Okay, so today I’m gonna talk about something that’s been bugging me for a while: LXDE vs. LXQt. I’ve been using Linux for years, and I’ve always leaned towards lightweight desktop environments. You know, the ones that don’t eat up all your RAM and CPU just to look pretty.
I started with LXDE years ago when I was running an old netbook. I don’t remember which version that was, but I remember that the installation was quite easy. And the netbook was super slow, and LXDE was like a godsend. It was simple, clean, and just worked. No fancy animations, no crazy resource usage, just a basic desktop that let me get things done. I used that for a couple of years, no issues.
Then, I heard about this new thing called LXQt. People were saying it was the future, the successor to LXDE. Naturally, I was curious. So, I backed up my stuff and wiped out LXDE in my another old desktop and installed LXQt. The installation was easy as well.
My first impression of LXQt was, “Wow, this looks a bit more modern!” It still felt lightweight, but it had a bit more polish, a bit more eye candy. But honestly, after using it for a few weeks, I started to notice some quirks. Nothing major, just little things that didn’t quite feel right. Like, the panel would sometimes act up. Also, the file manager (PCManFM-Qt) felt a bit slower than LXDE’s PCManFM. And it seemed like it used just a smidge more resources than LXDE, although still pretty good overall.
So, I was in a bit of a pickle. Do I stick with the newer, shinier LXQt, or go back to the old reliable LXDE? I did some digging around online. It turned out LXDE was still being maintained, though maybe not as actively as LXQt. But it was still getting updates, and that was good enough for me.
After a few more weeks of testing I decided to go back to LXDE. I uninstalled LXQt and reinstalled LXDE. The process was also easy. It just felt like coming home. Everything was where I expected it to be, everything just worked the way I was used to. And honestly, I didn’t really miss the extra polish of LXQt.
Here’s the thing: both LXDE and LXQt are great. They’re both fantastic choices if you want a lightweight desktop environment. If you are using an old computer, maybe either one will work for you.
- Pros: Super stable, rock-solid, minimal resource usage.
- Cons: Might look a bit dated to some folks.
LXDE
- Pros: More modern look and feel, still pretty lightweight.
- Cons: Can be a bit quirky at times, might use slightly more resources.
LXQt
In the end, it comes down to personal preference. For me, the stability and familiarity of LXDE won out. But if you’re looking for something a bit more modern, LXQt is definitely worth checking out. I suggest trying both of them if you are not sure which one to pick.
Just my two cents. Hope this helps someone out there!
