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To exploit one of the tenets of FOSS, a users freedom of choice, i exercise this right by using several Desktop Environments and Window Managers with the same or different Distros, for what they have to offer and or do best within a given criteria.

About Edubuntu
This article is based on my Edubuntu Workstation.
This was initially Edubuntu based on Ubuntu Breezy with added DEs and WMs Kubuntu, Fluxbox, Xfce, and E17.

Edubuntu, Kubuntu, Fluxbox, Xfce, and E17.
Dialogs Boxes: I appreciate how dialogs that require superuser authentication shows you the command line syntax and the name of program it runs when it opens.

Edubuntu/Kubuntu:
The Kubuntu KDE-3.5.3 DE starts up faster with a much better and beautiful splash screen than before. My favorite KDE applications are all there and in good working condition. I mainly use Kubuntu with a MacOsx like baghira theme, its so beautiful.

Edubuntu/Gnome:
The GNOME-2.14 DE loads very fast, much much faster than before, and programs load quicker also. My favorite gnome applications were all there and ready to rock.
According to the program i'm using i get gnome, kde or the programs native dialogs.
I initially did not appreciate the new gnome dialog, but it has grown on me, especially when it notifies me when saving a file with the same name.

Edubuntu/Xubuntu:
I initially had XFCE4 (lightweight DE )installed, but since there are updated Xubuntu packages i installed the Xubuntu desktop. I'll log out and see what it looks like. I logged into the Xubuntu DE and i was so disappointed.

• 1. Initially it took the longest, much longer, of the two previous DE to start up.
• 2. When it finally did, it was busted, no panels, no menu.
• 3. Just two icons on the desktop.
• 4. Basic desktop configuration options were available on right click on the desktop
• 5. Nothing on left click
• 6. I Had to ctrl-alt-backspace to break out.

This is a known issue, and i do remember reading at 'http://www.linuxcompatible.org/Xubuntu_6.06_s68294.html' about how to resolve at the menu and panels. I went there and followed the instructions, but it didn't seem to solve the issue.
After poking around a bit i realised the icon i was seeing was actually a panel with a plain launcher button on it. I removed the button to expose the panel, right-clicked on it and added the XFCE menu and some other items. This became the top panel. I added a bottom panel, added the 'Task List', the 'Pager' and the 'Network Monitor' items. I'm not sure sure if this is how it was suppose to be, but from this upgrade i had to set up and configure the desktop my self. The panels a very configurable, but for some reason i couldn' move items to other spots on the panel. I'm not sure what i'm doing wrong, but the only time an item moved was when i added the task list on the bottom panel. The only way i got space between items on the top panel was to add a separator, and expand it. Thus far this desktop i awesome and fast. Time from log in to Desktop startup is very fast now.

Enlightenment DR17/E17:
This is one of the most attractive Window Managers that i've used, and its still in development. This is close to a lightweight Desktop Environment, it comes with some of its own native application similar to GNOME and KDE.
The following EFL packages are prototypes and might or might not work at all:

• * enscribe (a simple text-editor)
• * enterminus (x terminal emulator)
• * ephoto (a slide-show creator)
• * extrackt (an audio CD ripper/encoder)
• * exhibit (an Etk image viewer)
• * emotion (an Evas smart-object library providing video capabilities)
• * eclair (a media player front-end)

I believe this is the future GNU/Linux desktop, due to the fact that it takes a rather different approach from other window managers.
I eventually logged into it to give it a spin and everything worked as before , nothing for it was upgraded since custom packages were used to install it. For now i'm using it with an ibar to launch applications, a desktop pager, a start menu, right and left click desktop menus, and an ibox = taskbar.
Enlightenment 16/E16 is officially available for install.

Fluxbox:
I usually use fluxbox when i need a X environment while running linux on old hardware or if i want to maximize all my resources on a modern PC.
I finally gave fluxbox a run, and upon login this desktop loaded lightening fast. Due to it being a lightweight Window Manager i usually use it without a graphic background or desktop icons. These features do exist to use it in that manner, it's my preference to use that way until i decide to add it's eye candy. The only thing i'll do, is use flux-generate_menu to auto-generate a menu, since my menu tab is blank.
After i selected from the menu by right-clicking on the desktop and most installed packages were available.
I'm usually in the Kubuntu DE or E17, but i'm liking the speed of GNOME right now so i'll stay here a bit.

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