Re: Mate desktop - was Re: Still unable to get external monitor wotking on Debian 6 - was Re: Unable to install nVidia driver on Debian 6 LTS - was - Re: How to boot without GUI

[Frank McCormick <debianlist@videotron.ca>]

On 16/07/15 12:35 PM, Bret Busby wrote:
> On 15/07/2015, Bret Busby <bret.busby@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On 04/07/2015, Liam O'Toole <liam.p.otoole@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > On 2015-06-22, Bret Busby <bret.busby@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > [...]
> > >
> > > > Is it really too much to ask, for application names to be in english?
> > >
> > > Yes it is.
> > >
> > > > And, does it have all of thev functionality of gnome 2, including (but
> > > > not limited to) allowing the panel to be positioned along the bottom
> > > > of the screen, and, inclusion of the system monitor applet in the
> > > > panel?
> > >
> > > Yes it does, and a little bit more besides.
> > >
> > > Just try it. It is perfect for those feeling nostalgic for GNOME 2.
> > >
> > > --
> >
> > Okay, well I have now installed mate on the Ubuntu 14.04 and 1.04
> > installations on the Acer V3-772G, as it had occurred to me that I
> > might possibly be able to rename the menu entries to meaningful
> > english-like names.
> >
> > What I found, is that firstly, unlike my experience with gnome(3)
> > classic, I could reposition the panel at the bottom of the screen. I
> > also found that the menu's contain the installed applications links,
> > that I had with the gnome classic menu's (unlike fvwm, which severely
> > restricts the entries in the menu's).
> >
> > I also found, for Ubuntu 12.04 (I did not find it in Ubuntu 14.04, so
> > I do not know whether Ubuntu 14.04 has the functionality), the
> > provision, as with gnome 2, to add the 6 panel system monitor to the
> > panel/taskbar, for ongoing monitoring of the proportionate use of the
> > resources.
> >
> > So, the issue of the application names for mate, being in spanish, is
> > irrelevant, as I have the english-like application names, for the
> > applications from gnome and kde.
> >
> > And, apart from the little Ubuntu icon in the bottom left corner of
> > the panel, the screen looks pretty much like gnome2 running on Debian
> > 6.
> >
> > So, it seems to be working.
>
> Except that I can not find a support mailing list for the mate
> desktop, that would provide users with a means of obtaining help to
> solve problems, of to answer queries, about the mate desktop.


  As far as I know...there isn't one. One of the shortcomings of Mate is
the lack of solid USER information. Google searches help but even though
it's hit and miss.
> For example, how to change the font and font size in the panel and the
> title bars of windows; as an example, the font for the names of the
> menu's, in the panel, is too small, making it difficult to read.

  Again, as far as I know these are functions of GTK2

> Also, whether a screensaver is available, like the screensaver in
> gnome 2, that allows for the screensaver to be directed (for
> displaying stuff while the screen is taken over by the screensaver) to
> the Pictures directory, rather than one of the things like blobs
> moving around the screen.
  Yes, the mate-screensaver does that...and more. However you'll need
the GL extensions for the slideshow provisions. YMMV.

Do an aptitude search for mate...and you'll find what's available.

All in all I like Mate...but I also like XFCE and find myself switching
back and forth regularly.
As I said documentation is a little on the short side.