bk_7312,
If you want to try a new Desktop Environment or Window Manager,
just create a new user, install the DE/WM package (if needed),
log out and log back in picking the new DE/WM.
Mepis is Debian based and I always stick with RH based, so I can't
give you a step by step, but go to your package manager (Synaptic I believe)
search gnome and install the desktop environment. If Synaptic is like Yast on
openSUSE, it will list all dependencies and install them for you.
If you prefer the command line, I believe it is:
apt-get gnome or something similar, this command is distro based.
(look it up on google)
With KDE and Gnome installed and multiple users,
you should have a login screen where you can select the session (DE/WM).
I could go through installing the source for all linux, but it is difficult for new users
(and myself sometimes
) while packages (.rpm, deb, etc...) handle the install
and uninstall much better!!
If a package is available, use that over source, use source when a package isn't available for your system.
just my 2 cents...
I will install an app from source sometime this weekend on the command line thread.