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Introduction
KDE and GNOME are two very popular
Desktops under Linux. They provide almost all the facilities and Software
application one like to see on the Desktop. Not only fresher but advanced
users also like GUI to do thing faster and to skip the tedious job to
configure the files by hand. So definitely KDE and GNOME address the need of
both fresher and advanced users. But both the Desktop systems have become
just like a monster for which we have to provide more RAM, more speedy CPU ,
more Cache, more speedy hard-disk etc. Even KDE is much more hungry and fatty
than GNOME. KDE itself needs a considerable time to up even on machine having
P-III 500MHZ with 128MB RAM. KDE applications also need noticeable time to up
on old Hardware. So the time came when I was just fade up because of the
delay of KDE and GNOME. My PC has PI 266MHz, 48MB RAM and a 4.3GB Hard disk
which doesn't support UDMA.
But Linux promises to work well with old Hardware too so I started to investigate whether it is just a statement or Linux really works well with Old. Soon I have come to know about some Linux Window Managers and Softwares which have been designed to give life to Old Hardware with out any compromise in user friendliness and look. KDE/GNOME can make the latest Hardware of recent times just obsolete after 3/4 years and users has to go for a Hardware upgradation to continue with those Desktop technologies smoothly. where low fat, fast Linux Softwares still allow me using my 10 years old PI machine smoothly and proudly :-)
Linux really works well with Old Hardware, may be it knows "Old is Gold" :-)
My distro is debian (sarge) and I have found almost all the packages here. Users of other distros need to download some packages from the net. Google.com would be your friend.
| matchbox |
This
Window Manager is very small and fast. It has been designed for
embedded platforms such as handhelds, set-top boxes, kiosks and
anything else for which screen space, input mechanisms or system
resources are limited.
|
| fvwm |
FVWM
is a powerful ICCCM-1.1 compliant multiple virtual desktop window
manager for the X Window System. Highly Configurable. FVWM requires
relatively little memory. The 2.5 version includes new features like
full support of the EWMH
(Enhanced Window Manager Hints) specification, internationalization,
improved window decoration code (no flickering anymore),
bi-directional asian text support, FreeType font support
(antialiasing), image rendering, Perl based module library, support
for PNG images, side titles and much more. But configuration has to
be done by editing the configuration file by hand and it is
tedious.
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| fvwm95 | FVWM with win95 look. So it has a win95 like taskbar, start button and menus |
| aewm | It is light on resources and extremely simple in appearance. .xinitrc should contain fspanel or fbpanel to provide a panel. |
| aewm++ |
aewm++
keeps aewm's minimalist look and feel but is written in C++, and adds
some modern features like virtual desktops and partial GNOME
support.
|
| ratpoison |
FASTEST.
ratpoison is a simple Window Manager with no fat library
dependencies, no fancy graphics, no window decorations But all
interaction with the window manager is done through keystrokes. So
freshers don't like this WM.
|
| lrswm |
FASTEST.
lrswm is a hack of 9wm, adding automatic window tiling, virtual
desktops and many other features designed to make it a very efficient
user environment. It uses very little CPU time and virtual memory.
lrswmenu provides a simple menu where the applications need to be
declared for execution. Configuration has to be done by editing the
config files.
|
| Icewm |
FAST
and SMALL. Can emulate the look of Windows'95, OS/2 Warp 3,4,
Motif. Tries to take the best features of the above systems. Features
multiple workspaces, opaque, move/resize, task bar, window-list,
mailbox-status, digital clock. GUI
tools are available to configure Icewm
|
I Prefer Icewm for its great features
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