New to linux- is there an easy way to install all the popular desktop shells on my computer? If I did this would it be easy to switch between, without a performance hit? (other than hard disk space that is)
I'm interested in trying out MATE, Cinnamon, Unity, etc. and would prefer not to dual boot
Multiple Desktop Shells
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There are no such things as "stupid" questions. However if you think your question is a bit stupid, then this is the right place for you to post it. Stick to easy to-the-point questions that you feel people can answer fast. For long and complicated questions use the other forums in the support section.
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
Multiple Desktop Shells
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
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Re: Multiple Desktop Shells
you can run different distros from a virtual machine like vmware or virtualbox.
Re: Multiple Desktop Shells
You can install the different DE's through synaptic or the terminal.
eg. Open a terminal (accessories > terminal) and type in sudo apt-get install xfce4 ubuntu-desktop* cinnamon mate-desktop*
You'll end up with a bloated installation (ie. more disk space used), but it means you can run them normally without dual-booting.
Just log out, choose a different session and log back in.
eg. Open a terminal (accessories > terminal) and type in sudo apt-get install xfce4 ubuntu-desktop* cinnamon mate-desktop*
You'll end up with a bloated installation (ie. more disk space used), but it means you can run them normally without dual-booting.
Just log out, choose a different session and log back in.
Re: Multiple Desktop Shells
Tonight I installed Cinnamon onto Mint 13 MATE and it brought in most of the Gnome family including Classic, Ubuntu, and Shell is listed but it boots into fallback instead. If you don't mind some extras and have plenty of hard drive space Synaptic Package Manager can access all the desktops you can handle
- tdockery97
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Re: Multiple Desktop Shells
The only downside to it, if you even consider it as such, is that some settings remain between desktop environments. Wallpaper and perhaps desktop icons to name a couple.
Mint Cinnamon 20.1
Re: Multiple Desktop Shells
Good point, themes are the same also, I believe.tdockery97 wrote:The only downside to it, if you even consider it as such, is that some settings remain between desktop environments. Wallpaper and perhaps desktop icons to name a couple.
- tdockery97
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- Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 8:54 am
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Re: Multiple Desktop Shells
I suppose a solution for that would be to create a new user for each desktop environment that you install. That way you won't have the crossover problem between environments.
Mint Cinnamon 20.1
Re: Multiple Desktop Shells
That's an interesting idea if you could remember which user for which desktop. Maybe name the users for the desktops: Cinna, Uni, Class, etc.tdockery97 wrote:I suppose a solution for that would be to create a new user for each desktop environment that you install. That way you won't have the crossover problem between environments.