MATE / XFCE / LXDE
#1
Anyone know what the reason was that MATE was chosen for the desktop environment?
I just installed LXDE and it looks like right off the bat it has a good 250-400 MB more RAM free after initial login. Seems like this would be a better choice for slim hardware like the Pinebook has.  I haven't used it for more than about 15 minutes so far, but seems to be much snappier.

Don't get me wrong...I'm not hating on MATE. I use it at work on my Dell desktop with full Compiz effects too.  Love it.
#2
(05-15-2017, 07:46 PM)pagesix1536 Wrote: Anyone know what the reason was that MATE was chosen for the desktop environment?

Preference:

... Mate is popular;  and well known.  Mate is usable from a lay-persons view-point , has what is expected , is solid and functions well.  

As you have noted, other environments work fine ( for some perhaps better ) and anyone is free to install what they wish;  Mate in no way prevents that.

Actually, the images are shipped without gui.  Mate can be easily installed via script;  however, anything else can be installed also ( gnu+linux is all about freedom and choice, nothing has changed in that way ).
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#3
(05-15-2017, 07:46 PM)pagesix1536 Wrote: Anyone know what the reason was that MATE was chosen for the desktop environment?
I just installed LXDE and it looks like right off the bat it has a good 250-400 MB more RAM free after initial login. Seems like this would be a better choice for slim hardware like the Pinebook has.  I haven't used it for more than about 15 minutes so far, but seems to be much snappier.

Don't get me wrong...I'm not hating on MATE. I use it at work on my Dell desktop with full Compiz effects too.  Love it.

Just preference... newcomers generally want a GUI with it being a laptop form factor, and MATE was the best blend of pretty/familiar and lightweight. But there is nothing to stop you using one of ayufan's other images, such as the minimal one, which should give you just the command line, and then you can whatever you want from that. Wink

https://github.com/ayufan-pine64/linux-build/releases
#4
Awesome...thanks for the insight guys. Going to play around LXDE for a while and see how it does for daily driving.
#5
(05-16-2017, 03:44 AM)pfeeric Wrote: Just preference... newcomers generally want a GUI with it being a laptop form factor, and MATE was the best blend of pretty/familiar and lightweight. But there is nothing to stop you using one of ayufan's other images, such as the minimal one, which should give you just the command line, and then you can whatever you want from that. Wink

https://github.com/ayufan-pine64/linux-build/releases

I'm waiting for my Pinebook to arrive and would like some advice on what Linux image to start with.

I would like to run Debian Testing with an XFCE desktop.  Based on this post I would start with the minimal image from ayufan.  I'm comfortable doing this.  Where would I find this minimal image?

However, would it be possible to use?
pine64-image-debianxfce*
#6
cootcraig,

For starters, the image you found would not work (out of the box), you'd have to substitute the uboot, kernel,etc. But it's also not worth the hassle as the image is very outdated at this point. Now the good news is that Lenny is working on a new debian image (with drm and mali) for the Pinebook - whether it will be done by the time you get your PB or not, that I don't know. So, if you would want debian TODAY on your PB then you would have to build an image yourself using ayufans stuff, and then install XFCE (or whatever DE you prefer). Don't know how knowledgeable you are, but this is beyond what most users are capable of doing.

edit: minimal image refers to ubuntu without a DE just CLI. You can find the minimal image here (as well as other stuff such as simple image for building (?), i3 image, mate image, etc.) ... if you don't mind ubuntu, and want XFCE then this may be the easiest thing temporarily.
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#7
(05-22-2017, 10:08 AM)Luke Wrote: cootcraig,

For starters, the image you found would not work (out of the box), you'd have to substitute the uboot, kernel,etc. But it's also not worth the hassle as the image is very outdated at this point. Now the good news is that Lenny is working on a new debian image (with drm and mali) for the Pinebook - whether it will be done by the time you get your PB or not, that I don't know. So, if you would want debian TODAY on your PB then you would have to build an image yourself using ayufans stuff, and then install XFCE (or whatever DE you prefer). Don't know how knowledgeable you are, but this is beyond what most users are capable of doing.

edit: minimal image refers to ubuntu without a DE just CLI. You can find the minimal image here (as well as other stuff such as simple image for building (?), i3 image, mate image, etc.) ... if you don't mind ubuntu, and want XFCE then this may be the easiest thing temporarily.

OK. As of today I would use the ayufan-pine64 image you linked. Thanks.
#8
I rather like XFCE and LXDE myself. Thinking I may try to cobble together a Kali setup once I get used to fiddling around with this thing a bit.
------
it doesn't get happy
it doesn't get sad
it just runs programs


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