Trying a new desktop environment ... (E17 on MATE)

[Gottfried]

I would like to try a new desktop environment, for instance E17.

I have MINT 15 with Mate.

What is the correct way to install say E17 DE without harming program compatibility? Or is E17 not recommended?

If I like it less than Mate, how do I return to Mate? What about other DE?

Are there any DE that can search inside text documents with convenient placement of the search, like Win7 I remember did?

I am going for light but capable of running well with many various packages, WINE, Crossover, etc. Thanks. Does it matter which DE for programs to run?

[phutres]

e17 =

Code: Select all

sudo apt install e17

xfce =

Code: Select all

sudo apt install mint-meta-xfce

kde =

Code: Select all

sudo apt install kde-all

cinnamon =

Code: Select all

sudo apt install mint-meta-cinnamon

And one of my favs just for fun:

blackbox =

Code: Select all

sudo apt install blackbox

Good luck! Enjoy experimenting with window managers.

[phutres]

To answer some of your other questions:

1. installing e17(or other DE's) will not interfere with mate
2. at the login screen you can select which DE you want to use for that session
3. There is a way to search inside text doccuments, I don't recall atm. I do not believe that functionality is dependent on the DE, but other services that run.
4. it should not matter from what DE you run a program. If you run a MATE application from inside KDE it will load the necessary MATE files for it to run. there are some compatability libraries for things like running gnome widgets inside xfce and such, but as a general rule it should not matter which DE you chose to run a program from

[vandamme]

If you have problems with E17 on Mint but want to keep at it, try installing Bodhi Linux. It's also derived from Ubuntu but optimized for Enlightenment.

[hpmc13]

Enlightenment is very slick. It's got a few issues but nothing that really breaks it. For instance, you can't drag the title bar of a window to the top of your screen and have the window maximize.

I ran the instructions on the enlightenment homepage to install it:
[url]http://www.enlightenment.org/p.php?p=about/e17&l=en[/url] Go about halfway down the page for the instructions.

There are bunches of DEs to play with. I've tried (and removed) a bunch without a hitch. Since you use Mate, you might want to try Cinnamon. It's sort of in between Mate and Enlightenment.

Have fun.