New with Debian Questions

[superscienceguy]

I am new to Debian (and Linux). Below are several questions I have.
1. Is it necessary to keep KDE and Gnome on my machine?
2. Does KDE have an equivalent to Gnome's Synaptic Package Manager?
2a. If so, what and where?
I got Debian because I am anti-Microsoft and I have a slower maching P-II 300mHz. It runs 3. very slowly. If I remove many of the packages that I don't want or need using Gnome's Synaptic Package Manager or KDE's equivalent, will this machine run faster?
3a. If no, should I have gotten a different flavor or Linux?

I thank you for your time in advance. I promise to have more questions. I do like Linux, I just have about 1,000 things to learn.
SSG

[techieMoe]

1. Is it necessary to keep KDE and Gnome on my machine?

No. You can use either KDE or Gnome, or dump them both and use something completely different.

2. Does KDE have an equivalent to Gnome's Synaptic Package Manager?
2a. If so, what and where?

Try KSynaptics:
http://kde-apps.org/content/show.php?content=17286

I got Debian because I am anti-Microsoft and I have a slower maching P-II 300mHz. It runs 3. very slowly. If I remove many of the packages that I don't want or need using Gnome's Synaptic Package Manager or KDE's equivalent, will this machine run faster?

No. KDE and Gnome are about the same as far as how much of your system resources they eat up. If you want faster performance, use a lighter window manager like Xfce, Fluxbox, IceWM or TWM.

3a. If no, should I have gotten a different flavor or Linux?

Usually I'd say it doesn't matter, but you might consider a distribution that's specifically targeted at running on older machines, such as Damn Small Linux or Puppy Linux. DSL is based on Debian, and if you install the LiveCD, you can use all the same tools as on a regular Debian install (apt-get for instance).

[craigevil]

Debian will run just fine on a low end machine, just not while running KDE/Gnome as they both are resource hogs. Your best bet would be to use XFCE, icewm, fluxbox or any of the other low resource window manager.

Also make sure you are only running processes that you actually need to be running.

Synaptic is the package manager you want, or maybe even aptitude which will run in a terminal no matter what desktop/window manger you are using.

The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ - The Debian package management tools
http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ch-pkgtools.en.html

[soccercisco]

If speed is an issue, I recommend using xdm as window manager and fluxbox desktop environment, which are very ligth (lighter than KDE or Gnome), though it might take a bit of time getting used to it (if you come from a Windows/Mac environment).

Cheers,

[rong]

And here is an another alternative for you, espicailly if you would like to learn a good deal about the basics of configuring linux. Install Debian without any of the 'packages' that you are prompted for during the install. This will provide the basic system which will be entirely command line driven until such time that you install the X server. This approach allows you to both learn a good deal and enables you to install only what you need. If interested check out the tutuorials at this excellent site.

[macondo]

If speed is an issue, I recommend using xdm as window manager and fluxbox desktop environment, which are very ligth (lighter than KDE or Gnome), though it might take a bit of time getting used to it (if you come from a Windows/Mac environment).

Cheers,

Hmm, no.

xdm is NOT a window manager, it's a display manager which shows what de's and wms you got installed and want to start, it will slow you down. Use 'startx' and put your window manager in your .xinitrc . Forget about Gnome and KDE, you don't have the resources for it to run fast.

Fluxbox is NOT a desktop environment it's a window manager, KDE and Gnome are desktop environments. They have their own window managers: kwin and Metacity respectively. You can switch either of them with fluxbox, openbox, icewm, etc. Clear as mud?