a quick search but thought it quicker to just ask. Anyhow as its the thing at the bottom of the screen, isn't that just a rectangular bar that when you click on it you can add things or take them away and can re-arrange them and also change its colour with the themes. So what would be changed if it were in Mint 9.

[Carl]

I was using tint2 in Crunchbang for the last two weeks and it was a joy to use =] anything I wanted all I had to do was type it into the config file ahhhh heaven

[shane]

@Zocko

Since a picture is worth a thousand words... here is a comparison of Fluxbox

http://images.google.ro/images?q=fluxbo ... =en&tab=wi

vs Tint2

http://images.google.ro/images?q=tint2& ... =en&tab=wi

Google for Tint2 to understand its capabilities more.

[Gnarly]

There probably should of been a "I dont really care option". But if you are going to change it my vote is for Tint2.

[xazax]

I used to use tint2 in crunchbang and it was great. My vote is for tint2 too.

[markfiend]

tint2 looks nice

I'm off to stick it on my flux install now, will feedback later.

Edit: it's now later. I must say, I like tint2 a LOT

[reed]

I use tint2 with openbox on my Arch Linux box. It's great. I would definitely love to see it utilized.

(And FWIW, Mint Fluxbox is the only distro other than Arch that warrants a place on one of my machines. Thanks!)

[markfiend]

I must say, I like tint2 a LOT

To expand further, I like the configurability (is that a word? ) of tint2, together with conky (and have you thought of sticking conky in the default fluxbox install Kendall? Fluxbox and conky seem made for each other) are a great pair of tools for a fluxbox install.

I know the default fluxbox panel is fairly configurable, but it is a bit old-fashioned in a strange way.

As always with Linux though, it's a case of personal preference.

[Kendall]

and have you thought of sticking conky in the default fluxbox install Kendall? Fluxbox and conky seem made for each other

Conky IS installed by default.

[Mr_Shifty]

and have you thought of sticking conky in the default fluxbox install Kendall? Fluxbox and conky seem made for each other

Conky IS installed by default.

Indeed it is. You can see it in this screenshot of Mint 8 Fluxbox on my laptop:



I've dabbled with conky in the past, but I like how Kendall configured it in this release, so I added it to my ~/.fluxbox/startup so that it runs all the time.

[OU812]

I like the modest fluxbox taskbar; however, if you intend to replace it then my vote is for tint2.

john

[Kendall]

I like how Kendall configured it in this release, so I added it to my ~/.fluxbox/startup so that it runs all the time.

I used the same .conkyrc from Mint 6 Fluxbox, so Shane is to thank for that.

I like the modest fluxbox taskbar; however, if you intend to replace it then my vote is for tint2.

Just feeling out the situation at the moment. No decisions just yet.

[OU812]

I wonder if you could set things up so that when slim boots you could choose between fluxbox + fluxbox panel and fluxbox + tint2.

john

[markfiend]

and have you thought of sticking conky in the default fluxbox install Kendall? Fluxbox and conky seem made for each other

Conky IS installed by default.

Oh.

I could have sworn I had to apt-get it. My memory is like one of those things with all the holes in...

[wellser]

I'm all for tint2... didn't know what it was until I read this thread yesterday. Installed it to check it out and love it. I didn't know how much the stock panel irritated me until I saw the beautiful (and beautifully customizable) tint2... no more fluxbox panel for me.

[ju1ius]

+1 for tint2 !
Beware though, as this thread might lead to the conclusion that we need to migrate Fluxbox CE to Openbox

[Mr_Shifty]

Ew... I see that my desire to leave the default Fluxbox panel alone is in a fairly deep minority.

Am I really one of only two people here that thinks the default panel in Fluxbox is just fine?