I wasn’t really planning on installing Xubuntu, but it was the only Live/Install edition with the Xfce desktop that would install on an external USB drive from a USB stick, and that supported the Broadcom Wireless driver required by my HP mini netbook. The Xfce desktop is an alternative for those with older computers with minimal memory and older graphic cards.
From my experience with Gnome 3 desktop used by Linux Mint, I was concerned that windows would not size correctly under a desktop other than Ubuntu’s Unity desktop. For example, the Preferences dialog for Rhythmbox as follows in the Unity desktop:
Notice that window menu bar is missing under the Unity desktop, and that the Preferences dialog box sizes correctly to the screen. Under Linux Mint’s Gnome3 desktop, the same screen appears as follows:
Notice that the lower buttons extend below the bottom of the screen. At first, I thought the problem was with Rhythmbox. However, under Xubuntu, the same screen appears as follows:
The dialog box fits within the screen dimensions of the netbook. When uploading the Ubuntu screen shot, the file selection screen extended below the bottom of the screen. Under Xubuntu, the screen sized correctly. For those of us that use netbooks, this is an important criteria in choosing a desktop. Score one for Xubuntu on this issue.
Xubuntu automatically displays all partitions available for mounting on the desktop. Since I am running Xubuntu from a multi-booted external drive on a system with a multi-booted internal drive, the desktop window is rather cluttered as shown below:
Most Xubuntu users won’t face this problem, but it drives me crazy. I would just as soon not see all the available partitions on the desktop.
Where Ubuntu has a Launcher panel on the left side of the screen, Xubuntu has one at the bottom of the screen. When I moved the mouse to the bottom of the screen, the Launcher panel appears, as shown below:
Xubuntu uses the Ubuntu Software Center as the default graphical package manager. My complaint is that it does not provide a means for managing additional repositories. Unlike Ubuntu, Xubuntu also includes the Synaptic Package Manager.
I prefer to Google Chrome over Firefox as a Web browser. From Firefox, I downloaded Google Chrome. Once the download finished, I opened from the browser. To my surprise, the Ubuntu Software Center opened to install Google Chrome, and download the necessary dependencies. According to the Synaptic Package Manager, the install did add Google Chrome’s repository. While it is not as graphically appealing as the Ubuntu Software Center, the Synaptic Package Manager provides more flexibility.
As for multimedia applications, Parole played all my test video files. I downloaded Rhythmbox, because gmusicbrowser only places mp3, ogg, flac, and mpc files. With the Unity desktop, I had to keep the Rhythmbox window open to continue playing music. The same goes for Shutter and taking screen shots. While Shutter added an icon to the top menu bar, Rhythm box did not. To easily control the playlist, I just dragged the active Rhythmbox workspace icon to the second workspace. While Linux supports a maximum of four works spaces, Xubuntu only supports two.
Xubuntu must include the Broadcom STA Wireless driver on the Live/Install media, as I did not have to cable to the Internet to install it. When I installed Xubuntu to the hard disk, it kept my settings. I did not have to do anything to have a wireless connection to Internet.
Of the three Ubuntu derivates I have tested to this point, I still prefer Linux Mint. Xubuntu comes in second, as I feel the Unity desktop inconvenient for my work. For those with older machines, Xubuntu is definitely a viable option.
8 comments ↓
“I would just as soon not see all the available partitions on the desktop.”
You can turn off the display of hd partitions with the Xfce setings manager: Settings –> Appearance –> icons
“While Linux supports a maximum of four works spaces, Xubuntu only supports two.”
??? Xfce allows up to 100 multiple desktops: Settings –> Workspaces
“For those with older machines, Xubuntu is definitely a viable option.”
Why do you single out older machines? Xfce is a very capable, feature-complete desktop interface for any computer. It runs extremely fast on newer computers.
I am not sure which version of Xubuntu you are using, but the path you provided does not exist on Ubuntu 11.10. The closest path is Settings->Settings Manager. Then open appearance, and click on the Icons tab. However, this tab only deals with the Icon color. None of the tabs in the Appearance application control what icons are displayed on the desktop. I don’t know how I missed it before, but I found the setting in the Desktop application. The problem is solved, but it took a lot of poking around to find the new location of the setting.
You are correct on the number of workspace, but leave out a critical implication. Each workspace creates another icon on the menu bar. This takes away space from displaying active application icons on the menu bar. There is a hidden hazard to using multiple workspaces. I have had users close the applications on the current page, and forget about applications in other workspace, since the workspace icon does not show minimized applications. This can result in lost work. Having the ability to create more work spaces doesn’t make it practical. Distributions vary as to the default number of workspaces.
If you noticed, the title of this blog is Low Cost Computing. One of the recurring themes are distros that work best with older computers. Xubuntu is an alternative desktop for any machine. For older machines that lack the memory, or graphics card support for Gnome3, KDE4, or Unity, Xubuntu plays a bigger role. While I haven’t tested the latest version on my ancient Micron laptop, with only 256 meg of memory, it worked fine on earlier editions. As for Xfce distros, my preference is PCLinuxOS Xfce. With PCLinuxOS, I can use the BFS scheduler instead of the CFS scheduler as the kernel process scheduler. My tests show that the BFS scheduler performs much better on single core machines, and reduces the CPU temperature. Lowering the CPU temperature is especially important on laptops with poor cooling. Switching to the BFS kernel kept an old HP laptop from halting due to CPU temperatures going beyond the temperature limit.
Thanks for your input, I always learn something new.
I’ve noticed the problem of windows and buttons not sizing correctly in several places in Linux Mint 12 (Gnome Tweak Tool also displays this problem), but I haven’t seen it happen in any other GNOME 3 distribution. I think the problem is related to the windows/buttons/icons theme Mint 12 uses by default. The problems went away for me in Mint when I switched to a different theme.
[...] Xubuntu 11.10 with Xfce4 Desktop I wasn’t really planning on installing Xubuntu, but it was the only Live/Install edition with the Xfce desktop that would install on an external USB drive from a USB stick, and that supported the Broadcom Wireless driver required by my HP mini netbook. The Xfce desktop is an alternative for those with older computers with minimal memory and older graphic cards. [...]
Bill,
I’m using Xubuntu on my HP mini netbook. To be honest, it’s more capable than what you’ve mentioned.
Workspaces can be easily customized by a Right-click >> Properties >> Number of rows … / Workspace settings >> Number of workspace …
Linux Mint is not suitable for Netbooks because of screen size issue. In my opinion, Xubuntu can display the windows a lot better than Mint & even Unity.
The main disadvantage is lack of default powerful softwares, but you can easily install via Software Center. (Default softwares are powerful enough for me though.)
I was not trying to imply that it lacked capability. As I mention in the post, I have already downloaded a number of packages. Just need to add LibreOffice. I prefer the Synaptic Package Manager over the Ubuntu Software Center, as I work with additional repositories.
I have more of a problem with Debian releases than I do with the Xfce desktop. I use PCLinuxOS Xfce on my somewhat ancient HP laptop. I made the switch back in kernel version 2.6, when the kernel’s Completely Fair Scheduler (CFS) caused my the HP CPU to overheat. PCLinuxOS uses BFS as a scheduler, and is not as CPU intense as CFS. Less CPU usage allows the CPU to operate at a lower speed, which reduces the heat produced.
I rarely use more than one workspace. The example was just to show a way to keep the Rhythmbox window open. On Linux Mint, the Rhytmbox icon appears in the top menu bar, as does the Shutter icon.
I triple boot my HP Mini with Fedora, openSUSE, and Linux Mint, as I require openSUSE and Fedora for the courses I write on SELinux and kernel debugging. On my really ancient Micron laptop, I use Lubuntu to control my ham radio station. I triple boot an external hard drive with Xubuntu, Lubuntu, and Mageia.
I will have to try switching themes on Linux Mint.
To fix your mounted volumes on desktop issue, right click on desktop -> ‘Desktop Settings’ -> ‘Icons’ tab -> uncheck “Removable Drives” and problem solved. Although, I do agree that this is a roundabout way to ‘fix’ this ‘problem.’ We should be able to decide which media shows up on the desktop and which doesn’t.
With that said, I have to disagree with your overall synopsis of Xubuntu. I am running it on my laptops, desktops, and servers, and it performs whatever tasks I need to get done admirably.
I am self-employed and Xubuntu comes especially in handy for those of us who need to manage our business, finances, etc. (Libreoffice IS better than the default software offerings for this, however.)
But I digress. My point is that Xubuntu 11.10 is an excellent OS for any machine, not just netbooks and old hardware.
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