Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

LXDE VS Cairo Shell

Compare LXDE VS Cairo Shell and see what are their differences

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LXDE logo LXDE

Why will you like it? Less resource needs. You can use it on your less-pricey embedded board or salvaged computer. Component-based design. Don't want something in LXDE, or you don't want to use LXDE but only part of it?

Cairo Shell logo Cairo Shell

Cairo is a desktop environment for Windows.
  • LXDE Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-20
  • Cairo Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-19

LXDE features and specs

  • Lightweight
    LXDE is designed to be lightweight, making it ideal for older hardware and systems with limited resources.
  • Fast Performance
    Due to its low-resource usage, LXDE provides fast and responsive performance even on less powerful machines.
  • Customizable
    LXDE is highly customizable, allowing users to modify the interface and functionalities to suit their needs.
  • Low Memory Usage
    LXDE uses significantly less memory compared to more feature-rich desktop environments, maximizing available system RAM.
  • Modular Components
    LXDE consists of modular components that can be used independently or replaced, offering flexibility to users and developers.

Possible disadvantages of LXDE

  • Basic Appearance
    LXDE's default appearance is considered quite basic and lacks the visual polish seen in more modern desktop environments.
  • Fewer Features
    LXDE sacrifices some features and functionality to maintain its lightweight footprint, which may limit advanced user needs.
  • Inconsistent User Experience
    Due to its modularity and simplicity, there might be inconsistencies in user experience compared to more integrated environments.
  • Development Pace
    The development and updates of LXDE are slower compared to other desktop environments, potentially leading to a lack of new features and slower bug fixes.
  • Limited App Integration
    Some applications may not integrate as seamlessly with LXDE as they do with other desktop environments like GNOME or KDE.

Cairo Shell features and specs

  • Customization
    Cairo Shell allows for extensive customization of the desktop environment, enabling users to tailor the user interface to their specific needs and preferences.
  • Efficiency
    The shell is designed to provide a more streamlined and efficient workflow by offering features like a customizable taskbar and better window management.
  • Aesthetic
    Cairo Shell offers a modern and visually appealing interface compared to the default Windows desktop environment, which might be more appealing to some users.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, Cairo Shell is free to use and benefits from community contributions, fostering continuous improvement and bug fixes.
  • Unified Search
    Cairo Shell includes a unified search feature, which makes it easier to locate files, applications, and web content quickly from a single search bar.

Possible disadvantages of Cairo Shell

  • Compatibility
    Cairo Shell might not be fully compatible with all software and system configurations, which can lead to stability issues or reduced functionality.
  • Learning Curve
    New users might experience a learning curve when transitioning from the default Windows interface to Cairo Shell, impacting productivity until they become accustomed to the new environment.
  • Performance
    On some systems, Cairo Shell might consume more resources than the default Windows interface, potentially impacting system performance, especially on older hardware.
  • Support
    As a community-driven project, professional support might be limited compared to commercial software, potentially making it more challenging to resolve issues.
  • Feature Parity
    Cairo Shell might lack certain features available in the default Windows interface or other third-party shells, potentially limiting its usability for some users.

Analysis of LXDE

Overall verdict

  • LXDE is good for users who prioritize performance and simplicity over a more visually intricate and feature-rich environment. It provides a stable and reliable experience with essential features while maintaining fast responsiveness.

Why this product is good

  • LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) is known for its simplicity, speed, and minimal use of system resources. It is particularly well-suited for older hardware, computers with limited processing power, or users who prefer a more traditional and straightforward desktop interface. Its modular design allows for greater flexibility and customization, making it a preferred choice for users who want to build their desktop environment according to their needs.

Recommended for

  • Users with older computers or limited hardware resources
  • Those seeking a lightweight and fast desktop experience
  • Linux enthusiasts who prefer a traditional desktop interface
  • Users requiring a customizable and modular environment

LXDE videos

Desktop December - LXDE Review

More videos:

  • Review - Lubuntu 18.04 LTS Review - Perhaps the last with LXDE

Cairo Shell videos

No Cairo Shell videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to LXDE and Cairo Shell)
Linux
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100
Desktop Environments
100 100%
0% 0
Image Optimisation
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare LXDE and Cairo Shell

LXDE Reviews

9 Best Linux Desktop Environments to Use in 2023
Another elegant and portable desktop environment is LXDE. LXDE stands for Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment. It uses minimal RAM compared to other desktop environments since it uses so few resources. LXDE is better suited to cloud workstations with older specifications, such as netbooks or outdated hardware.
Source: geekflare.com
Top 10 Best Desktop Environments in 2020
Lightweight and Low-resource can be considered the same, but in this case, thereโ€™s a difference. XFCE is a lightweight desktop environment even with a whole lot of built-in customizations and UI perks. LXDE, on the other hand, is a DE that is built to be as low-resource as possible. You certainly can add animations, but they need to be downloaded separately.
The 12 Best Linux Desktop Environments
LXDE is a user-friendly, energy-efficient, and lightweight Linux desktop environment. It is based on the GTK+, so LXDE can be a good alternative to Xfce if it runs slower on your system. It proves that LXDE is supported for all distros. Therefore it can be supported on older machines too.
Source: linuxhint.com

Cairo Shell Reviews

We have no reviews of Cairo Shell yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Cairo Shell should be more popular than LXDE. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

LXDE mentions (1)

  • Touchpad Settings on Qtile with GUI App
    That said, you can look into lxinput https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Openbox#GUI_configuration https://lxde.org or... I don't know if kde-config-touchpad is still valid. Source: about 3 years ago

Cairo Shell mentions (2)

  • Microsoft is turning Windows 11's Start Menu into an advertisement delivery system
    Back when I was an edgy teenager I tried every Windows desktop shell replacement available. My favorites were LiteStep and Emerge Desktop. I was there when Cairo Shell first emerged but has never tried a working version since I moved to other OSes before any usable version was out. I am now using Windows for work and I think itโ€™s time to revisit these options. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • My first personal server
    Hyper-V Server 2019 gets my vote, with the Cairo Desktop it's a near unbeatable setup. Add the FoD pack, browser of your choice, Windows Admin Center for local management of the entire system including virtualized guests. It's a very robust enterprise grade server that requires NO LICENSE and ends up having a very nice GUI for a core server. Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing LXDE and Cairo Shell, you can also consider the following products

Xfce - Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment for UNIX-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and low on system resources, while still being visually appealing and user friendly.

VirtuaWin - VirtuaWin is a virtual desktop manager for the Windows operating system (Win9x/ME/NT/Win2K/XP/Win2003/Vista/Win7/Win10). A virtual desktop manager lets you organize applications over several virtual desktops (also called 'workspaces').

LXQt - The LXQt team is proud to announce the release of qtermwidget and qterminal, both in version 0. 8. 0. Read more..

Dexpot - If you don't have Dexpot yet, the new update makes it a must-have tool for Windows, adding a ton of features to your desktop that you never knew you wanted.

KDE Plasma Desktop - Plasma Workspaces is the umbrella term for all graphical environments provided by KDE.

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