You can also configure your network via /etc/init.d - scripts. See here:
https://dijks.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/how-to-disable-network-manager-in-ubuntu-12-04-precise/
AFAIK the network manager does not integrate into all desktop environments.
As for your idea about a media center I would
My objective: to create a working Trisquel 6.0 install with enough to play
videos, view samba shares and manage files and browse the web. I could start
by using the commands on http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/purelubuntu , but I
don't really know where to start from there. How would I
you can install trisquel-mini?
I have found that if you install a new desktop on top of your previous one it
will work if you choose the other desktop on login. Where I find that it
starts failing is when you have more than 3 different desktop enviorments.
I now have trisquel-mini and I
It uses NetWorkManager. If I remove lxde and install openbox... BAM. Internet
breaks.
