First: I have created a ‘Page’ for MX Linux – small updates and MX posts will go there. Here is the link to the new MX Linux Page. The Pages Section is located just below the Posts Section, on the right side. OK, today I tested Desktop Environments (DE) on MX Linux, using the MX Package Installer – there are five Desktop Environments (DE) listed in the “Popular Applications” tab: Budgie, Gnome Base, KDE5 Standard, LXDE and MATE. Just check the box next to the DE you want, and MX Package Installer does the rest…without the need of the Command Prompt.

Did a little searching for a Cinnamon DE in the installer, and found it in the “Stable Repo” tab (after searching for “cinnamon” in search bar). I usually use Synaptic Package Manager, for installing Cinnamon DE onto other Distros, but it missed a/or/some applet/s or disklet/s when I tried installing it on a Test USB two days ago. Worked, but a notification kept popping up on a reboot, and I didn’t feel like taking the time to fix it. The MX Package Installer handled it today with no problems (on the SSD), no need for a Command Prompt, and did a better job at it than Synaptic. MX developers and community have worked hard to make MX Linux a tight singularly Distro, IMHO.

Cinnamon made it six DE’s to go along with the MX default Xfce DE, for a total of seven DE’s. Gnome ends up offering Gnome, Gnome Classic and Gnome Wayland in the Log In selection area – I tried all 3, but couldn’t switch the primary mouse button, so I uninstalled it. I’m right handed, but want to use my right-finger on that right-button as the primary (hands are big enough for right-finger to move to a secondary left-button when needed), and this method eliminates my wrist getting sore. A Distro or DE that can’t swap the mouse button is useless to me. Budgie DE had the same mouse problem, so it got uninstalled also. I never liked KDE Plasma or MATE, but will leave them as DE choices if needed. LXDE was OK, but certainly not better than Xfce on MX. (*HOLD ON* – many Linux users refuse to accept that Linux has a *MAJOR* Fragmentation problem, but I just noticed that I was typing “LMDE” here instead of “LXDE” – in fact, I used a screenshot of LMDE instead of LXDE when working on the LXDE DE, i.e. the LXDE wallpaper was terrible, so I grabbed a different wallpaper from another computer and used it…it was LMDE wallpaper instead of LXDE). Anyway, here are some DE screenshots:

Budgie had ugly wallpaper also – black, I think. DE wasn’t bad, but mouse problem…

Gnome also had mouse problem…

KDE Plasma just never worked for me…

Here’s a small LXDE wallpaper from the internet (the DE choice was terrible and I accidentally grabbed a LMDE DE one)  – not going to bother getting a bigger one at this point, Linux fragmentation problems never ends, and is the main reason Linux can’t get over the 1-2% of desktop/laptop users hump.

Here’s MATE…none of the newly installed DE’s offered much in wallpaper…

Here’s Cinnamon DE…

*UPDATE Reminder* – Have created a Page for MX Linux before the blog looks like a MX Linux Blog, and since it has become clear to me that MX Linux is going to be one of my permanent Linux Distros, at least until another Distro can come along and knock Mint, Ubuntu or MX outta the Top 3. Here’s the new MX Linux Page link.

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