MX wins best XFCE distro of 2019

[Eadwine Rose]

Thunar has not improved at all, so I do not use MX

Instead of just replacing the file manager, huh?

Naaah, that is just too easy!!

[SwampRabbit]

Thunar has not improved at all, so I do not use MX

Instead of just replacing the file manager, huh?

Naaah, that is just too easy!!

Maybe I'm missing out on some wiz bang file management improvements by using Thunar and not looking, but it does what a file manager should.

Thunar's lack of rainbows, kitties, flowers, and stuffs make it a subpar file manager for sure.
Lack of "ZOMG Ponies!" theme doesn't help either.

[winemaker]

i used pcman for 6 years or so and liked it a lot. never liked xfce but in mx i am happy with it as such. (since i knoe so little about mx and linux i would hate to try to get pcman to work with it - for fear of messing things all up or messing up future updates/upgrades.) sorry for the ramble.

as swamprabbit said in xfce it does what it does and is supposed to do so it works for me.

[Stevo]

Thunar has not improved at all, so I do not use MX

Instead of just replacing the file manager, huh?

That sure sounds like one of the bogus Distrowatch reviews we get: "didn't like the default theme, 1/10 points!"

[Jerry3904]

These people need to get a life--especially on New Year's Eve!!!

[winemaker]

hope i am not on that list!

[asqwerth]

i used pcman for 6 years or so and liked it a lot. never liked xfce but in mx i am happy with it as such. (since i knoe so little about mx and linux i would hate to try to get pcman to work with it - for fear of messing things all up or messing up future updates/upgrades.) ...

If you are just installing (using mxpi or synaptic) the pcmanfm package already in the default Debian/MX repos of MX, what's the harm in trying it out? I think there is even a "file managers" category in mxpi >> popular apps tab in mx19 (it's there in mx17/18).

It'll just mean you'll have 2 file managers to use. If you decide you don't need it after all, you can uninstall it, again using mxpi or synaptic.

The worry of messing up is more when you just add other repos or PPA without proper checks on their compatibility to your MX system and then just install stuff from there.

[davemx]

I often run two Thunar windows side by side. But Thunar has many features that don't appear elsewhere, such as a fully customisable right-click menu. Maybe I don't get out enough, but if someone can show me a desktop independent file manager, with the customisable right-click menu AND all the bells and whistles, I might use it instead. I don't find the fact that I can't display two folders, tiled within Thunar too much of a problem. but just in case, I have installed EmelFM2 (not in repos but deb downloadable from its site). SpaceFM is OK, but changing its settings takes a bit of getting used to. And it would be nice if two windows can share a sidebar.

Do you know what would be a killer improvement for me? Maybe it can be done but I haven't worked out how. I'd like Thunar to have an option to always start with hidden files hidden. And the same for new folders. I really can't see that being a big deal for its programmers to add if it's not already tucked away somewhere I've not seen it.

All that said, where XFCE4.12 and 4.14 succeed, is the ability to keep out of the ******* way and let you get on with using the apps. I find so many (OK, every other desktop) either doesn't give enough underlying support (I love XFCE's drop down menus on launchers), forces you have things laid out in a restrictive way (GIMP and all its variants), or just plain takes over (KDE anyone?). For me, the way the MX team has conquered (not Konquered) the XFCE desktop has made it the great distro it is.

[JayM]

Do you know what would be a killer improvement for me? Maybe it can be done but I haven't worked out how. I'd like Thunar to have an option to always start with hidden files hidden. And the same for new folders. I really can't see that being a big deal for its programmers to add if it's not already tucked away somewhere I've not seen it.

Doesn't Thunar already do this by default? I know that in mine, if I want to be able to see hidden files and directories I have to press control H or click View/Show Hidden Files to tell Thunar to show them.

[winemaker]

i used pcman for 6 years or so and liked it a lot. never liked xfce but in mx i am happy with it as such. (since i knoe so little about mx and linux i would hate to try to get pcman to work with it - for fear of messing things all up or messing up future updates/upgrades.) ...

If you are just installing (using mxpi or synaptic) the pcmanfm package already in the default Debian/MX repos of MX, what's the harm in trying it out? I think there is even a "file managers" category in mxpi >> popular apps tab in mx19 (it's there in mx17/18).

It'll just mean you'll have 2 file managers to use. If you decide you don't need it after all, you can uninstall it, again using mxpi or synaptic.

The worry of messing up is more when you just add other repos or PPA without proper checks on their compatibility to your MX system and then just install stuff from there.

Thannk you!